#even if gabriel passed oof

[quillyfied]

Things I’m noticing on this rewatch, which I’m hoping to take slow and ponder on but we will see how it goes, PART SIX (obviously major Good Omens season 2 spoilers throughout, specifically for S2E6)

- thunder is happening outside where I am right now, so let’s buckle in!!

- Still such a good silhouette for Miranda Richardson.

- BATTERY OPERATED CANDLES

- “Will you answer a simple question?” “If I hear one, of course.” THIS EXCHANGE. SO GOOD.

- “It all looks so simple in Jane Austen.” Because other people’s love lives always seem more simple, angel. Especially fictional ones.

- JANE AUSTEN THE BANK ROBBER

- okay. Did Crowley just know that about Muriel? He doesn’t even know their name, how can he tell what rank Angel they are? More sensing and how Crowley is uncannily good at it??

- BEES. BEEEEES. REMEMBER THIS.

- “I had brothers” PREACH

- IM DONE WITH BEING SCARED

- SHES BRAVER THAN ANYONE I KNOW

- MAGGIE AND NINA ARE EVERYTHING

- MAGGIE NO TOO MUCH BRAVERY

- I fully missed the implications of that the first time around btw. Bc I’m dumb I suppose.

- Activating the portal and using it as a meat grinder for bottlenecked demons is such an elegantly simple solution.

- “You’ll be hurt” HA OMG

- The headstones in the opening credits don’t change inscriptions, btw. Though I still can’t make out Adam’s

- The guitar in the intro music does though!!

- I think it might be two completely different bridges meeting up after the first one parts? I can’t quite tell.

- This episode’s theater is just called Every Day, with a picture of Aziraphale’s halo on the screen.

- THEY LITERALLY PASS MICHAEL AND URIEL. BEES.

- “It’s a bit lonely. That’s why I was so pleased to go to Earth.” That feels awfully significant. File it away next to demons not especially wanting to fight angels.

- Crowley having…grills, I think? Like Sandalphon. Oof.

- Finally did a bit of digging on Neil Gaiman’s views of angel hierarchy. Still don’t know that I entirely buy Angel Crowley was an Archangel, but higher up? Deffo buy it.

- Bottom of the barrel. Deffo they’re that stupid.

- So. Still a nuclear exchange, eh, folks?

- Nah is the funniest possible response.

- So Aziraphale doesn’t know the details of Gabriel, the Supreme Archangel, not being above getting demoted…hang on. Bit early to be trying to put that piece together. Just going to stew nervously I’m not even Gabriel being safe in going against “God’s” plan

- Nina and Maggie standing up to demons using fire extinguishers and encyclopedias. I love them.

- Wondering if it was Aziraphale’s nerves that caused these measures to be taken, or…Yknow. The nerves of the person who ran into the burning bookshop himself.

- Crowley having holes in his memory is true but also it’s so much funnier that he just. Doesn’t have a good memory for people. Not funny but also yes funny.

- EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANGEL. Yknow I can see why some people think it’s a bad thing that phrases like that were likely lifted from the fandom directly and tossed in, but I love it, shut up.

- Refused to exercise his celestial authority. Sometimes an angel just has to say “guys, enough.” HMM. HMMMMMMMM. HOW VERY INTERESTING.

- INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM.

- The way Gabriel looks so BORED.

- The way Metatron looks furious. Disgusted, even.

- The fact that a memory wipe can be performed remotely: dangerous. Important.

- The fact that angels can be tracked entirely while in heaven: dangerous. Important.

- The fact that it seems to hurt Aziraphale to remove his halo: DANGEROUS. IMPORTANT.

- the way the bookshop rumbles and shakes when the halo lands tho

- ERIC NO

- Poor Eric.

- Shax being knocked out but not discorporated…interesting.

- Oh sure the mass transporter works just FINE for Heaven XD I love this train wreck of an awkward elevator ride.

- Interesting how Furfur is the one to come along with Dagon (who, I still can’t stress enough: FABULOUS this season)

- Electricity again not being used by an angel, but by a demon. All lightning is demonic this season. Hmm.

- Crowley maybe it isn’t wise to admit the two of you doing a miracle together is what caused the giant plume

- The moment I could NOT believe we were actually getting Ineffable Bureaucracy but was SO HAPPY ABOUT IT ACTUALLY

- Important too that Crowley shares pertinent details but not the actual scope of how he knows what he knows and what it all might mean before Metatron steps in. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

- Okay but was the entering of the eye necessary. Argh.

- I do like how they made the recasting a joke XD

- I’m sorry but the way the vibes of their meetings is so pitch-perfect for how the fandom was interpreting them for years makes me so proud of us all

- I just wish there was MORE

- You can’t always get what you live for. Every day it’s a getting closer

- Still wondering how in the heck that statue exists

- Gabriel being incapable of ordering drinks XD

- “You people. Amazing.” So important to Gabriel and Beelzebub’s love story that they explicitly fell in love with EACH OTHER, not earth, not humans, but also that even while on earth, Gabriel still has things he likes and appreciation for the atmosphere it can have. Earth is cool. Time they all admitted it.

- “No one’s ever given me anything before.” Anyone else suddenly emotional about the idea of Aziraphale introducing things like kindness and respect to Heaven? No? Just me? I know it’s not just me, “Aziraphale is a bee in the hive about to shake things up more than anticipated” truthers

- Aziraphale looking pretty terrified at Gabriel being back and Jim being gone. I know. Me too.

- But. But!! The way they’re openly affectionate now when it seems like they weren’t there yet in the past! The way Gabriel hugs himself when thanking them! AUGH!

- FOUND SOMETHING THAT MATTERED MORE TO ME THAN CHOOSING SIDES. THE SHOULDER TOUCH. I CRY.

- Michael. Michael they’ve been there the whole time. Calm down.

- I really do want to know if Crowley just casually brought Mr. Brown back from the dead, or just healed him from terrible maiming, or just wiped his memory bc he’s actually fine. THESE ARE IMPORTANT DETAILS DAMMIT.

- “Unless you’d like some help?” THEYRE SPEAKING. THEYRE COMMUNICATING. INSTEAD OF JUST ASSUMING WHAT THE OTHER NEEDS/WANTS.

- Aziraphale the angelic kindergarten teacher.

- “But we’d be the ones doing it.” They’re just saying all the quiet parts out loud, huh?

- Crowley offering Alphi Centauri ;A;

- The fact that THEY GET THE BANISHMENT OPTION when Crowley and Aziraphale DID NOT. Granted, they diverted six thousand plus years of planning, not just collaborating ambiguously to sappy unknown ends. Because AC LOVE EARTH. And GB DO NOT.

- The fact that they turn on the lights when they leave bc an angel and a demon doing miracles together is POWERFUL

- Aziraphale’s entire expression ;A; so tender. So loving.

- That was a weirdly erotic fist bump, Furfur and Shax

- “Do people ever ask for death? So predictable.” There’s that angelic arrogance, Metatron.

- And the Book of Life extreme sanctions again. Which makes me VERY nervous for s3, probably more nervous than anything else. That’s a very big Chekhov’s Gun to be laying on the table half-forgotten.

- Okay the fact that Saraquael picks it up before any of the others, too. As implied by her hands going folded and expression going nervous.

- “Have we done anything wrong?”

- “That remains to be seen.”

- HMM. OKAY.

- Take the coffee or take the death, Aziraphale. DAMN.

- The way Metatron neatly separates and snips Aziraphale and Crowley apart. The ominous organ music. The dressing-down of the Archangels but backhanded compliments to Muriel (the dim one I’LL KILL YOU). A master manipulator at work and he’s only just getting started.

- Crowley trying to get rid of Muriel feels weirdly protective, in hindsight.

- Crowley putting the bookshop back together ;A; the cello version of the theme waltz. <3333

- Aziraphale really should have been here for this conversation. I WEEP.

- Noooo not the soft romantic music again, it hurts. Also just realized that Nina and Maggie are still wearing their ball outfits.

- THIS CONVERSATION IS ALREADY A TRAIN WRECK. CROWLEY ASKING AZIRAPHALE IF CROWLEY CAN GO FIRST. AZIRAPHALE TALKING OVER CROWLEY.

- The thunder outside is getting massive as Metatron butters up Aziraphale. The ominous real world foreshadowing.

- The fact that keeping Crowley a demon isn’t even on the table. Going right for Aziraphale’s issues.

- THE CLOCK IS MAKING A FROWNY FACE

- Some other time I want to see Metatron’s assessment of Aziraphale next to Crowley’s assessment of Aziraphale bc I want to study the ways this hurts me.

- The EMOTIONS. DAVID AND MICHAEL PLS IM DYING.

- The manifold layers of mutual misinterpretation. I am BEGGING for a season 3 so I can see them untangle this.

- “I don’t think you understand what I’m offering you” just like you thought he was exaggerating the danger you were in just last episode, angel?

- No nightingales HOW DARE

- I fully believe Crowley is kissing Aziraphale goodbye here, tbh. Not showing him what he’s missing. Just saying bye. Maybe hoping on an off chance it will work but knowing it won’t. One spectacular kiss that I kind of love we don’t get every sloppy detail of. Makes it intimate even as it’s heartbreaking.

- The one thing he wanted to take with him won’t come. I CRY.

- Crowley is too smart for this but I’ve seen art of Crowley as the next grand Duke of hell and that would be a DELICIOUS setup, actually, and one I believe he could give into if he felt low enough. But. Crowley has always known better. He’s always wanted out, wanted better. If it was just him alone in the bookshop, maybe, but with Muriel there…idk. I feel like that’s not gonna happen, that Crowley is going to side with humanity. But I also didn’t think Aziraphale would ever go back to heaven so what do I know??

- The Second Coming. Phew. The event supposed to kick off after Armageddon, I think? Gonna be big.

- And here we have…the closing credits. The ones I was too overwhelmed to cry over the first time and maybe too entranced in my note taking to fully feel it here now but the sad piano and cello are certainly having an impact.

- Aziraphale not having all the details for what was happening to Gabriel makes me wonder how far he thinks he can push making a difference. Because the Supreme Archangel of Heaven was deposed for not doing what the rest of the archangels and the Metatron wanted. They can erase beings from existence. They can wipe memories remotely. They can track his every move. He’s walking into a trap.

- But. BUT.

- Crowley won’t let Aziraphale face this alone. Crowley and Aziraphale have swapped faces before. Crowley and Aziraphale have been on the wrong sides of the screen all season. Aziraphale’s determined face is very close to Crowley-As-Aziraphale. This season has been about lies and misdirection and sleight of hand. I like the theory that the kiss was another swap, that there was a time freeze where they came up with a plan, but. Also.

- I just. REALLY like the power of The Final Fifteen as-is, too. Because it’s been building all season, a head of steam that blows at a very critical moment in time. It’s the hard work of realizing their problems and issues and triggers haven’t been worked on at all, and if they’re ever going to be happy, they need to do the work. It’s not hand-waving their development off screen and actually putting us the audience in the front row of that development. Which is tasty as all heck too.

Okay. Second time didn’t hurt as much, knowing it was coming and pointing out all the clues that foreshadowed it. Next watch through I do without the buffer of constant pausing to record my thoughts and theories. I’m sure it’ll be fine.

#good omens #good omens 2 #good omens season 2 #gos2spoilers #good omens season 2 spoilers #good omens 2 spoilers #ALRIGHT. THATS TWO. #time to keep it going in the background #ooh fourth time I’ll go through all the special features bc I love those!!

[freneticfloetry]

For the fruit emoji ask game please Courtney:

🥭 Rank from most enjoyable/fun to write to least: Fluff, Smut, Angst, Crack.

🍏 Is there something you overuse, whether it’s a certain phrase, trope, or piece of punctuation?

🍈 Who’s your blorbo and what are some of your favorite headcanons/ideas about them that repeatedly show up in your fics? Free pass to rant about blorbo opinions.

But of course, my dear Rae!

🥭 Rank from most enjoyable/fun to write to least: Fluff, Smut, Angst, Crack. Oof. Shocking no one, Angst is my favorite, as long as it has a happy (or hopeful) ending. Shocking myself, I’m actually going to say Smut next! Then Crack, because fun, and finally Fluff, which is my kryptonite.

🍏 Is there something you overuse, whether it’s a certain phrase, trope, or piece of punctuation? So many things, honestly. There’s my longstanding alliteration problem, which is something that can never be fixed. Like so many of us, I am an em dash bitch, and you’ll have to pry that precious punctuation from my cold dead hands. And while I was well aware of my overuse of the word “just,” I also tend to lean heavily on “that,” which is something I did not know about myself until very recently and am actively trying to remedy.

🍈 Who’s your blorbo and what are some of your favorite headcanons/ideas about them that repeatedly show up in your fics? Free pass to rant about blorbo opinions. Does it still shock anyone present at this point that my blorbo is one Carlos Reyes? First and foremost, I love making him the world’s most unreliable narrator (because I think he has a somewhat skewed and often unkind view of himself that colors the way he thinks other people — particularly the people he loves — actually see him). I love the idea that he’s the baby by a significant margin, and that his sisters were long gone from the house by the time he came out. I really love giving him a special bond with one of his abuelos, and that relationship significantly informing who he is as an adult — in to build a home it was Gabriel’s mom, who lived with them for a long time and even shared a room with Carlos when he was a child, but I’ve got things brewing that feature Gabriel’s father and Andrea’s mother, with the latter very much alive. I’ve said it before, but I fully believe that Carlos is a July-born Cancer, and it does influence the way I write him, especially where family and fears and feelings of self-worth are concerned. And any Carlos I write will always call out TK’s lack of rhythm at some point, but still find it stupidly endearing.

#asked and answered #fruits of my fic labor

[wri0thesley]

Just to address the time period of interview! Since Louis was cast as a black man it was changed partially accommodate that aspect of the story. The writers didn’t want to tell a slave tale and I can’t exactly blame them there. Personally, I think the new show really tells a compelling and interesting story with a LOT of grace, skill and nuance. But it’s very very different from the book so if you’re looking for a one-for-one copy you’ll be disappointed and this definitely won’t be for you. Anne Rice did have a hand in the production though before her passing so a lot of these changes have her blessing!

i did do a little searching to see why! i've actually been following the show's trajectory for a long time (we were SO close to a bryan fuller helmed the vampire chronicles series, can you IMAGINE), but i kind of fell by the wayside after anne rice's death. i know her son is SUPER involved, though!

(cw: spoilers if u havent read tvc and intend to, talk of things that happen in series including rape and incest, purity culture fandom stuff).

i am not generally a 'this adaptation has to be incredibly accurate to the book or it sucks' type person , but for me the time period is so inextricrably linked to the characterisation of the series that so much change feels like an almost entirely different plot! in the early 1900s, by the time claudia and louis have pulled off their attempt to kill lestat some 40+ years later after they've existed as a family unit, surely the sea voyage they undertake is a Very Different Beast! it looks like lestat's birth date stays the same, so the whole subplot of him bringing his dying father to live with louis is basically gone too (and lestat is an anti-hero, certainly (and the villain in interview, in as far as we can trust louis as a narrator) which i think definitely removes some humanity and sympathy from lestat. lestat has got to be over 100 years old by the time this interview takes place, which is . . . oof lestat, you never learn do you. idiot [affectionate].

i hope it does well, if only because the vampire lestat is my favourite book in the whole series and nicolas (lestat's first love, and the reason he's originally attracted to louis at all - because louis reminds him of him) is one of my favourite characters of all time (as is gabrielle, lestat's mother), and so far the only adaptation that has them both done well is the musical and i want to see them in a mainstream adaptation that doesnt flop horribly!!! i'm just sad anon fgbkjngkfjn. and also because of the beautiful costume porn i'm missing out on. some of the claudia costumes i've seen production shots of hurt me in my Soul.

also (this one is solely on me), i've already seen people doing things like running zines that have a wholly uncomfortable purity culture fandom thing going on. and tvc is NOT a series conducive to that mindset. lestat is in a bizarre incestuous kind of relationship with gabrielle, his mother (and with this adaptation out and out saying 'vampires can have sex', really interested to see how that's handled). lestat is canonically a rapist (and yeah even after that we are still to love and adore him for more and more books). armand's backstory is . . . whoo. the vampire chronicles is hardly a Niche Interest, but i can already foresee a lot of discomfort if indeed the show does well enough to get as far as books like body thief!

but mostly the vampire chronicles means a lot to me (it's the reason i decided to go into musical theatre, and i'd never have made most decisions in my life without reading it), so such a drastic change makes me feel a little sad! i will get over it fgbnkjjngf. just taking a moment to mourn! the movie still remains beautifully costumed and imo one of the best book-to-movie adaptations made, despite the changes it made (rip louis' brother, didnt make it to the big screen), at least!

and, ofc, we always have lestat the musical.

#nat.txt #sorry for special interest posting

[sarah-dipitous]

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 299

The Thing/The Ghost Monument

“The Thing”

Plot Description: Sam and Dean head to a Men of Letters outpost to find a crystal that opens doors between dimensions. Ketch reconsiders his arrangement with Azmodeus

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: I’m hoping I wouldn’t be in this situation but…I can’t tell if she actually died

Dean, you’re basically the entire audience for the post it notes you put on Sam’s back…

Don’t lie, you don’t love books, Dean

Sam, you should get your brother back for….YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW TIL NOW?!

Sam’s so excited to have found the hole in the ground door to this outpost

I can’t believe they only had one bunker for the whole US MoL

Oh she’s anything but dead. She’s over 100 years old but barely looks over 20

Boys, if you thought introducing your mom who died in 1983 to the future was hard, this woman has not seen the surface of the earth since 1925

Did Azmodeus call Ketch in just as a power move?

How…how are there still other MoL in the US and why is one of them working at this random diner?!

And why is her being gone from the outpost a problem?

Marco, you can’t just poison the food!!

Oof, Ketch. I can see why you’re regretting teaming up with Azmodeus. Maybe don’t be an opportunistic bastard next life (he’s not dead…yet, but I bet he kind of wishes he was)

They’re kind of lucky…well, Dean and Sandy are SOMEWHAT lucky some creeps in robes showed up. Sam’s started eating the poisoned or at least drugged food

Oh damn! So Sandy is like a vessel for another dimension’s god…but a literal monstrous one

Is Azmodeus injecting grace into himself?

This speech Azmodeus is giving Ketch isn’t not a little hot. The gist was that they’re not so different and that’s why no matter what Ketch does or where he goes, he belongs to Azmodeus

Ah, poor kid. He didn’t even want to go check outside

Has Azmodeus been siphoning Gabriel’s grace? Oh my fucking god, I can’t tell if Gabriel is resisting this rescue by Ketch or what

That does sound like your kind of Hallmark movie, Dean, one with tentacles

Dean, you weakling, you don’t want to be a betentacled god alongside Sandy? Move over gayboy, I’m bout to get it

Dean, you don’t get to say there’s nothing wrong with “tentacle porn land” (his exact words) after passing up being its god

They really framed that to make you know someone was either already in the bunker or about to arrive just after the boys (Ketch & Gabriel)

The fact that Ketch thinks this bunker is a safe place for him…….honey, you’ve got a big storm coming

DEAN?! I did not expect you to fold to Ketch’s request so easily

Oh good. Ketch is going to apocalypse world with Dean. Lmaoooooooo, love that Dean is so honest about not caring (and in fact hoping) Ketch dies in apocalypse world

This cannot end well

“The Ghost Monument”

Plot Description: can the Doctor and her friends stay alive long enough to solve the mystery of Desolation?

Oh. Oh! Ryan and Graham got picked up by a different ship than Yas and the Doctor after getting zapped to space

Oh good. The ship Yas and the Doctor were on nearly crash landed on top of Ryan and Graham

Ew. This dude makes people race for fun but only one person gets to actually survive and go home at the end

Oh. The ghost monument is actually the TARDIS

I would LOVE to have seen some of the race before these four got here. The hunger games-like history the last two contestants have

Ryan and Graham’s ongoing issues are going to be heartwarming when they get them sorted

So this planet is basically dead but for flesh eating microbes in the water………..and robot guards in some ruins

I hope the guy contestant loses. He’s such an asshole. Like, obviously I hope they all get to leave. I just hope he doesn’t win the prize

Ohhh, horrifyingly, 1) the alien they faced off against last episode seems to be some sort of big bad that will come up again and again this season (maybe), 2) that alien race abducted, tortured, and forced a bunch of scientists to come up with a whole bunch of ways to kill people, 3) some kind of sentient cloth is now suffocating the guy contestant, and 4) there is not enough time left to wrap up this story in this episode

Why does the sentient cloth know how to talk

I’ve heard The Timeless Child get mentioned before

They really went full hunger games with joint winners

I really didn’t think they could wrap this up in this episode

Of course, when all hope seems lost, the companions rally together and then the TARDIS shows up

I don’t know if I like the TARDIS interior redecoration…I need a better view. Ok. It’s cool. We’re back to the warmly lit interior Ten had and Eleven started with, but it has a different vibe all the same

#hellsite nostalgia tour 2023

[xhanisai]

Another fun little fact titbits from the not human AU

- Thank the lads from the LO server for the brainstorm

- Marinette and Adrien were actually born as humans at first. However, both of them died soon after being born, causing devastation for the Dupain-Cheng household and the Graham de Vanily and Agreste household.

- They were reincarnated as a kitten and as a ladybird and their love for each other is what made them become fully human again. Though, they can magically turn back as a kitten and ladybird again by will once they had the hang of it.

- The names “Adrien” and “Marinette” were actually the heroes’ original names in their first lifetime hence why the kwamis chose those names to name them. They had a good feeling that they could be reunited back to the family that mourned them.

- Emilie got sick using the broken peacock miraculous trying to find a way to bring back Adrien and thus landed in a coma a few months after his demise. Gabriel turned to the power of the butterfly and hunted for the ladybug and black cat miraculous to gain both his son and wife back.

- After his defeat, Gabriel was turned into a moth. However, once he got to see what Adrien looked like without his mask and saw that he was a spitting image of Emilie and Felix, he realised that it’s his son. He was so happy to see him again, fluttering towards the boy with joy. Moths do not live long so he died happy.

- Sabine and Tom always had a strange, familiar feeling whenever they saw Ladybug either on TV or IRL. They always had a burning feeling to protect her and even Chat Noir. 

- Ladybug would always be attracted to the Dupain-Cheng bakery so her and Chat Noir always loved stopping by. She always felt warmth just by looking at Tom and Sabine. 

- The bakery became a safe haven for the heroes during the time they were still at war against Le Papillon. Sometimes, Tom or Sabine would spot a small, fluffy black ball on their sofa with a tiny red dot and realise it’s a kitten and ladybird sleeping.

- They are the first to realise that those were the heroes’ true forms at the time during an exhausting akuma battle when one of them accidentally detransformed in front of the bakery couple. The couple swore to protect them.

- Le Papillon always found himself holding back whenever he got too close to gaining the miraculous, especially when Chat Noir was in a big pinch. It would physically hurt his heart looking at Chat Noir sometimes. He tried his best to not be too destructive but at the same time, he was desperate to see his family again.

- With the help of Fu and the kwamis, Marinette and Adrien manage to help Emilie wake up from her coma and she spent her recovery at the Dupain-Cheng household. They all decided it’s best to extend the house and stay there together.

- Marinette and Adrien do get sent to school to learn. It is a whole complicated, comical experience because not only do they need to learn everything from the beginning, they’re still getting used to being human.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous ladybug and chat noir #not human au #ml au #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #chat noir #ladybug #adrinette #ladynoir #sabine cheng #tom dupain #gabriel agreste #emilie agreste #emilie graham de vanily #it's all happy and good vibes here #even if gabriel passed oof #this post is getting long #if you want more send an ask fellas

[toujoursmiraculous]

Thoughts and Reaction to Lies!

It's another long one because so much happens in this episode! The episode starts with Marinette trying to figure out a "secret" within the grimoire. Literal first thought was that this "secret" may be the key to waking up Emilie. It's obviously going to be of huge significance later, anyway. By looking at that piece on Adrien, it does appear Adrien has an amazing life. And really, that's what a lot of people think. That's the point of featuring him. A life of a celebrity is pretty amazing, really interesting and fascinating. But it's also filled with a lot of stress, chaos, loneliness, etc. But viewers rarely ever see it. As for Marinette, while Adrien has said things about what his father allows that makes him sad, we haven't ever heard him complain to her in any way about that lifestyle. To her, he's a guy whose father has him busy with activities (interesting ones at that) and very rarely ever lets him spend time with friends. I love how this episode parallels Truth! But Adrien's POV. My boy has an episode centered around him, finally!

So we know her standing Chat Noir up is because Luka came by reminding her of a date she forgot she rescheduled. You know she's extremely distracted and stressed when she can't remember a date with Luka or a patrol with Chat Noir, or remember that she planned them at the same time. It's really not her fault, and I feel so bad for her that things are becoming so difficult. "No messages, but don't forget my cheese!" LOL this is perfect. Plagg has to get that reminder in wherever he can! The Chat Noir appreciation was so wholesome to see awww, I bet so many boys in Paris look up to him, so sweet x33 Mr. Banana, Chat Noir, and the man who frequently is Mr. Pigeon just chilling on a bench in the park together. What a scene! lol But Chat wanting them to be akumatized so he could see Ladybug. Big oof. He's going to get his wish, a few times over. Careful what you wish for, Kitty! "A glass of milk as usual, mister Chat Noir?" Okay so when Chat's down, he goes to that bar and has a glass of milk. Or more if he's having a bad day. Awwwww. If you think about it, Adrien probably isn't allowed to have milk. With the fat content and all. :/ Kagami lying to her mother and Nathalie/Gabriel just to spend some time with Adrien. Considering how difficult their lives are, that's pretty impressive to be so brave. Not too fond of the lying part though, since there's not a noble reason for doing so. But I can understand it. We found out Kagami's real passion: drawing! Which is pretty cool. That's one thing Kagami and Marinette have in common that'd make them good friends. Very sad how her blind mother tells her she's not good enough. That just tells you what she thinks of her daughter and what she wants her to do with her life. She's afraid she'll pursue the arts rather than something practical, so best shoot down any thoughts of being an artist now. And then, like with all episodes that have Kagami in them, this is where I start to dislike her. "I want to draw the real you, on the inside." Adrien makes various model poses, none work for her as she knows they're just him being a model. Then he actually poses as himself. A silly, goofy cat having fun and being happy. Adorable. "What do you think of... CAT?" deathglare "No, this is absolutely not natural." "Yes it is. I promise, this is really me!" "NO! This is you when you're acting like a clown!" Adrien looking hurt, "But maybe when I act like a clown, it's really me." Then she takes his hand, (gently) pushes him back up against the wall, her hands on his chest, "That way, that's who you really are." What way? Her telling him how to be is who he really is? He stammers, looking very uncomfortable. "But are you sure?" "Yes... you are perfect." Then she leans in to kiss him, while he's still looking uncomfortable. Right here, she's trying to tell him who he is. What kind of relationship is healthy and a good one one at that, when one side is trying to tell the other who they are, how they must act, etc? That's toxic. Keep in mind, after this scene, during Truth's attack. He found out that Ladybug actually in fact loves (said she prefers) the humorous, "clown" side of him. Yes, she only knows it as Chat Noir for now, but she actually appreciates and loves Chat for who he is. Kagami doesn't love nor appreciate that side of Adrien. Which is a very big and important side of him. We knew this in Ikari Gozen, she couldn't stand the thought of Chat Noir being compared to Adrien, pretty sure she even seemed offended by it if memory serves. But it's laid out more in Lies, it's more direct. (Marinette's done this too in the past, but when she's done it, her tone's more like pssssh please! while she looks off to the side, like she's mostly just telling herself that, to convince herself, rather than believing it.) Kagami thinks she knows Adrien, knows that him being funny and a clown is not the "real" him. Acting like she knows him better than he knows himself. Thinking he's perfect. That was a very hurtful thing to have said and you can see it in his expression the same kind of pain and hurt

he gets a lot. I also want to talk about how watching her back Adrien up against the wall like that and leaning into kiss him made me feel particularly uncomfortable. While they might have a little thing going on, he was clearly not comfortable by it and it just did not sit well with me. This entire scene was riddled with red flags. Adrien smiled at the end of that on his way out, yes, but having someone tell you you're perfect would seem like a compliment to you, wouldn't it? The one you like thinks you're perfect, thinks the facade you put up is perfect and anything less isn't okay with them. That'll end up so well! The almost kissing scenes this episode literally had me like

I'm sorry, I just feel so very uncomfortable by them, I can't help it. xD Just before Chat Noir sneaked up on Ladybug, he almost kissed Kagami right? And yet here he is, being a bit flirty, saying he's missed her on patrols. I also want to point out she tells him to stop with his stupid jokes, because she doesn't want to accidentally hurt him! She could've hurt him by scaring her like that. While she likes his humor, they're only problematic if it puts himself in danger or distracts them from fighting an akuma. "I promise I won't forget our patrols anymore." The looks that passed between LB and CN here is just so cute! OOOF as Luka walks away sad because Marinette had to run off, here comes Adrien, about to do the exact same thing as Marinette to Kagami... Now Kagami's not as accepting of him running off as she was just a little while ago.

Even Andre's like, what the heck was that?! His expression watching Adrien run off made me laugh, I had to share it. I was wondering how Adrien got to the boathouse before Marinette did, as it made it seem like Adrien was there long before Marinette was. He just ran in and started playing along where they were. Good lord, he has a lot going on too, doesn't he? Only difference from Marinette here is Adrien has a built-in and believable excuse he can tell his friends. Kagami's forceful "Adrien, it's time." "Five little minutes?" *shakes head sternly* Who does this remind you of in Adrien's life already? Is this what a good girlfriend, what a good friend would do? And here again is the pattern we see a lot with Kagami. She manipulates situations so that they can spend time together. Adrien wants to spend time with his friends AND girlfriend at the same time. Rehearsing for their band, it looks like. He rarely ever gets to spend time with others, be a normal kid. But no, she drags him away early, making it sound like they had to leave, but it's just her wanting him to herself. When he couldn't go to New York, oh well that's unfortunate you're sad, but we can spend more time together now, isn't that great? It's about what she wants, not what he wants or what's best for Adrien. She spends more time with Adrien (not counting Ladybug spending time with Chat Noir here) than anyone else does by the looks of it, and she doesn't even know him at all. It's really sad. Adrien still carrying around Marinette's lucky charm bracelet in his pocket x3333 This never fails to make me happy. But oof that boy's seriously going to lose it one of these days if he's not careful! There's something different about seeing the Ladynoir scene on the roof that we got in Truth, but from Adrien's perspective. Something about it feels like it means more to me, idk. Adrien gets caught in a lie, saying he lost something but found it. Kagami asked what it was, holding Marinette's lucky charm behind her back. He says it was the lucky charm Marinette gave her, as he's scrambling in his pocket to pull it out seeming a bit frazzled, but realizes he actually in fact lost it (again! he says). But Kagami caught him in that lie, showing him that she actually had it.

I'm not sure if he's so shocked because she actually had it and wonders how she got it, or if he looks like that because he just got caught in a lie. But the way his eyebrows raised a little makes it seem like he's surprised she had it after all and was testing him the whole time. I've always hated the way sometimes someone when in a relationship will test the other one like this. Really not fair in Adrien's case at all. Things aren't always as they may seem. And here's the thing, she's admitting to him that she's lying just to be with him. She lies all the time. Adrien caught on that she was lying, but didn't really understand why I don't think. Earlier in the episode he says, "What are you hiding, Kagami?" he didn't know her purpose for it. Now she says, "We're both liars, the difference is I lie to be with you. You. You lie to get away from me." Which is a yes but actually no situation. It's not that he doesn't want to be with her, it's that he needs to get away temporarily. It just looks really, really bad. Getting off track from that conversation briefly, but that scene where the akuma goes off into the night, with the blurred city lights that becomes clear. Just wow. That shot is beautiful, I can't help myself from playing it back and admiring it. I'm also totally digging the new transformation music! it gives me 90s vibes and makes me happy. Seeing Jagged after Truth is just completely different xD "I fear nothing, I am an artist! I still hold to my fans." Both Roth: "Wrong, you lie to them about your age!" "That's not Rock and Roll!" Had me rolling!! Jagged sure is something XD Chat just up and about to cataclysm the sphere, thinking he'd be okay because he doesn't lie. Except he lies all the time to protect his identity and get himself away from people so he can transform. xD Silly Kitty. The drone as a Lucky Charm is super cool! In Truth, Chat Noir said a truth about how he felt about Ladybug. In Lies, he tells lies to Lies to get her attention. "My name's not Chat Noir! I'm not a superhero! I hate Ladybug! And I think Hawk Moth should've called himself Panfly! It's funnier! Oh, I was about to forget: my favorite dish is cabbage with white sauce! Yummy!" Cabbage...with white sauce... as a dish. Is this like, a real fancy dish or something or is this boy being completely starved? o.o CN: "There are only two more liars left in Paris, and one of them knows how to turn his attention." LB: "No, wait! Don't do that! What if I'm mistaken?" "You know what? I trust you." he lets go, sacrificing himself again "Chat Noir, no! Don't do that! You're crazy!" "Yes, crazy for you, m'lady." Says softly, sadly, "No, you're just crazy unconscious." This ENTIRE scene right here. The love, the trust, the pain in this scene. It's so beautiful and well done that I can't stop getting emotional from it and gushing! Everything's on the line from that decision, and the trust he has for her, the faith he has in her really helps her know she can do what she needs to do. She's always doubting herself, and he's always there to say he doesn't feel that way at all, and it gives her that confidence and courage she needs. The moment Chat Noir is okay, the first thing Ladybug does is run up and smack him, grabbing him anxiously saying "Seriously, you need to stop doing this to me!" The girl is stressed seeing her partner sacrifice himself time and again! IF THIS BOY DOESN'T REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH SHE CARES ABOUT HIM AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. Any fan that still thinks Ladybug doesn't love Chat Noir and thinks poorly of him, clearly does not understand it at all. My Ladynoir heart is SO HAPPY! I was thrilled with them in Truth, but this is a totally different level. I'm almost in tears with how happy I am. And then I noticed something. I don't know if it's anything or not. But Chat Noir says to her, "Yes, but it's because I find that angry look of yours irresistable." and Kagami turns around to look at him, only him and never Ladybug. Just watching him. Which is a bit... odd. "Ahh, Ladybug..." he sighs. After what

just happened, I don't blame him! x3 These two are honestly fire. When D'Argencort has to step in to keep Kagami from hurting Adrien during fencing... Doesn't matter how upset she is, that's gross to physically take it out on him to the point a teacher has to intervene. Kagami tells Adrien she knows he's hiding something, but that he's sincere, too. But when he asks if they can't be friends then, she responds, "How can you trust someone who lied to you?" and finally gives him back the lucky charm. Ever since Gorizilla, I've been worrying of him losing it for good! Glad she gave it back to him. I've said it already, but he's really going to lose that thing if he's not careful! "When I'm ready to see you again, I'll let you know." and she just leaves. I get she's upset, he's been lying to her to get away when he's with her and all that. But this is worse than what happened with Lukanette. Luka wanted to actually know what was going on, he asked Marinette about it directly. She told him honestly, it's the one thing she can't tell him. Kagami on the other hand never actually asked. During one of the scenes when he was spacing out, she asked what was the matter is all. All she's cared about is that he's lied, and now that he's lied she can't trust him. Doesn't even want to hear him out, not that he'd explain it to her. Kagami doesn't even want to see Adrien for awhile now. At least Luka's more understanding and isn't as harsh being in the exact same situation. This poor boy... But it's also for the best. Marinette and Adrien both after breaking up with Luka and Kagami, decided to transform and meet up to just be in each other's company. They're both sad, but not especially so. "Do you know what the difference is, between us and the rest of the world, m'lady? We can't be completely honest with each other. We have our secrets, and sometimes we have to lie." Ladybug frowning hums in agreement. But at the same time, they both turn to each other and say happily "But we know we can trust each other!" finishing with a pound-it! IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL AND MY HEART IS HAPPY After Truth, where Luka and Marinette were so sad and having a hard time, I really needed such an episode with such good Ladynoir! It really looks like the story is going in a really good direction, in my opinion. x3

#ml #miraculous ladybug #miraculous tales of ladybug and chat noir #ml season 4 spoilers #ml spoilers season 4 #ml spoilers #lies spoilers #adrien agreste #ladynoir #ladybug #chat noir #it took me HOURS to write this up so sorry it's late #if I could only pick one ship to ship in the entire show #it'd be ladynoir #if you couldn't tell

[lycorogue]

Some Passing Thoughts on the New Miraculous Episodes

Finally got around to watching the fansubs of the Shanghai special and “Truth” (I’m still waiting for the other episodes to come out before watching Furious Fu).

Miraculous World: Shanghai – The Legend of Ladydragon

I have to say, I might change my mind later if the Prodigious proves to be more crucial to the overall lore of the series, but right now? Yeah. This special is a major skip for me. 

I did not connect with Fei the way I fell in love with Jess and Aeon. I am so pissed at the set-up the writers came up with to GET Marinette to Shanghai; her reasoning is the most selfish thing we have ever seen her do and it is such an injustice to her character. Plus, it is like neither Ladybug nor Chat Noir learned anything from the New York trip as they both show up in Shanghai kind of spur of the moment (i.e. didn’t tell the other they were leaving Paris). In fact, Marinette - again, going back to my hatred for the setup to get her to China - didn’t even CONSIDER the fact that Paris would be left unprotected; that Ladybug would be MIA. Granted, it was stated that Hawk Moth was surprisingly inactive, but shouldn’t that put her on hyper-alert; waiting for the other shoe to drop and Hawky to release something big that he was building up to? Instead she just lowers her guard and doesn’t even consider her superhero duties when planning on following Adrien. 

Another annoying thing is that the writers didn’t seem to learn anything from backlash against the episode “Kung Fu.” They just once again have Adrien be the one offering to teach Marinette Mandarin; not her mother (whose Chinese name Marinette never even knew), nor her great-uncle. Another writers flub was in the battle against Roi Argent. Ladybug questions Mei Shi’s suggestion that revenge does not equal justice (if that was translated properly), and... I’m pretty sure Marinette already showcased in previous episodes such as “Silencer” that she very much knows that revenge doesn’t equal justice??? She’s the one who corrected Chat Noir that Silencer coercing Bob Roth to admit he stole from Kitty Section and Marinette isn’t justice; it’s revenge. So???? HUH? NOW she magically feels like Fei’s revenge on Cash is justice for what he did to her? 

If all of that wasn’t bad enough, the pacing of this special was in complete overdrive as well. You didn’t have any of those emotional moments - both heart breaking and fluff-bombs - that you had in the NY special. The focus was largely on Fei, and I didn’t even really like her. She didn’t have the heart and the fully-fleshed characterization that Jess or Aeon had.

I’m also confused about Gabriel spending the past 15 years planning this whole thing. HOW!? WHY!? This is before Adrien was even born, or VEEERY shortly after if we skipped over his 15th birthday in the series. This was LOOOOOOONG before Emilie’s illness, which is presumably why Gabriel started using the butterfly miraculous in the first place (as showcased by Gabe in Origins asking Nooroo to remind him how the powers even work before using them for the first time in a corrupted state on Adrien’s first day of public school). So, if getting the Great Power of the Prodigious was something he was planning on doing literally all of Adrien’s life, why present it as “I found something that can finally give me an edge against Ladybug and Chat Noir”? I mean, what was his original endgame going to be? He couldn’t have possibly known that he’d be in dire need for the cat and ladybug jewels but struggled to take them from two teenage superheroes. It’s like the writers are trying to set him up as some mastermind akin to David Xanatos from Disney’s Gargoyles, but they are failing miserably. The whole Hawk Moth plot just doesn’t make sense to me.

Honestly? The only things that made this special worth it for me were: 1) Finding out a bit more about Sabine and her family (I love that she probably picked the name Sabine because it sounded like the pronunciation of her Chinese name) 2) Seeing Gorilla be his action figure nerd self a bit more (and the action figures of Uncanny Valley and Eagle) 3) Mei Shi in Renling (?) form, who was hella adorable! I need him as a plushie STAT 4) Adrien being the precious bean that he is. Just every moment he’s on screen was adorable (complete with him STILL having the picture of Marinette that was sent to him in “Evillustrator” saved to his baton and using that to try to find her) 5) Seeing the world through the eyes of a kwami for the first time and learning a touch more non-crucial lore 6) Mei Shi in statue form reminding me of the Dragon costume on The Masked Singer.

(I know, seeing them side-by-side now, they really aren’t that similar after all, but it’s been about a year since Dragon was on The Masked Singer, and he’s still what I kept thinking of as I watched Mei Shi on screen)

While I obsessively watched the New York special at least a dozen times, I’m really only seeing myself re-watch this special once more when it’s in English, and maybe whenever I do a full-series binge (which is super rare that I take the time for that).

Not impressed. Sorry.

Truth

“Truth”, on the other hand? Hhhhhnnnnnngggg. My heart! It breaks! Poor Marinette. Poor poor Luka. I mean, silver linings at the end there, but also BIG OOF. (Also, why wasn’t Adrien around at all whenever Truth made people confess that Marinette’s secret was her love for Adrien? xDDD)

I’m also a bit confused about the Adrien pictures. She had them taken down pretty much since “Troublemaker”, and yet her walls are once more papered with Adrien’s likeness now that Marinette is trying to get over him and date Luka? How does THAT make any sense outside of the writers going “we need an awkward phone call between Marinette and Luka. Oh! I know! A picture of her Adrien-covered bedroom walls is accidentally sent to Luka!” >3> Also.... what is UP with Luka’s animation again!? The kid was so pale it’s like they forgot to add any color to his model in this episode. WHY CAN’T THEY JUST ANIMATE MY PRECIOUS SON LOOKING HANDSOME EVER!? FIRST NO EYELASHES, AND NOW NO SKIN TONE!? WHYYYYYYYYY!? Personally, I prefer “Silencer” to “Truth” both in overall story and in Luka’s akumatized form design. Also, side note, did anyone else notice that Ladybug was hit by Luka’s attack and couldn’t speak for most of the battle both times? And that she needed Chat Noir to help her set up her Lucky Charm both times? And that Luka’s drive both times was to get to the truth?

I did still enjoy this episode very much. It showcases the new stresses Marinette has to face (totally unfair; I agree. However, it’s a standard trope in most teenage superhero stories such as Teen Titans and Spider-Man, so I was expecting it). It showcases how hard it is for her to figure out a balance between life and superheroing (again, re: standard teen-superhero trope). The fans get confirmation on a fantheory that’s been circling pretty much since Luka was introduced (ESPECIALLY after the episode “Desperada”). The Ladynoir shippers are well fed, and it’s great to see LB and CN praise each other - including Ladybug’s love of Chat Noir’s humor. 

I hope this isn’t the end of us seeing Luka in the show (that would break my heart even more) and it feels lame to build up the Lukanette “love rival” arc only for it to die off before it really goes anywhere. There was so much story potential there where Marinette could grow to learn what it truly means to be in love, and not just idolize and romanticize someone you’re infatuated with. Instead, all she learned is that she is alone aside from Chat Noir, and I feel like that’s SUUUUPER railroading the Ladynoir ship. And, frankly, I’d much prefer to see the Ladynoir side grow naturally, as it has been, instead of forcing Marinette’s hand because Chat Noir is the only one she can be MOSTLY honest with (secret identities notwithstanding).

It’s been a long hiatus. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to dodge fandom salt, but still get a larger dose than I intended to have in my fandom diet, so maybe my views are a bit tainted from that. However, this special and season premiere feel a bit like the writers are stumbling. I don’t know if the pandemic somehow affected their writing flow, or if they feel pressured by the fans to tell the series’ story a certain way and are scrambling to do so, or if they are rushing to an ending instead of taking their time and letting it naturally unfold as they had with the first few seasons. But, regardless of their reason, I hope they re-find themselves; the ones who told great stories in seasons 1 and 2 and (poor writing for Marinette notwithstanding) really good stories in season 3. I hope they can step up their game for the remainder of season 4. 

It’s been a long break, and we all deserve something good to feed us. We don’t need another GoT or HIMYM final season. Especially when this isn’t even supposed to BE the final season of the series.

Guess it’s time to wait for “Lies” to come out, and hope for the best.

#ML #Miraculous Ladybug #LycoRogue original #fan thoughts #LycoRogue thoughts #vague episode reviews #ML Specials #Miraculous Ladybug specials #Miraculous World #ML Shanghai special #ML Shanghai special spoilers #ML season 4 #MLS4 #ML season 4 spoilers #Truth #Truth spoilers #vague spoilers #minor spoilers #mediocre writing #The special was skippable #Truth was good but killed so much potential storyline #and feels kinda railroady #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Luka Couffaine #Fei Wu #Ladybug #Chat Noir #Cat Noir #kinda rambly #semi-salt

[lady-divine-writes]

Good Omens - “An Enchanted Gift” (Rated NC17)

Summary: Anathema gives Aziraphale and Crowley a special gift - a homemade bottle of a holiday drink with some very peculiar side effects. (2299 words)

Notes: Written for the wonderful @theantichristmaszine  :) Warning for sexual content.

Read on AO3.

Crowley’s flat is positively a picture, fit for printing on a Christmas card.

Fire roaring on the hearth.

Garland and tinsel draped over anything that doesn’t move.

Fairy lights brightening the dark corners, wound around the rubber tree and the Chinese Evergreen, weeding through the leaves of the dieffenbachia.

A host of red velvet, gold taffeta, and white satin ribbon hanging from the ceiling till no white marble can be seen.

And at the center of it all, a tree - an honest-to-Satan floor-to-ceiling pine that Crowley had tromped into the forest and tore out of the ground himself with his own two hands. An ax would have been simpler. Heck, he could have snapped the thing back to his flat, trimmed and mounted, ready for decorating. But his method seemed so much more festive considering he’d been bellowing holiday carols the entire time.

He let angel take the lead decorating. Aziraphale had a merry time covering the thing in frosted globes, glass candy canes (since the real ones didn’t last long enough to hang), gingerbread men (only slightly nibbled), reindeer, clove oranges, crocheted white-lace snowflakes, and other ornaments of the like, purchased from artisans all around London.  

Crowley had gone so far as to include a manger scene for the benefit of his angel-in-residence. However, instead of hanging the Archangel Gabriel using the provided hook, he hung him over the birthplace of the Lord by a noose. Aziraphale giggled when he saw it but recommended fixing it - to ward off bad karma or something along those lines. Not wanting to sully his spirits listening to a lecture about tempting fate (which is all Crowley does), Crowley remedied it.

He replaced Gabriel with a vintage Troll doll key chain Pepper accidentally forgot at Aziraphale’s bookshop.

“There! Top notch replacement, if I do say so meself! Looks just like ‘im!” Crowley declared, gesturing to the absurd trinket with its vibrant purple hair.

“And which part, might I ask, looks just like him?” Aziraphale had asked.

“The head! It’s huge!”

Demons aren’t much for celebrating. But this year, with everything Crowley had to be grateful for, he honestly couldn’t help himself. At its root, Christmas is about love.

Family.

Birth.

A chance to shed the skin of past sins and start anew.

This year, Crowley couldn’t see letting Christmas pass unacknowledged.

“You know, I may not be a connoisseur of holiday shindigs,” Crowley says, leaning back on the floor and gazing up at the spectacle that is their cheerfully burdened tree, “but I would say tonight has come pretty close to perfect. Wouldn’t you?” He rolls onto his hip, beaming at Aziraphale seated not too far from him, a loopy grin nudging his mouth up at the corners.

“Indeed.” Aziraphale lifts his bottle of Burgundy, prepared to propose a toast. It comes up off the floor far too quickly, an indicator the thing has been drained dry.

“Looks like we finished that one.” Crowley looks left and right in search of another, but doesn’t see one. “Augh! Don’t tell me we went through them all! I’m sure I had another three at least!”

“Don’t fret, my dear,” Aziraphale says. “I may have just the thing.” He crawls over to the tree on hands and knees and rummages underneath. A second later he crawls back out, accompanied by a rustic-looking green glass bottle and a triumphant little, ‘A-ha!’ “This comes courtesy of dear, sweet Anathema.” He presents the bottle to his demon for approval. “She said she made it with love.”

“Really?” Crowley snorts while Aziraphale uncorks the bottle. “And what ingredient is that then? Wolfsbane? Mandrake root?”

“Honey, I think.” Aziraphale gives the mouth of the bottle a sniff. “Maybe blackberries?”

“The important question is - is it alcohol?”

Aziraphale brings the bottle to his lips and knocks back a gulp, coughing at the finish. “That it is.”

“Give it here then. I’d like to partake of some love, too.” Crowley indulges, tilting his head back and taking a huge swig. He smacks his tongue, then licks his lips, shivering when a wave of heat enters his bloodstream and works its way down his spine. “Wow. That’s tasty.”

“Isn’t it? If being a witch doesn’t work out for her, she should definitely take up a career distilling.”

“Love, you say?” Crowley peers into the bottle, pondering the ingredients as the drink settles onto his taste buds. “Do you think that’s something she orders by the pound, or gathers under the full moon?”

“To be honest, I have no idea---oof!” Aziraphale sways, planting a hand flat on the floor and locking his elbow to keep from toppling over.

“You alright, angel?” Crowley snickers. “Having a bit of trouble holding your drink?” His forehead wrinkles with concern when Aziraphale doesn’t recover right away. “That’s not normally like you---”

Crowley’s teasing cuts off when Aziraphale’s mouth crashes into his - hot, demanding, tasting of mulling spices, apples, sour plum, and brandy. It takes Crowley a moment to realize Aziraphale is kissing him.

Then another for him to start kissing back.

This isn’t just any kiss. It’s the kiss he’s been longing for. The kiss he’d feel on his lips every time Aziraphale looked his way and smiled. It’s the kiss he thought about the century he slept. And even though there have been many kisses between them, Crowley ranks this as the first.

Because it’s the kiss of dreams.

Aziraphale inhales sharply and backs away. “Oh! Oh, I’m sorry, my dear! I don’t know what came over me!”

Crowley looks him over curiously, waiting for an explanation, but Aziraphale doesn’t seem to have one. Aziraphale loves kissing, but he doesn’t go about it this way - doesn’t rush in, doesn’t take what he hasn’t asked for. “Turn about’s fair play, I’d wager.”

“What do you …?”

Without another word, Crowley sneaks a hand behind Aziraphale’s head and kisses him back.

Another kiss follows. Then another. With each one, the room becomes inhospitable - too warm, too stuffy, too difficult to stay in wearing all their blasted clothes! Aziraphale tries to relieve the pressure at his neck, but he can’t seem to manage his buttons, so Crowley helps him undo those. Likewise Crowley’s zipper becomes uncooperative, so Aziraphale tasks himself with unzipping it. Article by article they tear through until the two become too frustrated to care about the inevitable paperwork and snap off the rest.

Crowley kneels behind his angel, completely naked, kissing every spot he can get his lips on. And God, how it tingles! No. How it burns - each touch of his lips to Aziraphale’s flesh sending surges of razor sharp and magma hot straight from Crowley’s mouth to his groin.

And he wants more.

He wants it everywhere.

He wants it scalding his throat, searing his lungs, consuming him from the inside out. Let it dissolve him into ashes that blow away on the wind, let him die in an orgasm of violence and fire and angelic light.

As long as it comes with Aziraphale.

What a way to go.

“I have to have you, angel,” he moans. “Now. Right now.”

“Are you … are you sure? We’ve always said that we wouldn’t allow alcohol to make us amorous.”

“I don’t feel drunk. Do you?”

Aziraphale focuses inward, taking stock of his corporation. “No,” he says, surprised considering the bottles of wine they’d polished off before they started in on Anathema’s gift. “I don’t. Not at all.” Aziraphale locates an empty bottle and concentrates, tries to push the alcohol of the night from his system, but nothing appears. Not a single drop. “Far from it, it would seem.”

“That’s right. We’re not drunk. We’re completely in our right minds.”

“I wouldn’t say …”

“I want this, angel!” Crowley pleads with a sense of urgency. “Don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. More than ever,” Aziraphale admits.

“What do you want me to do?” Crowley whispers, voice husky with a lust he has inspired in others but has never once felt himself. “Tell me.”

“Make love to me?”

“How?”

Aziraphale peeks over his shoulder, grinning at his demon chomping at the bit. “You seem to be in the perfect position. I suggest you start there.”

Aziraphale expects Crowley to mock his snark, but he doesn’t, diving immediately back into the task of kissing across Aziraphale’s shoulders, lingering over the joint where his wings would connect if he let them out. Crowley swirls over it with his tongue, painting overlapping circles, and Aziraphale sees stars. They’ve made love in this position before, and Crowley has kissed every inch of his back, but he’s never spent so much time on this particular area.

The decadence of this sensation should be criminal.

Aziraphale feels Crowley’s hands on his body everywhere at once - massaging his muscles, fondling his cock, scissoring him open. Could Crowley be using magic to pleasure him? That’s not something they’ve ever done before due to the implications of Hell finding out. But seeing as Hell is no longer a concern, that puts every card at their disposal.

And thank God because this they need to do again!

“Aziraphale,” Crowley utters as he enters him, his angel’s name like sugar in his bitter mouth, and fuck!

There it is.

When he enters him completely.

The fire.

Inside his angel.

And Crowley has become its fuel.

“Oh, Crowley …” Aziraphale shifts his weight onto his palms and leans forward, raising his rear in the air. “Oh, yes. Just like that, my dear …”

“Like this, angel?” Crowley pulls back, then thrusts hard - harder than he would normally, sending Aziraphale swiftly to the verge. With Aziraphale’s grunts of ecstasy mirroring the rhythm of Crowley’s hips, Crowley knows that regardless of anything, this he cannot stop.

It would be unforgivable.

“Yes!” Aziraphale whimpers, bracing against the marble floor with knuckles white. “Yes! Crowley, yes!”

“Yes …” Crowley echoes beneath his breath, a lightness settling inside his mind, siphoning his ability to think. He’s done too much thinking already. Now is not the time for thinking. Now is the time for serving. The time for feeling. And what he feels is soft beneath his hands, tight around his cock, a quest for satisfaction, for completion, wrapped in a braided rope of love, love, and more love. So much love it fills his flat from corner to ceiling, leaves its mark on the walls and on the doors.

And on the marble beneath them when Aziraphale, spiraling out of control, comes unannounced on Crowley’s living room floor.

“Oh,” he squeaks with embarrassment though he knows Crowley would say he shouldn’t be. “I apologize, my love, but I seem to have sullied your floor.”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it,” Crowley says, snapping his fingers and cleaning the mess as he shudders through his own orgasm, which had snuck up inside him and granted him release less like an accomplishment and more like a reward for what he had done for his angel.

“Well,” Aziraphale manages even though he’s breathless, which isn’t a bother for him. “That was … interesting.”

“Just interesting?”

Aziraphale blushes. “More than interesting. But I would hate to think that was all because of the drink.”

“I wouldn’t say it was. I think the brew just sort of lowered out inhibitions. Enhanced the experience.”

“Do you think that was meant to happen? I find it difficult to believe that Anathema of all people gave us some sort of love potion as a Christmas present.”

“Not sure. Could be a side-effect of being witch made. Probably affects us more because we’re occult.”

Aziraphale rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue Crowley’s word usage. “Or … what if it’s something worse?”

“Worse?” Crowley arches an eyebrow. “What worse?”

“What if it did what it was meant to, but it was supposed to be a present for her young gentleman?”

“Ugh! Aziraphale! Don’t!” Crowley groans, wrapping his arms around his angel and holding him tight. “You’re going to put me off!”

“Sorry,” Aziraphale chuckles, hugging Crowley’s arms about his waist. Locked in the cozy cocoon of Crowley’s embrace, a thought pricks Aziraphale’s brain.

There is a secret third possibility.

A week or two ago, Aziraphale went to Tracy Shadwell’s place for tea and rum cake. While he was there, he’d confided in both Tracy and Anathema that as much as he loved his sex life with his husband, physical intimacy had become somewhat of a chore. Not because he didn’t love it, which he did, but because Crowley seemed stuck on every love making session between them being more romantic than the last. First came the champagne, then the candlelight (so much candlelight …), massages with complicated names, and, as of late, dramatic musical choices. It’s nice, the care Crowley puts into being his lover, but it also puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Aziraphale to keep up appearances.

Makes the whole ordeal feel like a performance.

Some nights, by the time they get to the good stuff, Aziraphale is ready to hit the hay. Seeing as he despises sleep, that’s awfully telling.

Aziraphale has come to the conclusion that, often times, he’s just … how did the youths say it … down to fuck.

So this drink may have done exactly what it was meant to, and he and Crowley may have rightfully been its intended targets.

But Aziraphale isn’t about to tell Crowley that.

“What should we do now? Should we lock it away or …?”

“Seems to me there’s only one thing we can do …” Crowley looks the bottle over, gauging the level of the liquid still inside. He grins, the firelight flickering in his eyes, making him look more wicked than Aziraphale has seen him in decades.

And he takes a hefty swallow.

#good omens #good omens fanfiction #ineffable husbands #ineffable lovers #crowley x aziraphale #aziraphale x crowley #aziraphale #Crowley

[what-a-messsss]

1x9 rewatch

Yeeeee, this has Jacob and Mathias.  Good good.  ...It bothers me faaaar more than it should (which is to say, at all) that the episode title “Dogs, Horses and Indians” doesn’t have an Oxford comma.  Like, a lot.  o.o

Aaaaaahahaha, and here is Mathias being sneaky, sending Walt and Vic off to the northeast quadrant!  And I am once again confronted with my own double standard.  Because Mathias doing this has me kind of proud of him, but if Walt did it, I would be loading the solar catapult.  Hm.

Henry gives Walt so much leeway.  Mathias’ little dig at Henry about living on the Rez his whole life makes more sense to me now.  After all, Henry and Walt worked on oil rigs up in Alaska for at least part of their 20s according to later info.  That and him living above the Red Pony now, in Durant, make sense that there might be some added friction.

Wooooow.  Vic repeatedly said how weird it was that Mathias was being agreeable, so she just takes it upon herself to be even more of a jerk to balance things out?  Which... the heavy irony being that her “Maybe they didn’t want you running the investigation” crack is right, but also super wrong.  

Haa, the campaign advisor running “joke.” And Henry’s smiiiiile.

Oof.  Walt does not know the meaning of “tread lightly,” but again, he’s not wrong about this one.  Mathias did massively mess with the crime scene and muddle the investigation to a spectacular degree.  But Mathias is wily, and far more savvy about politics than Walt ever chooses to be.  And he’s right that he’s in an incredibly tight spot, and it’s not like he could have just asked for help.  Even if Walt had been inclined to help (haa), doing so would have totally undermined his credibility with the force and the tribe.

“Come on, Sheriff.  Can you look me in the eye and tell me you’ve never broke the law for the right reason?”  Matty, that’s his whooooole modus operandi.  As I think you well know.

I do wonder how long it’s been since Cady got her own place.  No judgement on her credit card statements still going there; one of my bills still ends up going to my mom’s despite attempts to change that, and it’s been over 5 years since I’ve lived with her.  But I do wonder.  

GOLF.  Baaahahaha, golf.  Of course the Connallys golf.  Barlow is suuuuuuuch a piece of shiiiiiit.  And of course he’s already leveraging favours and keeping track.  Oooo, but they do make it delightfully easy to hate him, and very satisfying, too.

NO, Walt, somebody being your deputy does not make their personal life your business.  Even when it involves your daughter.  Until either of them make it your business, it sure fucking isn’t.  And then the look on Branch’s face when Walt goes, “You... that’s a different story.”  Aaaah, back when Branch was vaguely sympathetic sometimes.  Ish.

Why... why does Walt charge in with no backup so often?  I guess just general self-destructive tendencies and all, but ffs.  He takes on a biker gang in their home territory with no back up.  On purpose.  He has no idea that the deputies have figured out where he is and are coming.  He just goes charging in and does some impressive damage, but if they hadn’t showed up when they did he’d be in traction or just flat out dead.  Exhausting.

I cannot for the life of me remember the actor’s name, but he’s in my head as Gabriel from the bit of time I did watch Supernatural.  He’s so squeaky new!  He’s such a rube.

I wonder how many ‘excessive force’ charges have been filed against Walt.  Probably not one in 20 times they could have been.  Ruby is not impressed.  And Vic is, as ever, an enabler.  Oooooo, Ruby just called him Walter.  She means business. Too bad he doesn’t give a shit about anything but what he wants.  ...I think I just figured out part of why Walt pisses me off so much.  That entitlement to do whatever the hell he wants and bother the rest rings really familiar from my dad.  Womp womp.  That can go on the list of things to talk about with the therapist.

Awwwww, Cady’s graduation photo on Henry’s desk!  He’s such a good second dad.  

I hadn’t thought about it the first time around, but @cminerva said something in one of our musings (that I think went into our joint fic) about Walt making Mathias come to him for things.  And here we are in the Red Pony, with Walt having had the Tribal Council brought to him, all 10 or so of them, rather than to go to them.  Which... that’s some fucked up power dynamic bullshit right there.  And they’re all sitting in a semi-circle, with Walt and Vic standing.  This is... so uncomfortable.  Crusty old white man scolds Tribal Council, literally standing there with his hands on his hips.  WITH HIS HAND ON HIS GUN--I fricking swear to gods, Walt, what the flaming hell.

Yeeeeeee, Jacob.  He’s so fluffy.  The sides of his hair are so long.  This is a delight.  Ok, but can I just take a moment with the fact that Jacob bought Eaglestar’s debt?  From a cynical point of view, it could be to make sure that he had the president of the tribal council effectively in his pocket, and there was probably an element of that.  But I do genuinely believe that as much of a pragmatist as he is, Jacob is a thwarted optimist.  When he says, “Because I bought his debt.  ...I wanted to make sure no one could influence his decisions, no one could force him to act against his own judgment,” that he’s telling the truth.  “He may have had demons, but he was his own man.”  I think that he probably hopes the same for himself.

Cady’s faaaace when Walt gets back and is ignoring the excessive force charge.  Officially one of my favourite moments of the whole show now.  Yus.  The sheer lack of respect that Walt has for his daughter. Blatant lack of respect for her and her expertice.  Yeet him into the sun, I’m telling you.

Who she sleeps with is not about you, you jackass.  This is such a good scene for her as an actor.  And such a bad scene for him as a dad.  He’s such a bad father.  Which makes me about 400x more grateful that she basically has Henry as her Other Dad.  Who does not suck as much.�� Damn.

Mmmmm, Henry’s glasses make a return.

Vic’s “don’t shit where you eat” is pretty rich, considering her multi-year boner for her boss, and then actually getting together with him.  

I’m pretty ridiculously gone on Jacob.  He walks back in at the end the ep and my sad little heart just goes pitter patter.  I’d sort of forgotten that he doesn’t meet the blood-quantum requirements.

“Not cynical.  Just suspicious.”  No, no, suspicious aaand cynical.  You’re mighty good at multitasking on the shitty stuff, Walt.  The accusations he levels at Jacob are so utterly circumstantial, so completely without any shred of proof to back them up, but we’re still in the early days of the show, where we’ve seen him spin these “here’s what happened” things had seen them pan out, that the audience is inclined to believe him.  Walt also has a tendency to complicate things.

If Jacob was setting up dominoes behind the scenes, the convoluted mess that Walt postulates still doesn’t really make sense.  It would make more sense for Jacob to buy Malcolm’s debt in the hopes that he would possibly feel indebted or otherwise favourable towards him to not pass the blood-quantum resolution in the first place.  Arranging a convoluted murder to get himself a place on the council when there are clearly election anyway is just... not clean, not smart, and too liable to go wrong.  Jacob is careful and while he prefers delegating, a total wild card like Mika would be a huge risk for something that could blow up in his face so spectacularly.  Walt, you make no sense.  Como siempre.

This scene at the end with Branch and Cady reinforces my theory that Branch desperately wanted anything positive from Walt.  “He’ll get over it.”  “Yeah, with you.  You’re his daughter.  But me?”  And that’s kind of gutting for him.  So he squares up and off he goes.

“And I’m no quitter.”  No, you’re a drama llama.  Sheesh.

#Longmire #episode commentary #Mathias #Jacob Nighthorse #I sort of like Walt but mostly hate his fricking guts #I spend a decent amount of time yelling that he needs to be flung into the sun #Cady #Branch

[poisongirl18]

Soldier

Solider (Prologue)

6 years ago . . .

Tick Tock . . . Tick Tock . . .

Kylie watched the clock, tapping her foot anxiously waiting to get the hell out of Advanced Trigonometry. It wasn’t that she disliked the class as much as she despised the teacher. It didn’t help that it was Friday either, a few moments a way from a long weekend at the Lake she had loved so much, especially during the fall. She loved watching the leaves fall as she curled up next to her favorite tree, one that she claimed silently as her own.

Kylie jumped in her seat as the bell rang, startling her from her daydreams.

She wasted no time in packing up her bag not listening to a word her teacher said. She skipped out the door, not even bothering to put on her jacket.

She hummed happily to herself, hurrying to her locker to gather the books she needed for the weekend ahead. She had a variety of novels on the top shelf of her locker, ones she had read many times before but couldn’t seem to get enough of.

She had continuous dreams of writing a book, one that would hit the shelves of bookstores next to the ones she had come to love over the years.

Kylie shut her locker, her backpack on her shoulder, turning to head to the doors when she bumped into a hard rock instead.

She fell on her butt with an ‘oof’, the sound of a deep chuckle filling her ears.

“Someone’s in a rush for the weekend.”

Kylie glanced up to the talking rock only to find that it wasn’t a rock at all, but a boy. He was crouched down at eye level, a soft smirk on his face.

She had opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it, choosing to grab the books that had fallen from her hands instead.

“I hope this isn’t homework.” The boy, no man, had said as he helped her.

Kylie continued to stay quiet, knowing that she was not good with talking to boys. Especially with a man who looked like him.

She glanced up, her dark eyes meeting his emerald ones. Kylie felt her heart skip a beat in her chest as her eyes traced over the rest of the man before her.

“You got a name, little mouse?” He asked, holding a worn book for her to take.

Kylie dragged her bottom lip between her teeth, nodding her head slightly. “Kylie.”

“Kylie.” He nodded.

She liked the way he said her name, like it was one that had never touched his tongue.

Kylie got to her feet and dusted herself off, thinking that the man before her was going to walk away like the boys around her typically did.

It surprised her when he didn’t move and inch, his eyes raking over her not in a sexual way, but like he was studying her.

“Kylie, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Dean Winchester.” He held out a calloused hand, one that a boy her age should have yet, but she found incredibly attractive.

Kylie held out her hand, shaking his with a small smile on her face. “Are you new?”

Dean couldn’t help the grin that formed on his face. “Yeah, my brother and I came here with our dad.” He watched as she sucked in her bottom lip nervously.

“Welcome.” She nodded.

Dean liked how quiet she was, clearly nervous around him. “Thank you.” He adjusted the leather jacket.

“If there’s anything I can do, let me know.” She nodded kindly.

Again, Kylie expected Dean to be like other boys his age and leave her in the shadows. And once again she was surprised when he didn’t move.

“Actually, you know any places to hang out around here?” Dean asked gently. “I’m just not ready to head home yet.”

Kylie licked her bottom lip, glancing at the clock above his head, knowing that she only had a short amount of time before she had to be at home with her parents. “Uh . . .” She trailed.

Dean gave her a reassuring smile. “Look if you have some place you’d rather be-“

“No, no, no!” Kylie interrupted with a chuckle. “I was actually going to head to the lake.”

“Lake?” Dean raised a brow interested.

She nodded. “You, uh, you want to come with?”

Kylie watched as Dean’s face lit up with joy. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “Of course, it’s just a short walk.”

Dean bit his lip. “Actually, I brought my bike.”

“Y-Your bike?” She stuttered nervously.

Dean watched in amusement as her dark eyes widened. “Yeah, don’t worry I have a helmet for you.”

Kylie had never ridden a motorcycle before, hell she never even rode a regular bike, but something told her that she could trust Dean even if she had met him just a few moments ago.

“Alright.” She nodded and held her bag close to her, walking outside with Dean quietly to the beautiful black Harley that sat in the now empty student parking lot.

Kylie let out a shaky breath, one that Dean heard. He looked over her as she seemed to grip her bag tightly to her chest, the knuckles on her hand turning white.

“We don’t have to take her.” Dean smiled softly.

“I’m sorry.” Kylie let out. “I’m just a little nervous.”

“Hey, hey, no.” Dean shook his head. “That’s alright. I could use the walk anyway.”

She gave him an amused smile knowing that underneath that grey t-shirt was nothing but pure muscle. Something inside her made her wonder if this was all a joke, a beautiful man like Dean talking to a chubby nerd like her. It wouldn’t be the first time she was tricked by the looks of a boy into doing their homework or helping them pass a test.

Kylie and Dean began their short journey down to the lake, Kylie closing her eyes as they walked and enjoying the chilly breeze.

Dean let out a chuckle as he watched her. “You okay over there?”

She opened one eye and smiled. “I just love fall, it’s perfect especially at the lake.”

He smiled. “Yeah it is nice, not exactly perfect riding weather.”

“How long have you had that bike?” She glanced over him.

“For about two year, she’s my pride and joy, well second to my baby.” He shrugged.

“You’re baby?” Kylie asked puzzled.

Dean let out a laugh. “My 1967 Chevy Impala.”

Kylie who knew nothing about cars, only gave a nod. “Oh, that’s nice.”

Dean let out a gasp. “Nice? Nice? She’s beautiful.” He pretended to be offended.

“Okay, okay, she’s beautiful.” Kylie let out a giggle at his dramatics.

He gave a proud smile and nodded. “Do you have a car?”

Kylie paused sadly, knowing she was the only one in her grade that didn’t have a car, but things were tight around her house. Her mom was a single mother doing the best she could for her daughter even if it meant leaving her alone while she worked late shifts at the diner.

“No.” She shook her head. “I just walk.”

Dean pursed his lips before nodding. “Then I’ll give you a ride, wherever and whenever.”

Kylie felt the first shivering chill from the air as they walked onto the grass off the lake. “Why?” She asked Dean.

Dean gave her a small smile. “You know I’ve been in our school for about a week now.”

Kylie made a face before shaking her head, leading Dean to a special tree that she would sit under. “You have?”

“Yeah,” Dean chuckled, “you know we have four classes together.”

Kylie thought for a minute, not remembering him in any of her classes. “You are?”

“Yes.” He chuckled. “You, little mouse, don’t pay attention to much around you.”

Kylie felt the heat rise to her cheek, knowing that he was right, she tended to go into her own little dream world, especially in school.

“I’m sorry.” She bit her lip. “It’s not you, I did that before you came to our school.”

Dean smiled and motioned for her to sit. “Oh, I know.” He moved to sit beside her. “But I had to get to know you.”

“Why?” Kylie laughed. “There’s nothing special about me.”

Dean felt his eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. “Why would you say that?”

Kylie shrugged as she pulled out two waters from her bag, handing one to Dean. “I just . . . know.”

“Kylie,” Dean chuckled as he looked at the bottle in her hand, “you just welcomed me with open arms, no questions asked. There’s something special about you, trust me.”

Kylie only nodded and twisted her bottle in her hands. “So where are you from?”

Dean smirked. “All over.”

“And that means?” She pressed.

Dean let out a breath and shifted on the grass. “My dad moved us around a lot, but hopefully he’s looking to settle down.”

“And your mom?” Kylie questioned, not even thinking.

Dean glanced down at his hands sadly.

She knew she had hit a nerve and went to grab his hand. “I’m sorry, I tend to ask questions before thinking.”

Dean shook his head. “No, no, I just . . . she passed away.”

“Oh Dean, I’m so sorry.” Kylie sighed, squeezing his hand. “You said you have a brother?” She asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, Sam. He’s an amazing little brother.” Dean said proudly. “You have any siblings?”

Kylie shook her head. “It’s just me and my mom.”

He nodded in understanding. “It’s rough only having one parent.”

She shrugged. “She does the best she can, and I do the best I can.”

“I think you do more than you realize.” Dean noted.

“Meaning?” She raised a brow, turning to him.

“I’ve seen you around this last week, you’re quiet and in your own little world sometimes but you help whenever you can.” Dean nodded. “You tutor too.”

“You been stalking me?” She teased.

Dean let out a chuckle and shook his head. “I just noticed some things about you.”

Kylie heard the roar of motorcycles near by as two familiar boys stopped in front of them.

Cas Novak, the leader, took off his sunglasses. “Winchester, we were looking for you everywhere!”

The other boy, Gabriel, glanced between Dean and Kylie with a smirk. “Never thought we would catch you here.”

Dean rolled his eyes and glanced at Kylie giving her an apologetic grin. “What’s up boys?”

“We were going to take a ride, figured you would want to come with us, explore the town a bit.” Cas smirked. “But if your too busy . . .” He trailed knowingly.

Dean let out a chuckle. “Actually, I got to make sure my little mouse here gets home okay.”

Kylie felt the heat rise to her cheeks as Cas let out a laugh.

“Alright, then come meet us, bring your little brother too.” Cas smirked. “We’ll see you around Kylie.” He waved with a grin before revving his engine and driving away, Gabriel following behind him.

Kylie ran her fingers through her hair. “You don’t have to worry about me Dean.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “Let me walk you home.”

“It’s not far.” Kylie said as she watched Dean get to his feet.

“Kylie . . .” Dean trailed as he held his hand out for her to take. “Let me walk you home.”

Kylie glanced at the calloused hand before her eyes went back up to the emerald eyes that shined brightly in the sun.

She reached up putting her soft hand in his calloused one, trusting him more than she trusted any other man in her life.

#supernatural fanfiction #supernatural family #supernatural #dean winchester #sam and dean #dean winchester supernatural #dean winchester fic #My writing #my fanfiction #my fanfic stuff #my fanfic writing #soldier dean #dean #Sam Winchester #dean winchester fanfiction

[julia-highstorms]

Sparring Session (Kenna x Dom)

Summary: Queen Kenna and King Dominic of the Five Kingdoms take a trip down memory lane.

Author’s note: The Crown & The Flame is my favorite Choices series ever, and I’m weak for the “friends to lovers” trope and I’ve always wanted a spin-off of Kenna and Dom. I’ve been sketching this fanfic for almost two years and have finally been able to write it all out, thanks to Blades finale. The nostalgia hit hard. Anyway, I don’t know if anyone will read this, if there still are die hard fans of TC&TF like me here, but I’m so glad I was able to write this. My masterlist

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Kenna x Dom

Word count: +5.5K

________________________________________

The boy swung his small sword bravely. 

“Come on, fight me! Or are you too afraid?” - nine-years-old Crown Prince Gabriel Arthur Rys of Stormholt shouted defiantly at his father as they squared off on the hillside just outside the Stormholt castle’s gate.

King Dominic burst out in laughter. 

“Watch your mouth, kid, when I was your age I used to beat every kid, whether they were the castle staff’s or villagers’ kids.”

“You? I thought it was mother.” - Prince Arden Leon, second son, seven-years-old, asked, interrupting his reading, with a confused expression on his face, from where he was with his younger sister, four-years-old Princess Marcella Idara. 

“This is what the history books want you to believe, but not everything that's written in it is true. I was better than your mom.” 

“Is that so?” - they heard a voice coming from the gates.

A heavily pregnant Kenna stepped outside the castle’s ground to the hill. Her loyal friend and Crown Guardian Will Jackson accompanied her, making sure that the queen wouldn’t trip on her condition.

“Mother!” - the kids sprinted towards her, instantly forgetting the argument. Dom couldn’t hold back a smile as he watched his loving and growing family.

“Your Highnesses, be careful with the Queen and the baby!” -  Jackson tried to lecture the royal children but it was useless, none of them heard him as they elbowed each other to hug Kenna tightly. They were always excited to see their beloved mother. 

“Alright, alright, give your mom some space!” - the king approached them with calm steps, and friendly patted the royal guard on the back. The kids groaned in frustration but they stopped fussing over her. - “How was the meeting with the Tree Lady?” 

“Dom! I’ve told you to stop calling Queen Rowan like this. Especially in front of the kids.” - she lectured her husband in a whisper, but with a smile on her lips.

"Come on, your highnesses, it's time to bathe." - Will said as he motioned to someone inside the gates. A couple of nursemaids came rushing out.

"But we still haven't finished our duel!" - Prince Gabriel whined, raising his sword to the air to show his discontentment.

"Tomorrow you can spar some more. But for now you must clean yourselves up to get ready for dinner." - Kenna said firmly. - "We have some guests tonight." 

"Who?" - Princess Marcella asked, taking the hand of one of the maids. 

"Well, Queen Rowan is staying for dinner and--"

"Of course there's me too!" - they heard a voice coming from a few feet away, they all turning to see who it was. - "You better not think I would miss a damn fancy dinner." 

"Val!!!!" - the three kids exclaimed in excitement, running down the hill to meet with the ex-mercenary, now Stormholt's Master-at-Arms. 

"Oof! You kids are getting big, aren't ya?" - she smiled adoringly at them, messing with Princess Marcella's hair as the little girl hugged her tightly. - "I even brought a little present!" - she pointed to the keg in one of her shoulders. - "Since Kenna here can't drink, you're immediately obliged to drink her part, Jackson. You know, as her personal guard. I even put your name here."

Will rolled his eyes, but didn't argue. He knew Val too well to know that there was no escape from his destiny and the horrible hangover he would have the next day.

Val clasped hands with Dominic as she approached the royal couple.

"Oh, were you sparring?" - she asked as she saw Gabriel proudly holding his sword.

"More talking, actually. Gabriel and Father wouldn't shut up about who is the 'best warrior of all Five Kingdoms', blah blah blah." - Arden rolled his eyes, making Marcella and Val laugh.

“Oh right! Mother, who's the best warrior? You or Father?" - Gabriel asked as they all headed toward the castle. Kenna smirked.

"Well, I'm not known as the 'Warrior Queen' for nothing. And I remember beating your father frequently as we grew up."

"I guess the pregnancy is making you delirious, my Queen.” - Dominic smiled back at his wife, who was holding his arm to balance herself as they climbed the castle front stairs.

“And I think Gabriel hit you in the head with his toy sword too many times, my King.” - the two boys giggled to their parents playful banter, before the royal kids were escorted to bathe.

"I'm not a big fan of kids, but those three are too damn adorable." - Val said as the adults headed to the dinner room.

"Of course, we made them!" - Dom puffed his chest proudly, looking at the corridor where their kids disappeared into with the maids.

The eldest, Gabriel Arthur, was the perfect mixture of his parents, bright blue eyes and a dark brown hair. He pretty much had a bit of problem sitting through the royal classes, and preferred staying outside, sparring with his friends, much like his mother. But he was a goofy at heart, just like his father, and would prank one of the nobles in every Kenna's coronation anniversary.

Arden Leon looked like his mother, physically-wise, with his dark brown hair and clever brown eyes. He preferred spending his time reading and even accompanying his mother on her endless strategic and political reunions than training for combat. Dominic was pretty sure the young boy was much more intelligent than him.

Princess Marcella Idara still was too young, her personality still building up, but she was very smart - she said her first words when she was just 10 months old! - and was very attached to her brothers - she would always throw a tantrum if she got separated from her the boys -, especially Arden. And she adored Val. She looked the most with Dominic of the three, with lighter hair and blue eyes.

It had passed 10 years since they had defeated Empress Azura and now Dominic Hunter was Stormholt’s king, married to his childhood sweetheart Kenna and they had two sons with opposite personalities, a feisty little girl and another kid on the way. 

Not bad for an orphan stable boy, huh?

“Hey, what’s going on inside this pretty head of yours?” - Kenna asked later that night, at their chambers, as they prepared themselves to sleep.

"Oh, am I pretty now?"

"Typical. You just hear what you want. And yes, you've never not been pretty, Dom." - she smiled adoringly to him as they both laid down their bed.

She watched the goofiest smile spreading on her husband's face and he snooped closer, kissing her on the lips.

"Just thinking about the amazing kids we have."

"Well, they have an amazing father." - Kenna frowned. - "I'm sorry I can't be around much to help you take care of them. I wish I could, but--"

"Hey, hey. I've told you this before, Kenna. Don't worry. It's impossible to take care of both Five Kingdoms and of our children. We're lucky to have you as our Queen. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be able to handle all this political thing." - although Dominic was crowned as King, it was just a formal title. Kenna was the only one who ruled and, truth be told, he gladly took his part as just a consort. He much preferred taking care of the kids rather than discussing politics with other rulers, even though they were all allies.

"It's been a while since you've gone to the Blackspine Mountains, hasn't it?" - she asked.

"Yeah, I guess it's been almost a year?" - Dom was the official Ambassador of the Blackspines too, and would often travel there, both for training and to strengthen their political alliances. - "But don't worry, Kenna. It's a good thing that Sei get down of those mountains and come visit us for a change. Although she's not very fond of kids." - he chuckled to himself as he remembered the last words his good friend had told him the last time he was there. "I know you adore those little creatures, Dominic, but you should let poor Queen Kenna rest before making more of them. She has the Five Kingdoms to look after."

"You're right." - the queen smiled softly. - "It's just that I know how you enjoyed going there, but since Marcella was born, you have barely been there." - three kids started being a bit harder for Kenna to look after alone, even with all the castle staff. Both the queen and the king wanted to be close to their children, since Kenna had lost her father when she was around Marcella's age and her mother was too occupied ruling Stormholt and Dom had never known his parents.

"I enjoy being here with you and the kids much more. Although I am from the Blackspine people, Stormholt is and has always been my home and my heart." - he cupped her face, gazing into her eyes. 

Kenna smiled back at him, warmth spreading through her chest.

"How is it possible? It's been almost thirty years since I've known you, Dominic Hunter, and you still make my heart float." - Dom laughed loudly before kissing her forehead. - "You know, I still remember the first time we talked to each other."

"Oh?" - he cocked up an eyebrow, his light eyes shining curiously. - "And was it love at first sight?"

"Dom. We were eight."

"And? I saw you for the first time when we were around six and I knew right away that I would marry you. Even though I was a stable boy and you were the princess. I still remember it vividly. You came into the stables with the Queen and Gabriel, of course, to meet your very first horse, a present from the King of Fydoria himself to the young Heiress Princess of Stormholt. Which turned out to be a pony. And you became less that pleased with it. 'Why is this horse so small?', you asked. 'It's a pony, my little butterfly', Queen Adriana explained, 'it's a specimen of horses. Do you like it?'. In which you answered, your scowl turning into a smile, 'well, maybe him being small can be handy in a battle! It'll be more difficult for the enemies to catch, right?' and in that exact moment you've captured my heart forever."

"Oh, shush." - Kenna laughed to that memory. Starfury became a good company of her and still was alive, retired and enjoying his final years eating all apples he deserved.

"Anyway, you were going to tell me about our first encounter? I want to hear this story from your point of view."

"Right." - she smiled as memories flooded their minds.

________________________________________

The little girl perched against the window, watching the castle grounds. She watched a group of kids - villagers’ and palace staff’s sons and daughters - playing, running around, giggling.

She had just finished her classes for the day. Maybe she could sneak out real quick before a maid came in to get her ready for dinner...

“Princess Kenna!”

The little princess stopped on her tracks and turned around to see Gabriel marching toward her, a severe expression on his face.

"Hello, Gabriel!" - she flashed him her best 'diplomatic smile' (she had learned of it during her decorum classes), turning around and hiding her toy sword behind her back, as the guards closed the front doors of the castle. Dammit, it took her almost ten minutes of convincing them to open it.

"Where do you think you're going? It's almost dinner time. You should be getting yourself ready."

"I know… but I just wanted to go outside just for a little bit. The other kids seem to be having so much fun and I wanted to join in."

She saw the old man frowning. He dropped to his knees to be at the same height as her.

"My princess, you know you can't play with them. If you want to spar with someone, you can always call me, okay?"

"Okay…" - Kenna sighed.

She still couldn’t quite understand why she couldn’t play outside with the other kids. She wanted to have friends who were the same age as her. Gabriel, her bodyguard and paternal figure, was a great playmate, but… well, he was old. Although he had started training her with the sword recently - against her mother wishes -, he didn’t have the energy and stamina to keep playing with the little princess for long. 

"Now, you must get ready for dinner. But I think we can fit a spar session into your agenda tomorrow." - he winked at her and the girl hugged him fiercely. 

She loved sparring. Although her mother wasn't very keen of it. Everyone said that Kenna took it from her father.

She wasn’t older than four when King Marcel was killed in a battle against the Five Kingdoms oldest enemy, the Iron Empire, and the crown immediately fell onto his wife Adriana.

But Kenna could clearly remember that he would let her play with his favorite sword. The king also was the one who gave that toy sword she always carried with her wherever she went.

But then, on the next day of that little exchange, Princess Kenna managed to sneak out the castle without being spotted by Gabriel and go down the hill where the other kids were playing as usual.

"Hey!" - she waved with her sword, trotting at them.

“Oh my Gods, it’s the princess!” - one of the village girls squealed. All the kids immediately stopped playing and bowed to her.

“Can I play with you?” - Kenna asked, ignoring the reverence. The kids exchanged warily looks; their parents always told them that nobles and commoners didn’t mix and that the little Princess wasn’t their equal, although she seemed to talk to them as if she was one of them.

Kenna saw another kid making their way to the small group, until he was standing up in front of her. The boy was around her age, although he was a head taller; he had a light pale brown hair and his big blue eyes stared down at her.

“We are not playing. We are dueling.” - he stated, pompously, a smirk on his lips. Kenna just rolled her eyes.

“Okay, can I duel with you, then?”

The other kids gasped in shock. The princess was challenging Dominic Hunter, the best fighter of all Stormholt!

“As you wish, Your Highness.” - he said mockingly. He snorted; that little girl would never be able to win.

But as soon as he said this, one of the girls dragged him a few feet away from the rest of the group as Kenna prepared herself for the duel.

“Dom, are you crazy?!” - Rose Blake shouted. - “You can’t fight with the princess! If one of the adults find out about this, you could…!” - she gasped, her eyes widening in horror. - “They could throw you at the dungeons!”

“Relax, Rosie.” - the boy answered calmingly. - “I won’t hurt her or whatever. Plus, she’s the Princess. Who am I to deny anything to her?” 

The two of them returned to the group. Kenna puffed her chest, looking defiantly at here adversary, raising her sword. The other kids took a few steps back, standing in a circle around the young princess and Dominic.

Staring each other down, they squared one another, their swords in hand.

"Raaah!" - the stableboy was the first to attack, but the princess graciously dodged him and prepared for her own attack.

But the boy was more than used to spar, and recovered just in time before Kenna's swords could hit him, their blades tangling together.

Their audience cheered upon them, divided between the stable boy and the princess.

"I have to admit, you're pretty good, Princess."

"Thanks. This is what happens when you practice with real warriors." - she smirked mockingly at him and then, with a quick movement, she hit his side with her toy sword.

"Oh my Gods!" - they heard someone nearby gasp. Dominic Hunter, the greatest warrior of Stormholt, had been defeated by Princess Kenna Rys herself!

"Noooooo!" - the boy cried, throwing his sword to the air and falling dramatically to the floor.

"Ha! This is what you get for underestimating me." - the girl raised her own sword triumphantly as the kids around them applauded and bowed to the newest greatest warrior of Stormholt. - "I shall be known as the 'Warrior Princess' from now on!" - still giggling, Kenna kneeled and offered a hand to Dominic. He clasped it and she pulled him up. - "This was a good duel, Sir Dominic."

"I'll be looking for a rematch, Your Highness." - he bowed to her and they shared smiles as a genuine and beautiful friendship started blossoming between them.

________________________________________

“And after that outstanding victory from my part, we became inseparable.” - Kenna concluded, smiling fondly as the memories that filled her mind.

Whenever the two friends had a break from their duties, they would both go down the hill and spar with each other. Gabriel knew that the growing bond between the young princess and that orphan boy would be a problem in the future, but he also was aware that Dominic was the only friend Kenna truly had that was the same age as her. Plus, he knew the young boy would do anything to protect the princess. It was all written in his face.

“I still can’t believe you threatened to have Caleb executed.” - Dom laughed to another memory.

“Of course! He was tormenting you. Good thing my mother never knew about this. She would have lectured me for abuse of power.” - they shared a chuckle.

Two years later, Kenna found herself finally free from her political studies, and walked around the castle grounds looking for her friend. She was almost giving up when she found Dom's sword on the grass near the stable. As she approached it, she heard voices coming from inside there. There was yelling and lots of swearing, one of the voices belonging to Dominic.

Not thinking twice, the princess rushed into the stable, where she found two boys rolling on the floor, punching, kicking and calling each other names.

“Stop. Stop this immediately!” - both boys stopped at the same moment she yelled at them and saw Princess Kenna herself walking towards them with firm steps and a furrowed expression on her face. - “What’s happening here?” 

"Nothing, Your Highness." - Caleb, one of the guard's son, said, immediately letting go of Dom's shirt. He briefly bowed his head to her before turning around and sprinting out of the stable.

Kenna looked at her friend on the floor. Dominic was already sat up and desperately rubbed the tears off his eyes, his cheeks red with anger and in embarrassment. He didn't want anyone seeing him cry. Especially her.

"What happened, Dom?" - the princess asked, her voice sounding much calmer, as she kneeled beside him. 

"...Nothing." - he turned his face away.

"It doesn't look like 'nothing'. C'mon, you know you can tell me, right? You're my friend and I'm worried about you."

After a few moments in silence, Dominic finally looked back at Kenna, who had been patiently waiting for him to tell her what happened.

"Caleb has been pestering me a lot lately. He kind of have always bugged me, but now he started calling me names just because I have no parents and no one knows where I'm really from. He called me a… ‘bad blood bastard that no one wants around’." - Kenna saw tears welling up on her friend’s eyes, and anger flooded inside the little girl's frame.

"How dare he! This is a lie, Dom, don't listen to him. You're not a bad blood and you are wanted around. I want you around. You're my best friend." 

Kenna saw a smile slowly spreading on the boy's face.

"Thanks, Kenna. So you're mine. I guess Caleb's just jealous because the Princess is best friends with me and not him."

"Just ignore him, Dom." - the girl said as she pulled him up to his feet, a plan already forming in her head. She would have a 'little talk' with Caleb later. And by 'little talk', maybe it meant threaten him go be executed if he continued bullying Dom. She knew she couldn't do it in fact, just the Queen could order something like that, but the others didn't need to know it. She was the princess after all, there must be some advantage about it, right? - "So, are you ready for our sparring session?"

Dominic grinned.

"Be ready to eat some dirt today, Princess. I'm not going easy on you just because you were nice to me just now."

Kenna smiled. She wouldn't have it any other way.

"And I won't go easy on you either."

________________________________________

“And after this, whenever Caleb saw you, he would run to the opposite direction. And no one ever called me names again.” - Dom chuckled, Kenna’s head resting on his shoulder. 

“As they shouldn’t.”

“And we became the best of friends. We told each other everything. Well, almost.”

“What do you mean?” - the Queen pulled out just enough to look into her husband’s face, Dominic’s blue eyes shining as he stared into her dark eyes.

“My feelings for you changed a little and became stronger.” - Dominic kind of always knew he loved Kenna. Since that day when she beat him for the first time. She was brave, stubborn and fought her own fights. Yet, she still was kind to everyone and just, not taking advantage of her higher status. She was the noblest person he has ever met. - “I knew I loved you more than a friend, Kenna, but I of course wouldn’t tell you anything. Especially with Gabriel watching you like a hawk.”

“Poor Gabriel was just doing his job. But you’re right, I know how especially hard he was with you. He indeed confessed to me that he didn’t like you much.”

“Oh, really?” - Dom asked, sarcastically. - “I didn't have noticed!”

As they grew up, Kenna’s and Dom’s relationship strengthened (to Gabriel’s growing discontent) and they started sneaking up from their duties (Kenna from her political classes and Dom from his work as a stable boy) to spar a little. They would try to do it daily as a form of training and also of spending time together.

As they both entered adolescence, the two teenagers remained as the best of friends and also became each other’s confidants (although Kenna had Gabriel, it wasn’t the same thing. He was an adult and she needed to rant about adults and her royal duties to someone of her own age), but other feelings started to blossom as well...

Dom would have to be blind to not notice how Kenna grew up into a fine young lady, curves slowly taking place on her once flat childish body. He thought about her natural red and full lips more frequently than he should, and how soft they should be and what was their taste.

It wasn't different to Kenna. Of course she noted that Dom somehow got bigger, with broad shoulders and bigger hands. She caught herself a few too many times staring in awe at her friend's bare chest as he worked in the stable, from the castle windows, immediately flushing as she realized what she was doing and cursing herself for it. 

She obviously knew that Dominic was rather popular within the maids of the castle. He had quite a reputation. She caught a couple times the young maids gossiping and giggling about him. 

But she also knew that what she and Dom shared was special, although neither of them tried to overstep it. It was complicated. She was a princess. He was a stableboy. They both were fully aware that they didn't belong together. Kenna was tired of hearing Gabriel's warnings about her close friendship with Dominic.

Of course her loyal and personal bodyguard had noticed the way the princess grinned whenever she saw that boy, as well as how Dom always had a big doofus smirk on his face after talking to her. 

And Kenna knew that Gabriel was right. And she indeed tried to ignore her feelings towards Dominic. But then, one day, her mother told her about the plans of her marriage. She had barely turned eighteen and Queen Adriana was already setting up a political marriage between her and the son of some neighbor kingdom. 

The princess knew it would happen sooner and later… she just wasn't expecting it to be so soon. She would never be able to marry Dominic. The one she ever loved and wanted. 

That night, she cried at the expectation of having to marry anyone but Dom. Gabriel was there for her and was very emphatic that she couldn't have him.

"You know your mother would never allow it, Your Highness."

"Yes, just because he's not a 'match'. But I love him, Gabriel." - she murmured, hiding her face in one of her pillows.

"I know. But who's he? He's a stable boy with no name. We don't even know from where he's came from."

"I don't care about where he's from, I don't care that he's an orphan, I don't care about any of this. I care about him. I love him just as he is, with name or no name."

"I know, I know… but you're a princess, Kenna. You know you can't. You must put the crown before your heart."

Kenna nodded, her eyes red and puffy from all that crying. 

"Yes... I know. You're right." - Gabriel squeezed her shoulder gently. - "...But I love him so much."

"It must feel hard now… but you're still young. You'll see that not everything lasts forever, especially first loves." - he stood up. - "I shall leave you now, Princess. You should rest. Try not to think much about this, okay? You still have time before the Queen decides to put up a wedding. At least three years."

She nodded and the bodyguard left her chambers.

________________________________________

“And on that same night Beltane Festival was happening. And I wished, just for one moment, to not be a princess anymore, and enjoy the festivities like an ordinary girl. And then you found me there.”

“Oh, I clearly remember what happened.” - Dominic smirked, making Kenna blush slightly.

They both would never forget the first kiss they shared at Beltane Festival. When the princess asked for it as her wish.

After it, they spent the whole night with each other’s company, joking and eating. They even danced together and they both smiled the whole time, feeling truly happy and lucky to be in each other arms. Dominic accompanied the princess back to the castle as a good gentleman.

"Well, we must part our ways, mylady." - he bowed with a flourish, making Kenna chuckle.

"Thank you, kind sir." - she bowed in response. - "Good night, Dom. Thank you for spending the whole festival with me." - she smiled gracefully and the young man had to hold himself to not kiss her. Again. 

"I hope you had all your wishes fulfilled."

"Yes, I had." - but before she could sneak back into her chambers, Dom delicately took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. Kenna's face flushed immediately.

"Good night, Kenna." - he winked at her and she retreated to her bedroom, a giant grin on her face. 

He walked down the castle hallways, whistling a happy song, until he finally stopped and turned around.

"I know you're here, Gabriel."

The older man's figure stepped out from one of the alcoves.

"Very perceptive, Dominic."

The young man sighed, readying himself for the lecture.

"C'mon, Gabriel, lay it all on me. I know what you're going to say."

"If you know what I am going to tell you, then why do you do this? You know how much you mean to her."

"She means everything to me too."

"Please, Dominic, spare me from this. I've seen you with the young maids. It's best if you keep on just being a good and loyal friend to the Princess and marry some village girl."

"But I don't want to marry anyone but Kenna." - he stated stubbornly. - "I've never loved anyone but her. I can separate my heart from the fun."

"And do you think you're a match to Her Highness? She's the Princess and she'll be your Queen someday, not your wife, boy. Just take this idea out of your mind before you get too hurt. Queen Adriana hopes that the Princess will be finally settled in three years. Actually, Her Majesty has already picked a strong political match to be Kenna's husband. Their marriage would bring the most powerful of the alliances within the Five Kingdoms." Dominic really didn't want to know who Gabriel was talking about, but… well, he got curious. "Who?" - he grudgingly asked.

"King Luther's eldest son, Prince Diavolos Nevrakis."

"What?! The Queen expects Kenna to marry the son of the man who killed King Marcel? That's insane." "No, this is politics. And Kenna will understand. It'll finally bring peace to the whole kingdom."

"I know Kenna. She won't marry a Nevrakis."

"Her Highness still is young, but she'll understand eventually. It's her duty."

"Kenna should marry whoever she wants. Especially the one she loves."

"Dominic, please. Don't be so immature. You know the Princess can't have this. And you know that the Princess is far superior than you." Of course he knew. He had always known it. But hearing it out loud hurt his ego. 

"Ouch, Gabriel! No need to be so mean!" - he joked, turning around to resume his walking.

"If this is what I have to do to make you forget about Kenna, then I must be mean. Give up on her, Dominic.”

________________________________________

“...To think that Diavolos would become an ally. Things are just crazy. But I guess it’s better him than Zenobia.”

“Thank the Gods it’s him who’s the Iron Empire ruler and didn’t follow his father’s steps.” - Kenna agreed. King Diavolos was one of her most precious allies. Surprisingly, they got along well and shared great respect and admiration towards one another. 

“The Gods have nothing to do with it, Kenna. It was all on you. You know he got interested in you, right?”

“Diavolos? Nonsense.”

“It’s not. I bet that, when he met you, he wasn’t only interested in conquering Stormholt, but conquering you too.” - Kenna scoffed to that absurd idea. - “You just haven't realized it because he never flirted with you, unlike Tevan, Raydan, Annelyse…” 

“Either way, flirting or not, I’ve never corresponded to any of them.” - Kenna interrupted Dominic, feeling a bit embarrassed by that list of her admirers. - “We were at war and I’ve only had eyes for you, Dominic Hunter.”

“Yes, I know.” - he smirked, squeezing the embrace around her waist. - “It’s always been you too, Kenna.”

“And even though we have known and loved each other since practically forever, it took years until we finally got together.”

“Well, a lot of crazy things happened. You became the exiled princess and I found out about my powers…”

“And after two years apart, the first thing we did was spar with each other.” - she chuckled to herself as memories flowed to her mind once more. - "At that same spot down the hill, where the kids were playing today."

“Oh, we have such different memories of that day. I remember it involved lots of kissing and what came afterwards. That was the first time we made love, right?” - Dom said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. His wife punched him in the arm, giggling, before frowning.

“And then we made a promise to never be apart again…. but we got separated a few more times… you went to the Blackspine Mountains with Sei to master your fire user power… and then you got kidnapped by Hex.”

“Yeah, not my finest moment.” - he pulled her even closer. - “But then you saved me from that horribly mind control maze thing and we finally got together. Oh, and then you had to fight Azura. And then Luther. And then, finally, you asked me to marry you.” 

“Well, as the queen I thought it was proper.”

“To be honest, I’m glad it was you who asked for my hand. Is not everyday that the Warrior Queen herself asks you to marry her.”

Kenna’s grin widened and she leaned in, kissing his lips softly.

“And I would do that again in a heartbeat. I loved none but you, Dom. You’re my best friend and the one who knows me most. I can be my true self when I’m with you.”

“And I wouldn’t expect anything else.” - he smiled adoringly to her, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. - “And then you got pregnant of Gabriel on our wedding night. And we’ve been making babies like rabbits since then.”

“Dom!” - Kenna tried to lecture him, but she was laughing way too much to sound grossed out or embarrassed. - “And this one will be the last one.” - she caressed her protuberant stomach.

“Right…” - Dominic didn't sound convinced.

“I swear. I think I won’t be able to handle another pregnancy.”

“Are you telling me that the great Queen of the Five Kingdoms, who defeated both King Luther Nevrakis and Empress Azura will be defeated by a baby?”

“You say this because you don’t get pregnant.”

“Okay, okay, fair.” - he raised his hands in an apology gesture. - “But you know you’re the Queen of the Five Kingdoms.” - Kenna looked confused at him. - “...so it makes sense if we have five kids, each for a kingdom. You’re not the Queen of the Four Kingdoms.”

Dominic watched his wife burst out laughing. 

“Gods, this kid isn’t even born yet and you’re already talking about a fifth? You’ll have to wait, Dom. At least let this one be born first and then we can talk about having another kid.”

“Okay, I’ll wait, but you know I’ll hold you onto that.”

Kenna rolled her eyes, but Dominic could see a side smile tugging on the corner of the Queen's mouth.

"Yes, I know." - she said.

________________________________________

Tagging: @obsessed-with-humans @nia-kamilah @keviriass @nynnke @shakespeareanwannabe 

#kenna rys #dominic hunter #kenna x dom #the crown and the flame #playchoices #playchoices fanfiction #playchoices fanfic #choices fanfic #choices fanfiction

[whumping-every-day]

Oof. I was thinking about Gabe and I wanted to know if he still self harms? Like when he's alone. I also wonder if he would take care of himself if Stefan and Maria were gone for a day or if he'd just clean and clean and clean until he passes out from exhaustion and dehydration?

He does not! Gabriel’s instances with self-harm have all been driven by weeks of heightened, built-up emotional distress, plus a lack of coping mechanisms and a lack of understanding of what was happening. After the first incident, Mari and Stef realize that sometimes Gabriel needs direction, or sometimes something to ground himself with. Like - sometimes, kneeling with his collar on for five minutes is enough to calm Gabriel down for the rest of the day, even on his bad days. It’s familiar, something that Gabriel and his body both know are safe. So Mari and Stef will let him do that, rather than deny him the comfort and let him work himself into an episode. It’s little things like that that calm him down, so Mari and Stef figured out a way for Gabriel to ask for it when he needs it. 

#pet whump #creepy caretaking #collar #kneeling #comfort #self harm tw

[miraculous-ash]

My thoughts on episode "Ladybug"

-Adrien wanted to make sure that his lucky charm that he made for Marinette was perfect, so perfect that he literally sought the council of his fashion designer father!! -Lila, this bitch, honestly I can't even. But really her watching the class have fun at Marinette's party was pretty funny -Why would stolen test results matter after the test has been passed in? Like on the scale they were treating it with anyway -I'M SO GLAD ADRIEN IS STANDING UP, THANK-YOU -I thought the test thing was already dirty, but the second Lila went to stairs and I knew what was a foot, I screeched. Like this mofo -Honestly we needed the fireman back in here to prove that she wasn't injured again, because obviously the school couldn't. -Tom and Sabine aren't standing for this BS -Okay, so let me get this straight. Lila has A) Framed her for stealing the test results B) Framed/accused her for pushing her down the stairs and now C) FRAMED/ACCUSED HER OF STEALING AS WELL -Marinette really ain't getting any breaks here -NOT TO MENTION ALL THIS IS CONSTANTLY GOING DOWN IN FRONT OF HER FRIENDS -Was a little confused when Hawkmoth showed up here since I know this episode deals with a sentimonster.. BUT OH SHIT WE REAKUMATIZING CATALYST. DAMN. -Alya didn't let the lies get to her this time and believed her friend dodging an akuma -CHLOE PROTECTING SABRINA FROM THE AKUMAS, absolute queen honestly, didn't let the negativity get to her either -But oh SHIT. The other classmates, SABINE, AND MARINETTE?!?!? Damn dawg, poopy is hitting the ceiling hard -The fact that Marinette getting done this dirty is equivalent to season two finale's events with all this reakumatization? I stan -She was legit 50% away from Hawkmoth getting the earrings. Damn. -Again the knowledge of the sentimonster has me ??? but okay, Nathalie is down, this ain't good, but that was close, way too close  -Also, is this the first time we've fully seen Hawkmoth retrieve an akuma? Like 100%? Because I think it wasssss (he always just reuses it, or keeps it close by for reakumatization) -Yes Gabriel, finally being responsible, Jesus, take that broche away from her!! Interesting how he worded what was happening though, what was it? That the damaged miraculous transfers its wounds to the holder? -Tikki berating Marinette from that really big almost -Thank-you Alya, for finally standing by your girl -So wait, they were just gonna straight up put Marinette to working in the bakery full time? Interesting -NATHALIE I SWEAR TO *pterodactyl noise* -I had been wondering for a while there if it was Gabe that was gonna make the sentimonster though, using the peacock himself -This was an interesting creation process for making this amok -Pretty smart plan on Nathalie's part though, not gonna lie, she had poor Chat fooled and was playing him like a fiddle -I loved the old detective film type look to Alya's snooping, nice touch -Marinette trying her gosh darn hardest to leave the bakery, RIP girl, Tom, whyyy my dude -RIP to Chat too honestly, this poor boy's heart, hitting him right where it hurts -Me basically having a heart attack until real Ladybug steps in, I could've believed a reveal happening there if not, since it was just him with senti, even if Mayura saw, it's right before a season finale, I could see a reveal happening here -CHAT BUDDY, THIS IS A BIG OOF MAN, haha how does Ladybug feel about her partner guessing wrong when she guessed right back in Copycat? -Like always though, Marinette and her quick thinking to the rescue -Hahahaha "Senticharm!" *big gun* "Oh yeah? I'll show you a real, Luckycharm!!" *fork* "Yeah, you're definitely the real Ladybug" HAHAHAHA -Me sitting here having a heart attack at an ALMOST MAYURA REVEAL, my heart was already breaking thinking about Chat's reaction!! -ME HAVING AN ABSOLUTE ANYEURISM AT HAWKMOTH ACTUALLY SHOWING UP, MY GOD!!?? -Adrien calling him grandpa, god I'm dead, what's real anymore -Okay, oh shit, just, holy poop, my sweet goly jeepers. Honestly expecting someone to get revealed here right before the season finale, was 100% expecting it to be Mayura (And if so, I don't think Adrien would make the connection to Gabe being Hawkmoth after the events of the Collector, but Ladybug would definitely revisit the thought, but to be honest, Adrien would probably be too crushed to think about it in the moment) -OKAY THEY JUST BOTH YEETED THEM, THAT'S COOL. -Oh Chat, my poor sweet boy -Yes, take the miraculous and DON'T GIVE IT BACK TO HER. Honestly I could see her dying soon at this rate, what a finale that could be -Also, did she just say that she was the reason Hawkmoth was able to discover Master Fu's identity? That's an interesting tidbit -I just realized I don't think I mentioned Duusu yet, well she's precious -LILA, SWEET NIBLETS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. -I am HERE for Angry Adrien™ you tell her boy -This is a very interesting turn on Adrien's part though, he is very much like his father in this scene and that unnerves me greatly.. -My sweet innocent Marinette thinking that Lila has actually changed her ways and want's to be friends after all, but she's smarter than that, we don't need to worry -Gabriel making Lila his new muse/model?? Hoh boy. This is going to be interesting in future episodes I'm sure -Also weird that Nathalie witnessed Adrien confronting Lila at the shoot? Like she nodded to her with the approval to obey Adrien, like WHAT WAS THAT?!  And why is NOBODY talking about it?? -This episode was great for soo many ships, like come water your crops people, we got Adrienette, Ladynoir, and whatever Gabe and Nathalie's ship name is -I really can't wait for the season finale after this build up guys. And honestly, I don't think I'm going to be ready for it. How does one even start to get emotionally prepared for what's to come?? Over all, I really liked the episode. It kept me thoroughly entertained and on the edge of my seat. I'm glad that Marinette got some justice. The animation and direction was beautiful. Very pleased

#miraculous ladybug #ml #mlb #ladybug #episode:ladybug #episode: ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #chloe bourgeois #sabrina raincomprix #lila rossi #sabine cheng #tom dupain #gabriel agreste #nathalie sancoeur #hawkmoth #mayura #chat noir #ml season 3 #fan reaction #sorry it got so long #adrienette #ladynoir #gabenath #??

[fantasy-pens]

United by Love, Rain and Forgotten Umbrellas

Her eyes as blue as the merciful drops from the heaven. His eyes as green as the happy grass enjoying the heavenly showers. A tale of how forgotten umbrellas in the rain bring together the four lovable sides of the Love Square.

Chapter 2: Chocolate with Chat (MariChat)

Summary:  Thunderstorms mean hot chocolate! Hot chocolate best served with whipped cream, marshmallows and....MARICHAT!!

(Kudos to Steyna Art for the bful drawing i found on the net <3 A link to the instagram post thanks to @khanofallorcs​  https://www.instagram.com/p/BqVH3TvhgoE/)

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“And there, all done!” the blond boy exclaimed, stretching himself as he got up from his chair.

“Phew! I thought that homework of yours would never end and I would have to stay up all night with you, kid!” complained the tiny, floating cat-god of destruction.

 “Plagg, is that another way to say that you would have been cheesily romancing your  sweet-smelling Camembert all night while I would have been smashing my head on the desk, pleading for you to stop?”

“Hey! I never complain when you are all flirty with Ladybug or Pigtails!”

 “I do not flirt with Marinette! She is  just  a friend, Plagg,” Adrien defended.

“Oh really? Then why have your cheeks suddenly decided to compete with Ladybug's superhero suit in colour, huh loverboy?” 

“Embarrassment! ” squeaked the part-time superhero, as he slapped his hands onto his cheeks and fervently tried to ignore the cheshire grin his cheese-loving friend was directing at him.

 Nope.  Nope  . Nope.

Marinette was  just a friend . Ladybug was the real love of his life.

Ugh! He needed fresh air! Now!

 Maybe Plagg read his thoughts, for he suddenly spoke up, “Nuh uh, kid. If you are thinking of going out for a run, not now. It is gonna rain soon.”

The kwami, sadly, was right. Dark clouds were looming in the sky.

 But what better chance to escape would he get than now, especially with Father and Nathalie out on a business meeting?

It would be a quick, short run. Nothing less, nothing more.

 The boy looked with his best kitten eyes at the floating furball, but he didn’t relent. And Adrien really couldn’t afford to buy the floating stomach any more Camembert. Not that he had run out of money, but bank transactions made for wheels of smelly cheese? Suspicious. (And no one certainly wants Gabriel Agreste’s secret agents skimming through their money matters. Nuh uh.)

 So, there was only one way left to get Plagg to agree.

 “So Plagg, are you afraid of getting drenched in the rain, huh?”

“Nope. What makes you think that, kid?” the kwami asked dismissively. 

 Internally the kwami thought, “ What is this not-so-smart chosen of mine trying to do? ”

“Well, I see no other reason as to why you would not agree to us going for a run. The rain hasn’t even started yet!  You are a cute little kitten at heart after all, right, Plagg?” As he said so, Adrien reached out and scratched the kwami lightly behind his ears.

  Oh heavenly Camembert! The petting felt so good! 

The kwami purred instinctively. “Aww, Plagg,” the blond said in a sugary-sweet cookie voice ( bleh! cookies! ), “who is a good kitty, hm?”

 “I. Am. NOT. A. Kitten!”

“Oh really? Prove it, then!

 Challenges were one of Plagg’s main weaknesses. (After Camembert, of course.)

 “Kid, I am NOT scared of rain!” With a grumble, the kwami added, “You know the magic words.”

“That’s the spirit! Plagg, Claws Out! ”

 One cool transformation sequence and scratch-dance later, Chat Noir stood where the model had been a few moments ago. Flexing and stretching himself like a feline, the superhero grabbed the baton clipped behind his back, and jumped onto and out of the open windowsill into the awaiting city.

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Jumping over rooftops with the cool wind blowing on his face sure was exhilarating. 

The black-leather-clad boy was enjoying his sprint when suddenly something wet hit his head.

  Wait, wet?

 Looking up, Chat Noir caught just a glimpse of the heavy, dark clouds before SPLAT! Another drop fell on his forehead.

Damn, it hadn’t even been half an hour and he needed to get home soon. It wouldn’t do him good to fall sick, especially when he  technically had not been out in the rain.

 Breaking into another sprint, Chat Noir prepared himself to scale the alley in front of him when he felt the roof under him move. Or rather, his foot was moving back faster than normal.

With a yelp, the cat lost his footing and slid down the slanted roof into the alley below.

  Oh god no! He surely wasn’t in the mood to be soaked-cat-pancake today!!

 Grabbing his baton, Chat pressed the pawprint on it just in time for the device to lengthen up and get lodged in between two open windows (truly the luck of a ladybug), leaving him hanging from it, badly shaken but safe and sound.

 As he tried to get his bearings back, he heard someone entering the dark alley.

“It surely is raining Chats and dogs today,” a familiar voice called out from below.

 “Purrincess!” Chat exclaimed, shrinking his baton back to normal and landing softly (and with normalcy) on the ground.”To what does this knight owe the purr-leasure?”

“Well, I was passing by, and saw you experimenting whether Newton was correct with his claims about gravity,” Marinette said, bursting into laughter. “Sorry  chaton , I just couldn’t help myself. Especially after that nerve-wracking study session I had with Alya.” The girl held her forehead in a dramatic manner. “Oh goodness! Woe is me!”

 The superhero-in-black couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, well, little lady. Have you secretly been taking drama lessons from my kwami in exchange for cheese danishes?” Chat added with a wink.

 Earlier, Marinette would have had to act all stupidly confused about what a kwami was. But now that Chat knew that she was Multimouse, things were a lot easier between the two. 

Ever since Chat had first appeared on her balcony an year ago, the two of them had struck a chord. Somewhere, maybe in the banters, puns or the heartfelt emotions shared under the starry sky, the two of them had grown close, becoming the best of friends.

 “Who knows? Maybe I am?” she said nonchalantly with a shrug, a hint of smirk visible on her face.

Striking up a mock thinking pose, Chat commented, “Well, well, mice love cheese. You two would have surely bon- ACHOO!”

The sneeze seemed to bring Marinette back to awareness that the teenage superhero was soaked head-to-toe in the rain.

 “Damn, Kitty, which wise sage gave you the advice to go patrolling on a day like this? Come’ere,” saying so, the girl pulled him in with herself under her umbrella. “Good thing I left Alya's place after the rain started and she gave me this umbrella, or else I myself would have been drenched by now. Forgetful me. But anyways, you," she said, shoving a finger in his chest and eliciting an “oof! ” from him, “are coming with me and getting all warmed up before you catch a cold. I won’t accept a no,” she added, making the cat hero close his mouth that he had opened in hopes of protest. Instead, he smirked and bent down in an elaborate bow.

 “Your wish is my command,  ma princesse .”

His comment was rewarded by an eye-roll and slight chuckle.

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Marinette ushered the young superhero in through the backdoor, away from the prying eyes of any customers, and especially her parents.

However, it seemed as though Chat’s bad luck had finally caught up with them (or more specifically,  her ) as she opened the door to the house only to find her dad standing there, in a position that clearly showed that he had been about to open the door just a moment ago.

 “Mon petit cupcake , welcome back! How were your lessons with Al...” her dad’s voice trailed off as he noticed the cat-themed boy behind her.

 Meanwhile, Chat was a bit….nervous? Queasy? Or was terrified a more appropriate word? After all, having seen and been beaten up by Weredad had NOT been a pleasant experience. And who knows what thoughts were right now running through Mr. Dupain’s mind on seeing his daughter (whose heart Chat had once broken) with him? It was extremely natural for him to feel self-conscious all of a sudden. But now that he had been noticed, well. 

 “Hi, Mr. Dupain,” the boy weakly offered, plastering a shaky, nervous smile on his face.

 The huge man kept looking at him blankly. Chat started mentally pep-talking to himself to deal with this awkw- WOAH!  All the air left the boy’s lungs as he was suddenly scooped up in a teddy-bear hug.

“My goodness, Chat Noir! Superheroing has sure made you go thin, my boy! And please, just call me Tom,” the baker said laughing.

“Su-sure….thi-thing, Mr. Dup-I mean...To-Tom,” the hero wheezed.

“Papa! Chat Noir will be able to call you Tom only when you give him some air to breathe!!” Marinette interjected, worried that the black cat might pass out soon from the lack of air.

 “Ah! Sorry young man,” Tom put the boy down, clapping his shoulders. “I must say, you are all drenched! I don’t know if that suit is designed to keep you from getting soaked, so get warmed up and stay here till the rain stops, okay?” He turned to Marinette, “Sweetheart, make sure to keep our guest cosy. We wouldn’t want our superheroes to fall sick, after all! In case you children need anything, Sabine and I will be downstairs. Have fun!” With a booming laugh, the guardian of the house took his leave.

“Well, that hug certainly warmed me up,” Chat said, breaking the silence. “I am glad he is not mad at me anymore. For the...uh, you know..”

 The ravenette smiled and placed a comforting hand on his shoulders. “It wasn’t your fault, Kitty. What I had was a fleeting celebrity crush. And what really makes me glad is that you truly adore Ladybug. Now,” grasping the blonde hero’s shoulders, Marinette turned him around, pushing him up the stairs, “go up and dry yourself up. You will find the towel on the chaise, if I remember correctly. I will make us some hot chocolate.”

 “Okay, okay, princesse , I am going up!”

 Saying so, the hero went away and Marinette busied herself in the kitchen. She had just put milk in a saucepan when...

“Wow! I must say, your room sure has some interesting decorations, purrincess!”

  Interesting decorations? Wait, she had taken off the Adrien pictures from her walls and..

GOD!! Did she leave her computer on??!! Oh, hell no!!!

 Dashing up the stairs, Marinette threw the trapdoor open, not caring about the banging sound it made. She COULD NOT let the sauve cat see the heart doodle background of Adrien on her computer!! Oh goodness, she would never hea-

 Her computer was turned off.

 Laughter attracted her attention, making her turn her head to see the teenage hero on the ground, laughing and struggling for air.

“Oh. My. Kwami. Tha-that rea-reaction...wow princess! HAHAHAHAHAHA! You just made my day!” He broke into another fit of giggles.

 “Not. Funny. Dry yourself up,  chaton ,” the girl deadpanned, giving him her best you-do-not-amuse-me look.

“Aww come on princess,” Chat said, putting up a mock pout as he literally crawled towards her, “don’t be a wet blanket, paw-lease?”

 “Wet blanket? What on earth are you- CHAT, NO! ” the girl screeched as all of a sudden, the hero shook his head, spraying water droplets on her.

Stopping the activity, the hero looked up at her flirtatiously through the wet hair that had fallen in front of his eyes, water still dripping from them. “Chat, yes, Purr-incess,” he said, winking at her as he flicked her nose.

 Damn. He looked so flirtatiously ho- 

NO! Bad Marinette! Your heart is reserved only for Adrien.

 Well, best to break the kitty’s smoulder.

“No cookies for you,” saying so, the girl smugly walked down the stairs, ignoring the mock wail of despair that followed her.

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So will our kitty get the cookies? Or is Marinette going to punish him for his tomfoolery?  With Marichat, fluff and fun are bound to happen! And so are the heart-to-heart talks. To know what happens next, continue reading the chapter on the links below!

Read on Ao3 here

Read on ffn here

Thanks for all the reviews, likes, reblogs, favorites, subscribes, follows, kudos and comments <3

#miraculous fanfic #marichat #fluff #friendship #hurt #comfort #heart to heart talks #adrien needs a good parent #humor #cuteness #chat being an idiot #puns #miraculous love square

[thinkanamelater]

Brothers (Good Omens/ Aziraphale&Gabriel fanfiction)

Also on AO3!

Summary:

Aziraphale didn’t remember falling asleep, but this had to be a dream. “Why are you here?” “I just thought I could stop by. See by myself what’s so good about earth. Check on you…” Gabriel’s tone was very… Un-Gabriel-like. Quiet, cautious. Sad “We were created as brothers, weren’t we?”

After the failed armaggedon and punishment, Gabriel shows up at the bookshop

Fix it (of sorts), fluff, pre Aziraphale/Crowley

***

He had to be dreaming.

Aziraphale didn't sleep, but he assumed this was what nightmares are like: something so out of question of his conscious mind that he cannot conciliate with reality.

“Aziraphale, there you are!”

Gabriel was standing in the middle of the empty bookshop – hadn’t there been customers only a moment ago? –, his smile as impeccable and shiny as his suit.

He couldn’t believe it, there was no way; but way or not, he had to do something.

He slowly walked towards the phone. He could, maybe, distract Gabriel enough to call Crowley... No, on a second thought, that wasn’t a good idea. Sure, he wanted his friend here with him, but what would Crowley even do? It would only put him in danger.

“Come on, Aziraphale, why do you look so scared? It’s just me!” Gabriel asked, all smiles.

“Maybe because you wanted me dead last time we met”

At that, Gabriel façade broke down. His smile faltered and died, his expression turned into a pained one, all under Aziraphale's astounded gaze.

“Are you really that surprised?”

“I kind of… hoped you wouldn’t bring it up, I guess” Gabriel replied, attempting to bring the charismatic smile back and failing, a strained pull of his lips was everything he could muster.

Aziraphale blinked. He didn’t remember falling asleep, but this had to be a dream. There was no way Gabriel was here, openly admitting he expected to pretend like nothing happened.

“Why are you here?” He asked, doing his best to sound intimidating.

“I just thought I could stop by. See by myself what’s so good about earth. Check on you…” Gabriel’s tone was very… Un-Gabriel-like. Quiet, cautious. Sad “We were created as brothers, weren’t we?”

Aziraphale tried, but couldn’t find it in himself to deny him.

He took him to a few churches, knowing that Gabriel would be charmed at the various depictions of himself in color-tinted glasses; and then to a natural history museum where they laughed at the dinosaur bones.

They didn’t do much talking that day, after all, Aziraphale did not completely trust Gabriel’s intentions were as he said.

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He wasn’t all that surprised when Gabriel showed up again, almost a month later and demanding to be included in “human culture and activities”; but he was wary. What would Crowley say if he found out they were meeting up? The thought made him feel guilty.

This time he started by showing Gabriel some of his favorite books. Gabriel picked one up and inspected it, turning it this way and the other.

“You can open it” Aziraphale suggested softly after a few minutes, and Gabriel’s smile strained. “It’s Shakespeare, one of the best authors you could read” He elaborated, noting how the archangel was growing uncomfortable, but not sure why.

“Hm? Oh, yeah, of course, I mean, I’ve heard of him…”

Gabriel seemed to be stalling, and then it clicked.

“You can’t read English”

The mortified expression on his face was priceless, and Aziraphale had to bite back his chuckles.

“I can read it for you”

“No, no, that’s- that’s not it, I mean, there’s no need for that, really-“ Tense, with his pride hurt, Gabriel tried to backpedal.

Aziraphale laughed out loud, then; a light-hearted, singing laughter, and Gabriel eventually relaxed.

**********

“Six thousand years… I guess I did not realize how much it was to be apart”

Together, they had read Shakespeare, and then Wilde, and Aziraphale was more than happy to keep going but Gabriel suggested going for a walk instead. They ended up sitting down on a park bench, watching the light of the day fade into a warm orange.

“Time does runs differently, in here and up there” Aziraphale agreed softly.

They fell into silence.

Aziraphale knew it would be foolish to completely trust in Gabriel. But when he glanced at him, he caught his meditative frown, his hands clasping at each other on his lap, the sadness clear as day in his eyes… Gabriel appeared utterly vulnerable.

Maybe he was a fool.

He took another look at the archangel, and focused on his hands. There wasn’t a rule prohibiting touching in Heaven, but it wasn’t popular either. Physical gestures were for humans, that was the common conception between angels. But since the current situation was already as bizarre as they came, he reasoned, a small touch couldn’t hurt. With that in mind, he reached out and took one of Gabriel’s hand in his.

Gabriel let out a gasp and went still for a second. When he moved, it was to entwine his fingers with Aziraphale’s.

They smiled softly, in silence; until a bike passed by and out loud called a word that made Aziraphale twitch his nose in disapproval.

“Did they yell at us? What was that?” Gabriel looked genuinely confused. Aziraphale turned to him, with a resigned smile.

“You’d learn that humans have the weirdest concepts of affection and gender”

Gabriel nodded slowly, considering his words, and then frowned in confusion.

“I’m sorry, what is gender?”

Aziraphale just patted the hand he was holding.

“Let’s leave that for another time. You’ve had enough humanity for today, I’d say”

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“That moment, when you spit hellfire at us… Once I stopped being scared, everything I could think about was “well, had that reached me, maybe I did deserve it after all”, and I didn’t understand that feeling at all. Until I realized, it was guilt” Gabriel paused, swallowing, averting his eyes from Aziraphale.

Aziraphale looked in shock.

In the backroom of his bookshop, he had finally talked Gabriel into trying tea. Whether the archangel actually swallowed it, or just pretended to, it was a completely different matter; but it led to a calm conversation, which grew deeper as the hours passed. And now Aziraphale was frantic.

“Oh no- I didn’t- I’m so sorry! Crowley did mention messing with you guys, but I never thought-“ Aziraphale tried to apologize, and stopped when his brain caught up with what he had let out.

But it was late, because Gabriel was now staring at him, and he could practically hear the gears in his brain as he put the pieces together.

“Aziraphale. What was that?”

“I-I was apologizing! Because I uh, shouldn’t have done that!” He tried to save face, hoping against hope that Gabriel would forget what he just said, his anxiety showing through in his distraught hand movements and his voice going higher.

Gabriel stared at him blankly.

“You mentioned Crowley. Why would you talk about him? He “messed with us”? What does that mean, Aziraphale?”

For the first time in his long existence, Aziraphale found himself wishing Gabriel hadn’t pay attention to him.

He swallowed, desperate. There was just one thought in his mind, now.

“Don’t punish Crowley. Please!” If he hadn’t known it would be considered blasphemous, he would have kneeled in front of Gabriel to beg.

The archangel took a deep breath, and pinched his nose.

“Aziraphale, I’m trying to… I’m doing my best effort here, trying to understand just what are you talking about” He whispered, his jaw clenched. “But I need you to be honest with me”

Aziraphale believed he was trying, and believed his attempt to befriend him so far had been genuine, but he did not know how much would he accept.

“What do you want to know, Gabriel?” He said, scared

“Did you and the demon Crowley switch places? Is that why… hellfire, and holy water did not work?”

Aziraphale nodded barely imperceptibly. Gabriel stood up brusquely.

“Gabriel?” The angel asked with what little voice he could find. When Gabriel turned to look at him, his deep purple eyes were glowing ominously. “Where are you going?”

“I need to process this”

“Gabriel, wait, please…!” Aziraphale did not kneel, but he bowed his back drastically low. “I know I’m not in any position to ask for anything, but… Don’t harm Crowley…”

Gabriel stopped, but didn’t turn; and after a moment walked out.

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Crowley had to know.

Aziraphale did not want to tell him, but he didn’t want Crowley finding it out the bad way. But he couldn’t do it.

He was aware of Crowley’s sleeping habits, and no, he didn’t wish for the demon to sleep a whole century away. It had been lonely enough the first time.

But, well, he could hope for a few weeks. Or months. Yes, two or three months until he worked out how to bring up the whole Gabriel topic

He had no such luck. Only two weeks after his last encounter with the archangel, which he spent worrying and burying himself in old books and ignoring Crowley’s calls that grew more insistent with every passing day, the demon barged into the bookshop, not giving Aziraphale time to switch the sign to “closed”.

“How much time do you plan on ignoring me?” Strutting inside, Crowley went on rambling, not having noticed the desolate look on Aziraphale’s face “At the very least tell me why! If you’re mad because of what I said about your book, well I’m sorry but I still think it’s the most boring- oof!“

With two long strides, Aziraphale all but crashed against the demon.

“Oh- oh dear…” Aziraphale hid his face against Crowley’s collar and clinged to the back of his jacket, holding their bodies as close as it was physically possible. He wanted to make sure they were here.

He wanted to make sure he was here, in one piece, solid and warm against him. There was nothing he wanted more.

He didn’t know how much longer it would stay this way. He didn’t know what Gabriel meant by “processing” the new information. Was he planning on a new punishment? Did he tell the other authorities, up high and low down?

Aziraphale shivered. He hadn’t allowed himself to think about it, but it was so real now, holding Crowley, and Crowley holding him back. If they came to take them, again... They’d know the trick, so they wouldn’t be taken by surprise. They wouldn’t let them walk out. They would keep them until they figured out how to make them… disappear.

Heaven and Hell, coming together once more to terminate them, and this time would be definitive, and Crowley would never know what happened, would never know it was all Aziraphale’s fault…

He sobbed and that was the breaking point for Crowley, who had been trying to keep calm for his angel.

“Aziraphale! What is going on?” Softly, Crowley grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back. One of his hands held Aziraphale’s chin up, and for a moment Aziraphale forgot all of his preoccupations: Crowley’s sunglasses were pushed up, and he was entranced by the rich yellow eyes he was staring into.

Crowley looked mesmerized as well, his eyes fixated in Aziraphale’s.

It felt like nothing mattered anymore, not space, not time, only them and their bodies slowly leaning closer. Aziraphale held his breath.

“Angel” Crowley muttered like a prayer, his voice in the verge of breaking. “Angel, I…” It tickled Aziraphale’s lips.

“Gabriel”

Aziraphale blurted, out of the spell, and he witnessed Crowley’s expression switch from puzzlement to sorrow to anger and back to puzzlement; in the short amount of time that took him to gather himself and vocalize:

“Huh?”

“Gabriel knows”

“Angel, you know that I have no idea what you’re talking about, right?” He tried to play it calm, but he couldn’t help the terror that the mention of Aziraphale’s superior sparked on him.

Aziraphale didn’t have the opportunity to explain.

With flawless timing, the door snapped open, one more time.

“Oh shit” Crowley cursed as Gabriel walked in. Wasting no time, he faced the archangel and spreading out his wings in order to keep Aziraphale out of sight.

Gabriel stopped for a second, during which a surprised expression crossed his face; and then it was gone as he continued nonchalantly walking towards them.

“Very impressive, demon” He said in a plain tone “You can stay if you wish, but I’m not here for you. Let me talk with my brother”

Crowley made a choked sound and Aziraphale emerged from behind the dark feathers.

“I’m here, brother”

Gabriel took a few, hurried steps towards Aziraphale; and Crowley almost intervened again. But Gabriel only held the angel in his arms, awkwardly.

“I’ve been… meditating. As an archangel-“

“The archangel fucking Gabriel” Crowley muttered under his breath. Aziraphale didn’t catch it, and Gabriel only threw a frown at his direction, and kept talking.

“-I said, as an archangel, I’m supposed to look out and protect the almighty creations. I’m supposed to… love.” It was obvious he was having a hard time saying all that “And it looks like I’ve got a lot to learn from you, Aziraphale. I’m…” He struggled for a moment, and finally sighed. “I’m sorry. For a lot of things, but mostly, for letting so much time pass before realizing it. I can see why you wanted to protect… this, even if I don’t fully understand it”

Aziraphale realized there were tears threatening to spill from his eyes, but he couldn’t do anything more than blink and stare at Gabriel.

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s love, isn’t it? The reason you… and Crowley… went against us. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before”

Aziraphale missed it, but Gabriel absolutely caught Crowley turning beet red.

“Gabriel, what do you mean?” Aziraphale insisted, flustered. Gabriel squeezed him between his arms and pulled back, a fox-like grin growing on his face.

“I’ll leave it to you to figure it out. And you, demon Crowley…” Gabriel lowered his eyebrows, but didn’t stop grinning. Crowley gulped “You take care of him”

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Ahhhh I’ve had this baby on my drafts forever, and I finally got to finish it!

I don’t remember the title, but there was a very good fic I read where Aziraphale fell after the events of the show, and he and Gabriel had a few interesting conversations, calling each other "brother". It really stuck with me, and I wanted to do something with that idea! (plus i’m a sucker for.... everyone getting along and working their differences lmao)

I worried it would read as naive or over symplistic, but I really wanted to write this, and I had a great time, so I hope you liked reading it as well!

#good omens #gabriel #aziraphale #crowley #innefable husbands #i mean its pre relationship but same difference #fanfiction tag

[nattikay]

First Thoughts on Loveater/Miracle Queen

Well, that was certainly...something

(obligatory reminder that these First Thoughts posts are NOT objective; they are simply some of my thoughts and impressions watching the episode. And I’m not a multishipper. So if you ship Adrigami and/or Lukanette, hey more power to ya, but be forewarned, some of these thoughts are anti-those ships. I’ll try to keep shipping comments to a minimum but it will come up. Sorry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

-Starting with some narration on loss...ok......

-“Some people lose their soul” (shows Nathalie with miraculous damage) so uh....is this implying that the peacock miraculous actually damaged her soul? o_o;

-So Andre and Aubrey are having some sort of...couple celebration thing? Even though they clearly can’t stand each other...aight

-Excuse me Gabriel what the CRAP is that?

-How on earth did this man become a famous fashion designer lol

-Y’know what, I’m totally down for the Adrien/Kagami/Marinette friendship dynamic. They seem to have a lot of fun together. Miss me with that romantic Adrigami tho. Nope, no, not interested. Sorry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

- “This is the first time I’ve seen you with your hair down!” Ouch :’)

-Yeah, that line does just seem to be a ref to Chat Blanc though, without really any further meta significance to Marinette’s hair being down like I was wondering if there’d be.

-...why does Luka keep his guitar in his bike basket? Wouldn’t it fall out? ^^”

-Does he just happen to carry around a spare helmet just for the heck of it? ^^”

-Yeah miss me with the Lukanette too. Nope.

-EXCUSE ME HAWKMOTH WHAT THE CRAP IS THAT?!

-Yup, this is officially the WEIRDEST akuma design I’ve ever seen, the frik

-Uh oh, they’re trying to track down Fu

-CRAP FU’S BEEN FOUND OUT

-Aaaand we get to see Fu transformed! And like Hawkmoth, he has no time limit...

-Hawkmoth sweet-talking Chloe back to his side...sigh. I understand your frustrations Chloe but gosh dangit you were doing so well before now! Ah well...

-Ok, onwards to Miracle Queen...Ukrainian dub huh? Never heard that one before...the acting seems a bit wooden but oh well

-Oh frik, both Hawkmoth and Chloe now know the identities of all the other Miraculous wielders thus far (other than the main two, of course) >:0

-Ayy, Dragonbug and SnakeNoir. Forgot about them haha. 

-Snake Noir’s costume definitely looks better than Aspik’s, probably mostly because of the ears breaking up the smooth head look, but still not nearly as nice as Chat Noir or Viperion. Dragonbug looks awesome tho

-That battle didn’t take as long as I expected...was...was that it?

-Oh right, Hawkmoth’s still a thing that has to be dealt with :P

-So Fu is officially relinquishing guardianship to Marinette...kinda sudden, but I guess an understandable call considering the circumstances 

-The Miracle Box changed designs when passed to Marinette? Interesting...

-A little bummed about Fu loosing his memories...again, it’s understandable given the circumstances...but still, to loose him as a mentor completely...oof

-At least he finally gets to be with his girlfriend tho

-Turns out the narration was a letter from Fu the whole time? Ow that hurts D:

-Ending with the shot of Lukanette and Adrigami while Adrienette is as far apart as ever left me on a kinda bitter note tbh :/ not a fan...

-I’m sorry but we know the love square is gonna be endgame, which makes the ~oh who will they chooooooose~ nonsense a lot less of genuine will-they-won’t-they and more of an “ugh, can we just skip this please? we all know it’s not gonna last so let’s just not bother”. I get that it’s supposed to help forward Adrienette in the end but...good gravy, I just have absolutely zero interest in watching it. Call me shallow but I’m here for the Love Square, not excess triangles. Sorry that’s just how I feel. :/

-So Gabriel managed to fix the Peacock? Will that heal the damage Nathalie’s already taken or just prevent it from getting worse? How about Emilie? Hmm...

-....now that Gabriel has a transcribed version of the book, does that mean he can make the powerups for Nooroo? Granted, I’m not sure what he’d need to use them for but...

-welp...guess that was that :I

#miraculous #ml spoilers #loveater spoilers #miracle queen spoilers #I'm sorry but Adrienette are SOULMATES and you can NOT change my mind :P #but u do u