#arthur fleck fan fic

[m0tormouth]

would arthur fleck nation read a platonic arthur fleck x bio mom reader??

[jokeringcutio]

More

[archivyrep]

The go-to archivist depiction

Example of someone who cross describes as a go-to depiction of an archivist; this is Archie in Regular Show

Samantha Cross, an archivist who reviews examples of archives in popular culture, has argued that the "go-to depiction of an archivist" is often middle-aged, White, male, and likely cisgender. She also described Zootopia as feeding into "the stereotype of records and archives being distant," and the almost useless archivist in Voltron: Legendary Defender. One of the best examples of what she describes as the "go-to depiction" of an archivist is Archie in Regular Show, but there are others as well, which align and buck this depiction.

Reprinted from my Wading Through the Cultural Stacks WordPress blog. Originally published on May 13, 2022.

If he can be considered an archivist, there is the Librarian in an episode of She-Ra: Princess of Power. He oversees the Library in the Valley of the Lost, and is said to be a hermit. He is an elderly man with White hair and is White. He also manages what is known as the Inner Library, which has books "in a language not used in a thousand years." It is, arguably, a bit archivy. He is not the only White archivist I've written about on this blog. One of the oft-mentioned on here is Jocasta Nu, an elderly White woman, who runs the Jedi Archives. Another example I sometimes forget is the White female archivist who is manipulated by Anna to change a birth record in My Dictator Boyfriend. [1]

Some fan fics seem to feed into the idea that archivists are White people. These fics show archivists as stereotypical with grey hair, for instance. Others showcase archivists of color, including those which I've written myself, even making Bow's dads archivists, even though they are historians in the original series, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. This is a bit of an oddity, however. As, others example of a White archivist are the records clerks shown briefly in an episode of 180 Angel, Abigail Chase in the National Treasure franchise, and a reference librarian in Can You Ever Forgive Me?. Additionally, it could also be argued that Theoda and Pothina in Cleopatra in Space are archivists, or at least information professionals of some kind as they work in a museum of the show's protagonist.

Apart from Hermes Conrad, a bureaucrat who you could argue is an archivist I suppose, there's the Japanese man, Ura, in Pale Cocoon, a green Gem named Peridot in Steven Universe. The latter two could be either be said to be archivists, each in their own way, or engaging in some archivist tasks. In any case, Peridot's voice actor is Shelby Rabara, a Filipino-American actress and dancer. More directly than any of these examples is the Black male record clerk, Clark, in Joker (played by Brian Tyree Henry), who tries to help Arthur Fleck get his hands on records of his mother. However, he is determined to stick to the rules, leading Fleck to literally steal the records from him to avoid the red tape.

There are two characters other than Hermes, Ura, Peridot, or the unnamed record clerk which can undoubtedly be described as archivists: Arizal in Recorded by Arizal and Grandpa Park in Stretch Armstrong. Neither seems to have professional training (Arizal may be on the path to such training), but both engage in actions which make them archivists in one way or another. There's a solo archivist in Ultraman Taiga, a presidential archivist named Briony in Leif & Thorn, and a 26-year-old archivist named Cortez Velasquez in Heirs of the Veil, the blue-skinned sisters (and archivists) in Lore Olympus, and Rae, an aspiring archivist in Always Human.

There are many other examples and characters who engage in archivist duties like arrangement, description, preservation, appraisal, reference, collaboration, outreach, administrative tasks, and selection, so in that sense, this is only scratching the surface. That is in part because the number of posts on this blog are minimal, not even reaching 100 posts at present, so I don't have many other examples to use for this post. But, if I decide to pursue this in the future, I may come back to this post and build on it again.

© 2022 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[jokerownsmysoul]

🏆, ❌, ⌛, 💥

Lots of love!! ❤️

Ahh thank you girl! 🥺💙 Lots of love right back to you! 💙🌷

fanfic writers ask

🏆 What's your most popular fic?

"Waiting for you" and "Milk and Honey" happen to be the pieces with more notes in my masterlist, more or less the same amount. A bit surprising I've to admit 😂 not sure if I got the question right though! If we're talking about a kind of popularity that isn't about the amount of notes but the impact it had on people, I really can't tell 🥺 if anything I hope there is one 🥺

❌ What's a trope you will never write?

It's really though for me to answer this question because I don't know about all the tropes that exists unfortunately (something I would like to fix someday 😂) and I write stories only for Arthur Fleck, so I really can't tell for now. Definitely not major character death. Kinda obvious but still :')) Not a big fan of sex pollen, bang or die, High school and college AU, and body swap tropes either. 😂 My answer would be different if we were talking about original works with OFC, but for now I don't have any so that will do. 😂💀

⌛ How long does it take you to write a fic, or a chapter?

Ohh, I don't have a specific answer to this 🥺 there are pieces I've written in two days, some others written in 4/6 months, and some wips I haven't finished yet that I've been writing for 2 years (💀💀💀) My writing process is very chaotic on this front 😂 It depends a lot on my mood & inspiration, of course, but also on how challenging is the piece I'm writing, the editing process as well as emotionally speaking. 🥺 Performance anxiety has a lot of impact on it unfortunately, but I'm trying to work on it! 💙

Since English isn't my first language I can guarantee 100% that usually it takes me far too long to reach the goal I want to achieve in the story or find the words I'm looking for. My writing process goes definitely slower than I wished it did, it can be discouraging but worth it every single time. 💙 Writing in my language is also hard, if not even more, which is comforting 😂

💥 How do you feel about criticism?

Although writing for me is about what my soul feels and is driven completely by my heart, (now that I think about it maybe because of it) I really do my best when I work on my stories and put lot of effort in my crafting & editing process. I want to treat Arthur and give him what he deserves in the best, most accurate and considerate way, so I'm always happy to improve and grow both as a person and a writer. Definitely I do accept criticisms! 🤗💙 Critiques are useful as long as they're done with kindness and genuine intent to help 🧸

[call-me-harley-quinn]

🥰😘😍💜💕💋🌹

[askmrfleck]

✨A LOVELY ONESHOT ✨

It feels like im dreaming, almost.

It's been a day of events.

I went all over, sightseeing with the person I love.

Arthur.

The evening sky grows darker and slowly turns into night, i suddenly feel a chill. Perhaps we'll find a little place to warm up a little?

That place is a cozy little café on the waterfront of the Gotham river; it only hums out soft romantic little tunes, played from a fiddler, a trumpeter, and a pianist. They sit near the edge of the little place, playing their own world through their instruments.

The crowd in here is humble, here only to hear the song of the trio, it seems.

A lonely waiter washes a cup as he looks on at the playing three, getting a faint glimmer in his eye, maybe a glimmer of bittersweet memories.

With a chuckle, Arthur asks if we take a seat.

We both sit down at a small table in the corner, almost barricaded by little palm plants.

If we should do something, no one would see...

But that's aside from what really happens.

The trio still played on that same, almost mournful, swing tune. Some couples got up and slow danced with each other.

I looked over to Arthur; he looked toward the players with a keen interest.

I just sat and thought how such an event, an event like this, could ever happen in my plain life. How could I ever come to have this happen?

Just as I was wondering how I'd got here, another thing unexpected happens.

"A dance?"

"Oh yes, of course, I'd love to, Artie."

I stand, and he takes my hand.

I let the slow melody take away all my troubles, leaving aware in my mind only of what's happening now. All thoughts of past life are missing.

We slowly moved along, letting the music take us away.

"Dear, this gaping space seems to change me. Why not dance a little bit closer?"

His words seem to have a dreamy quality now, they echoed softly in my ears.

He gently moves me closer, into a hug.

I close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder.

"Isn't that much better?"

He whispers, with a chuckle. I reply with a small laugh, a smile forming on my lips.

He then starts to hum the tune of the trumpeter in my ear.

The song still continues on for a long time, as if they'd known my joy, as if they too wish for this happiness to last forever... and a night.

Mid-song I find he gently pushed me away, trying to look into me with his eyes. A hand is cradled around the nape of my neck. The other rests on my hip. He continues to look into my eyes. For a moment, I'm lost in his transfixing gaze, trying to decipher what he means. His eyes start to close.

Oh, that's what...

I feel the softness of his lips on mine as we embrace each other, I with all that welled up passion he'd set in my heart ever since we've met.

I find myself stroking his head, the soft curl and warmth of his dark hair. Just then, I loose all other feeling except for that of his touch and the slow song of the players.

It almost seemed like it lasted forever but, as all things, it ended.

He looked into my eyes, with a worried expression.

"You're crying."

He says, wiping away my tears.

I would have never noticed if he hadn't pointed it out.

"Even if I had wished this whole thing to happen a millennium ago, I would still be waiting."

My voice is only a whisper. He curls a lock of my hair between his fingers, moving it behind my ear, green eyes gleaming with a tremendous wonder.

"I'm just wondering how it all happened just now."

I end, others still hadn't heard.

He only smiles, kissing my forehead.

He pulled me close again and we start the dance once again, he humming the tune of the trumpet. We dance all through the night, until the little café closed down for the day, along with all the other hopes and memories of that time, continuing on to be lost in a sea of dreams that rests and sways softly in that one little building on the river alone.

[wastewacipi]

Another Arthur imagine (((SLIGHT nsfw)));

It was early evening. The sky was quickly turning orange, to pink, to lavender. I’m putting on makeup because Arthur was taking us out tonight. I pick up a black a line dress from the closet and went to the mirror. I look at myself as I slide it on. I then chuckle as i try to zip myself up. Arthur comes up behind me, caressing the front of my body from behind. “Need a little help?” Arthur asks breathily. “Please.” I say as he zips me up. He kisses my head and looks at us in the mirror. “You’re so beautiful.” He comments with a grin. “You’re just saying that!” I laugh. “No, no, I really mean it. How did i get so lucky?” He turns my head and then kisses me on the mouth. “I could ask the same thing, Artie.” I cup Arthur’s cheeks and kiss him. Hard. “Mmm, Y/N, you know how badly i want this, but could it wait.....? i made reservations for the swankiest restaurant in Gotham.” He affirmed, giving me a small peck on the cheek. “Be right back, gotta get dressed too.” Arthur said before going into the closet. I look at myself in the mirror. Wondered how someone like Arthur would want someone like me. I turn to Arthur, and see his semi-nude body. A body that i loved. He puts on a white dress-shirt. “You’re looking very dashing.” I comment. He turned and smiled as he slipped on some burgundy trousers. “Thank you, love.” He purred. Now he put on a matching vest. “Ready Freddie.” He laughed. He then held onto my arm, our elbows interlocking. We went out into the hall, and went out. Of course it was all like a dream. We barely touched our food, as we were laughing and talking the whole time. Arthur looks deep into my eyes with a smile. Vibrant emerald meets the colour of the midnight sky. “Arthur, i lo—” i began. Arthur leaned forward and held onto my hands on the table. “Y/N, i love you more. You belong to me. I was so lonely without you. Im glad i met you. You are my blessing.” Arthur looked right into my eyes. I wanted to kiss him right there. I knew Arthur knew this too. Arthur leaned closer to me. “You couldn’t possibly know how badly i want you right now.” His voice was a low gritty whisper. I was already hot for him, even before he said anything. Then we went home and had amazing sex.

[jesterfairy]

Me, editing the smutty chapters of my new fic 👀

[lornashore]

Confessions

Summary: This is an Arthur Fleck reader insert. You confess to Arthur the feelings you’ve been keeping to yourself for a long time. 

A/N: This is my first dabbling in fan fiction. It’s just an idea I came up with wondering what it would be like if someone had cared for him and tried to confess. Sorry for any mistakes I missed. I welcome constructive criticism from anyone! 

  High pitched laughter bounced off the walls in the otherwise quiet apartment as Arthur hunched forward. Involuntary exhales caused his torso to rapidly rise and fall, unable to breathe properly. The forgotten cigarette that was held between his joints burned to a tiny stub as the ashes accumulated on the floor. I cringed when he began to choke, desperately trying to cease his outburst as he massaged circles into his throat. His attempts failed as another fit painfully clawed through his fragile body. My fingertips drew small patterns on his curved back in hopes to soothe his agony, feeling his spine under his sweat dampened skin. The fresh tears that rolled down his hollow cheeks were indication enough of the pain he was currently enduring. My heart ached at the sight, wishing I knew some way to help ease his discomfort.

  Finally, after what seemed like a long and dreadful hour, his piercing cackles tapered off into low chuckles. He let his body fall back onto the lumpy cushions behind him, the rapid spasms of his bare rib cage slowly returned back to a somewhat normal pace. His head slowly turned towards me, bloodshot eyes taking in my form from the spot beside him on his old worn couch.

  “I just...I can’t believe I only imagined her.” He whispered despite the exhaustion evident in the rasp in his voice. I remained silent to let him work through his thoughts, not wanting to overwhelm him with my own. After a moment he noticed the stub in his digits that no longer burnt off that putrid nicotine smell. He leaned his lanky figure forward, twisting the butt into the ashtray before he opened a new pack to light up another. 

  “Everything was so clear, so detailed. How could something like that have possibly been fake?” He mumbled to himself, voice cracking with emotion. The odor from his cigarette wafted over to me as he took a long drag from it, exhaling a large white puff from his lungs. 

  “I feel like I’ll never truly find love. What have I done to deserve this?” He murmured, turning his head slightly to look at me with his large crystal eyes. A shadow of sorrow and self revulsion clouded his usually bright irises I always looked forward to seeing. With a sigh I scooted closer to him on the tattered cushions as he leaned into my side, resting his head on my shoulder. I ran my fingers through his tangled cocoa curls, the strands tickled the soft skin between my them. 

  “You’ve done nothing wrong Arthur. You deserve any desire you’ve ever had.” He sighed at this, his warm breath formed goosebumps on the sensitive skin of my neck.

  “Clearly fate has a different plan for me. Look at what’s happened. I lost my job, my mother is dead, I’m being evicted from this apartment because I can’t pay the rent, and now the woman I thought loved me doesn’t even recognize me.” The self loathing he held in his tone broke my heart. I placed my palm on his left arm and rubbed up and down, hoping to comfort him before he returned back to that downward spiral.

  “That doesn’t mean you deserve anything less than your desires. We just happen to live in a cruel world.” Stillness fell between us, the only sound being from the analogue clock that was mounted on the wall. 

  “I really loved her.” He conveyed, burying his face into the crook of my neck as he did. 

  “Well, maybe it’s better this way. There could be someone else out there that cares about you.” My cheeks flushed, biting my tongue from spilling my entire heart to him right then. He pulled away at my words and I immediately missed the warmth from his body. I kept my sight on the wall ahead of me as he lowered his cigarette leaving a trail of smoke as he snickered at my words. 

  “Like anyone would actually love me. Clearly I’m incapable of having a relationship that isn’t thought up in my head.” He said in a bitter, sarcastic tone, shooting the idea down immediately. My heart hammered in my rib cage, realizing that I could no longer keep things to myself. 

  “There is someone who cares for you Arthur. And they happen to be right here.” I mumbled the last part, nerves getting the better of me. He whipped his head in my direction, brunette curls bouncing from the sudden movement. He studied me as an unamused grin spread across his face as if waiting for the punchline to a hilarious joke.

  “Did you just say that you care for me?” He confirmed pointing to himself. The disbelief showed clear on his features, his mouth held slightly open as he emitted another snicker. I nodded sheepishly, not finding the courage to look at him directly. 

  “What is this to you, some kind of a comedy?” He sneered, shaking his head. I wrinkled my eyebrows, surprised by his harsh tone. 

  “This isn’t a joke. I’m being serious right now.” A puff of smoke left his mouth, the white cloud being directed at me as he stood. I coughed lightly, the fumes irritating my throat and sinuses. His bare feet padded across the floor as he began pacing back and forth. 

  “This is awfully strange timing, wouldn’t you think? If this is true, why would you wait until now to tell me? Or maybe you just wanted to add humor to my already fucked up life.” He was raising his voice now, arms flailing beside him as he continued in his march in the living space.

  “Please, just calm down and talk to me. I’m telling you the truth I mean it!” My gaze followed his thin frame, hoping that he’d see the desperation in them, and the longing they held just for him.

  “You think I believe that? You’re just trying to mock me. Make some kind of fool out of me and my situation. This isn’t funny.” I flinched at the sharp edge in his voice restraining myself from speaking too soon. He brushed his slender fingers through his messy locks, as he released a long sigh. But the pain he felt showed in his eyes as clear as day. It hurt my very core knowing he thought I was telling him a lie, or to poke fun of him in any way. 

  A lump formed in my throat as tears threatened to pour, my chin trembled almost noticeably before I swallowed hard, pushing the sensation aside. I stood from the old couch and stomped over to him and constrained his skinny wrists, halting his pacing immediately. He searched my face for any sign of betrayal, his thick eyebrows furrowed together in frustration.

  “Arthur, I’ve loved you for months now. I was going to tell you sooner but then you told me about Sophie, so I held back because I wanted you to be happy. How do you think I felt when you told me about her? That the man I fell so hard preferred someone else? It shattered my heart into a thousand pieces. But I buried that hurt deep inside because I respected you and wanted you to find happiness with her. I’ve wanted to tell you many times while you were with her, just so you’d know. But when you’d tell me all the stories of you and her, and the fact that you genuinely smiled, I refused to. I couldn’t ruin that for you. But now I have the strength to let you know this and I need you to trust me. I would never lie to you about something as serious as this.” My pulse raced, exhaustion settling in from having my innermost feelings pour out of my mouth in such a way. Yet a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders as I stared into those vast oceans of his, the anger within them from before transformed into something else. 

  “I know I can’t make you return my feelings, It’s just important to me that I tell you. So there it is. That’s all. I understand if you want me to leave.” I lowered my head, fearing that rejection would come next.

  A moment of silence passed between the two of us, neither of us knowing what to do or say next. Feeling a bit uncomfortable with his lack of response, I moved around him, as tears began to brim my eyes. Before I could make it to the door, slender fingers wrapped around my wrist, halting me in my stride. I turned my head to look over my shoulder at him, refusing to meet his gaze. 

  “Don’t go, not yet.” He pleaded in a whisper. That was all it took for me to remain. He pulled me towards him, eyes finally meeting as I stood before him. Our bodies close enough that our chests almost touched, neither of us making any moves to put some distance between.    

  My skin tingled as his calloused knuckles caressed my cheek. I leaned into his touch instinctively  while his free one held tightly onto my wrist. All signs of anger were gone now, his eyes shining clear and bright. His mouth turned upwards as he shook his head slightly, apprehension still reflecting on his wrinkled features. My face glowed pink at our close proximity, the odor of musky tobacco that lingered on him was oddly pleasing. I blushed deeper when his cobalt orbs studied my face.

  Being unable to control myself any longer, I wrapped my fingers around the back of his neck and pulled him towards me. Our lips connected much rougher than intended, a moan escaped his throat at the impact. His muscles tensed up immediately, uncertain of how to respond. I watched him for a moment with half lidded eyes, ever so curious what was going through her mind at this very moment. His face heated up like a ripe tomato in the most adorable way possible. I smiled when I felt his trembling hands on my waist, the warmth they offered caused butterflies to flutter in my stomach.

  “You’re so cute.” I giggled, pressing my forehead to his as I greedily sucked in some air. The corners of his mouth twitched up into a wide smile, face turning an impossible shade darker in response to my words. His eyelids remained closed as his chest expanded and retracted with much needed oxygen. Then, to my delighted surprise, he leaned in for more.

  My heart fluttered with excitement as I pressed myself against his rigid, boney torso, longing to feel closer to him. With a sigh, I relaxed my muscles as I curled my fist in his tangled locks while the other trailed down his breast and up to his neck. His warm skin beneath my fingertips tingled with electricity as raw emotions of desire and longing flickered to life. Excitement coiled in my stomach as our lips danced in rhythm together, savoring the oddly delicious taste of stale nicotine. 

  The passion and need he held felt as if we had deprived ourselves of this moment for much too long. The realization of how much he truly needed, wanted me now showed as he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. Pools of twinkling waves gazed deeply into my own, the once restricted affection now poured freely out of his very being. I draped my arms around his neck, leaning my weight onto him, not trusting my weakened knees. 

  “Is this actually real?” He asked with a wide grin. My shoulders slumped, head rolling back at his disbelief, finding it rather irritating in this moment. 

  “Art, what do you want me to do? How can I prove to you that this is real? That I'm real?” I took a few steps back from him, finding myself at a loss for what to say. He held one of his hands out, reaching towards me but quickly lowering it to his side. His black eyebrows pinched together in what seemed like pain, as if he were fighting with his own mind. A long sigh left my lungs as I squeezed the bridge of my nose. I loved the man so deeply, yet hated the way he thought of himself, and how it was so unbelievable to him that someone could actually want to show him love and affection. My patience wore thin the longer he stood there, head turned down towards the carpet below his bare feet. 

  “Say something Arthur. Tell me what you want me to do.” I whispered, desperate for him to see, to truly know the depths of how I felt for him. I slowly approached him, halting inches in front of him. With a gentle nudge of my thumb, I guided his face back to mine. He lifted his arms slowly, carefully, as if he feared I would retreat from him. Tentatively, he enveloped my waist, drawing me nearer to him. I searched deep into his soul for any sign of something other than the ruthless opinions his mind conjured up about himself. He finally broke the silence after some time passed with a simple request, one that I would never have realized the weight they held in his mind and soul. 

  “Just...stay with me. Don’t leave me alone...please.” His gravelly voice faded to a shy whisper, pupils moving between me and whatever far off place they seemed to focus on. I tilted my head and gently scratched his scalp, the action easing his tense muscles. I hesitated, considering my words, hoping that they would be enough, yet somehow knowing otherwise. After consideration of my next words, I finally replied in the most convincing and loving voice I could muster: 

  “I could never leave....won't leave you. Not anymore. You have my word.”

[jokeringcutio]

Psst, one of them got explicit smut in it, the other allusions to it. So er, I tried keeping it decent, I guess? PS. Have you checked my latest posts? I updated the Albert Shaw(Grabber) x Reader fic on AO3 [Black Phone Fandom/ Ethan Hawke fans enjoy ]. Chapter 5 is short and will be on somewhere next week. Chapter 6 should appear on Friday. I also posted a Headcanon fill for Arthur Fleck x younger reader. [Joker 2019 ]

[dumblefairy]

i love how in joker fandom we’re all just constantly bonding over our love for arthur fleck. no conflict. no stupid fan wars just sharing soft pictures and fics to support one another whilst regularly losing our minds over how hot joaquin looks in clown makeup

[pcrushinnerd]

“Looks Like You’re Dating A Witch”

Warnings: None.

A/N: This is purely some self-indulgent fluff for my own enjoyment.

The first time he came over to your apartment, he was drawn to your altar–a small set up on a dresser in your room, with its two pillar candles at either side, an incense holder, a little cauldron, a small dish and a wine glass, a knife, and adorned with raw crystals, pine cones, leaves, and dried flowers.

“What’s all this?” Normally you didn’t allow anyone to touch your altar, but he had such a childlike wonder in his eyes, particularly as he picked up and examined some of the crystals, that it didn’t bother you or feel disrespectful.

“My altar.”

He’d looked at you confused.

Then came your admission, sounding like it came from the protagonist of a wacky, romantic comedy: "Well, hun, looks like you’re dating a witch....”

He still looked somewhat confused, but you were relieved and heartened when he started asking you sincere questions, and seemed completely drawn in as you gave all the finer points of your spiritual practices.

You feared the usual questions, but he never asked them. Still, you gave a short lecture about what you weren’t: You didn’t believe in the Devil, much less worship him; you loved animals, and nature, and would never hurt either; you explained the Rule of Three and karma and the like to him.

As your relationship progressed and you spent more and more time together, he saw some of your practices in action.

A simple spell said over a candle put another look of awe and wonder on his face.

“What was that for?”

You don’t normally express whatever you prayed to your gods about, but again, with Arthur, it felt okay. “Just that we’re both safe as we start another work week.”

He smiled widely. “Sounds like a worthy cause.”

The smoke and scent of your incense would often blend with his cigarette smoke, making you wonder how the fire detector didn’t constantly go off, but also creating such a unique aroma and feel in your shared space.

Your activities as a ‘kitchen witch’ were especially appreciated.

“Taste this,” you say to Arthur as held up a spoonful of a homemade apple sauce you’d been working on for an upcoming holiday. He let the spoon slip into his mouth and subsequently tasted one of the most delicious things he’d ever eaten.

Arthur happily served as a taste tester for your magical recipes.

You were highly fortunate to be able to see the moon easily from your bedroom most nights. One night in particular, you could see it rising up on the horizon, and it had you transfixed in just how beautiful it was.

“Whatchya doin’?”

“Just watching the moon.” He already knew how important it was to you spiritually.

He grabbed your hand. “Up,” he gently commanded.

You were puzzled, but complied as you let Arthur pull you out of the chair. He walked around you and sat down in the same chair, before smiling at you and patting his leg. “Let’s watch together.”

A big smile spread over your face, before you hopped onto his lap.

His arms wrapped around you, and he nuzzled into your hair as you both watched the moon together.

At one point he pulled back, and with a smirk, he touched your nose with his index finger. But instead of simply “booping” it like he sometimes did, he wiggled it a bit.

“What was that for?” you smiled.

“Hmm, I thought something magical happened when a witch’s nose wiggled.”

“Ah,” you nodded, still smiling. “Well, something magical could happen. Maybe something like this—” You leaned down a bit, and pressed your lips to his, as the two of you fell into a heated kiss.

[fleckcmscott]

Thanks to @sweet-nothings04 and @jokerownsmysoul for tagging me! 💜 😃

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 6 favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world. Tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

I'm going to stick to oneshots on this one, because Watch What Happens will never not be a favorite. Special shoutouts to my betas on these!

1. Another Year & Another Decade - But I will cheat right off the bat. 😂 These pieces, in which we see Arthur and Y/N/Sarah celebrate their first birthdays as a couple, are two sides of the same coin. Funnily, I got the requests within a couple days of each other, so I knew I had to at least give it a try!

2. Bittersweet - The result of an anonymous request I couldn't be more thankful for. Exploring the circumstances of Arthur's first kiss was a real joy. I remember the imagery of the carnival he worked at, the feel of the weather came to me quite vividly. Imagining Arthur's past pre-1981 is always an adventure, and this piece gave me a good opportunity to do it.

3. The Find* - This is one of the filthiest things I've ever written and I'm not sorry. 🔥

4. After - I'd resisted writing more about Chapter 23 of WWH and the immediate aftermath of Y/N/Sarah's return. What happened between them was private, and I liked the ensuing conversations being implied. However, after getting the request and further questions, I'm so happy I did. The piece came naturally, the words flowed easily, and it felt good to again write them towards the beginning of their relationship.

5. What Didn't Happen - Arthur-as-Joker was not something I ever intended to write, but the request was a welcome challenge when my brain needed it most. It gave me the opportunity to explore the beats of a heist, and figure out how to write romance when the two characters can never be together.

6. Out of Sight* - It had been months since I'd written anything adult; I was beginning to wonder if I'd lost the ability. Luckily, I got this request, which encouraged me to not only return to that genre, but also go outside my comfort zone. And I got to explore more of Y/N/Sarah's life before she moved to Gotham to boot! 🙂

If you would like to do this, I'm tagging @rommies, @iartsometimes, @sabrinaeileensnape, @ralugraphics, @wuika, and @forever-fleck!

[wastewacipi]

Notice

If you followed me for Arthur Fleck/Joker content, I won’t be posting that on this account anymore. This is my strictly witchcraft account.

If you want, follow my new Arthur Fleck/Joker account which is @arthurkuulub

I have there my original works and photos of him.

Thank you for the original follows!

🔽follow below!!!!!🔽

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[bktynes-writes]

As per the fantastic advice of the wonderful and amazing Mallory, @valleydean, I made some graphics for my fic, The Blood Of The Covenant. It’s a long, slow burn, Mafia AU, and I have no idea where it’s gonna end up, but I hope you’ll all reblog and join me for the ride. Here is the summary, and the first chapter is under the cut. Read on Ao3.

The Blood Of The Covenant The Winchester Dynasty will never fall.

At least, that’s what John and Mary, heads of the most powerful crime family in the city believe. They have built their empire from nothing, and are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain their control.

When a new family, the Novaks, threaten the delicate balance of power they have maintained for years, the eldest son, Dean, is tasked with infiltrating the ranks of the Novak’s organization to destroy them from the inside.

Dean has always been a soldier in his parent’s wars, never questioning where his loyalties lie, but when he comes face to face with Castiel Novak, one of the sons of the family threatening to destroy his own, he wonders if maybe there could be more to life than he believed. Maybe this blue-eyed stranger can offer him the ticket out he never knew he wanted.

They say that the blood of the covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb, but how do you turn your back on family? Will Dean choose love over loyalty? Will he leave behind all he’s ever known? Or are he and Castiel destined to just be pawns in the war for power that rules the city’s underworld?

Chapter 1: Dinner

The city at night always had a certain charm about it that Dean couldn’t put his finger on. Maybe it was the way everything lit up a bit more or the fact that the darkness hid the grime that clung to every surface like a second skin, but the alleyways and culverts of the buildings seemed more inviting when they were filled with shadow.

He loved this city. Every dirty stairwell, every seedy bar, every doorway that led to nowhere, Dean knew them all. He had grown up on these streets, and he wouldn’t change it for the world.

The sound of a car horn brought him back to reality, pulling him out of his nostalgic reverie and into the moment. He looked down at his dress shoes, sparkling in the neon lights against the damp pavement, and smiled. If there was one thing Dean Winchester knew how to do, it was dress to impress. His father had instilled in him that first impressions were important at a very young age, and how a man looks could change the direction of any transaction.

Tonight was the first Sunday of the month, which meant dinner with the Family at Cain’s. Dean never looked forward to these dinners - he found them to be mundane - but as the eldest son of the most powerful crime family in the city, he knew his mother and father expected him to attend.

Thus, he found himself in his best suit, pulling open the restaurant’s glass door and striding past the host stand like he owned the place. The young woman there gave him a nervous look, and he shot her his most charming smile, causing her to duck her head as a deep red blush crept up her cheeks. He passed by the other tables and made his way to the back of the restaurant, pointedly ignoring the stares and whispers that followed him from the other patrons. He was used to this behaviour. Anyone who was anyone in the city recognized the Winchesters, and their reputation preceded them.

He made his way past the kitchen, stopping briefly to say hello to Cain, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Dean!” Cain exclaimed, turning around and pulling him into a rib-crushing hug. “I didn’t think you were gonna show! Everyone else is already here.”

Dean laughed. In another life, he would have called him a friend.

But Winchesters didn’t have friends.

“Yeah, I figured they would be.” He said. “What can I say? Fashionably late is kinda my style.” He shrugged and smiled.

“That’s my boy, always gotta make an entrance.” Cain beamed at him. “They’re in the back room. I’ll get your usual added to the order. Hurry up before your dad tears a strip off you!”

“Thanks, Cain,” Dean said. He ducked past him and headed to the very back of the dining room.

Dean could now see the usual suspects gathered around their regular table. He spotted Bobby gruffly speaking to Ellen Harvelle and her daughter Jo. The Harvelles were powerful associates who owned many of the bars and rest stops along the freeway into the city, and Dean’s father liked to keep them close because he had been friends with Ellen’s late husband, Bill.

Ellen was a good source of information for the family. People let information slip that they shouldn’t after a few rounds of shots at one of Ellen’s roadhouses, and she and Jo had ears like bats. Dean was pretty sure the main reason she was included in these clandestine meetings of the family, though, is that his parents, despite their vehement claims otherwise, were a little bit afraid of her. He couldn’t blame them. He had grown up with Jo and, despite being six years older, had had his ass handed to him more times than he could count by the feisty blonde.

Dean chuckled to himself at the memory as he slid quietly into the seat next to his younger brother, Sam.

“You’re late,” stated the younger of the Winchester brothers, his arm draped lazily across his girlfriend Jessica’s shoulders.

“Yeah, I was over at the mill. Gordon owes us and is being…difficult.” He reached for the bottle of wine that sat on the table and filled his glass. He wasn’t usually a fan of wine, but Cain always brought out the good bottles for these meetings, and when he didn’t have to pay, it would be rude to refuse.

“Dad is gonna be pissed.” Said Sam, finishing his own glass and holding it out for Dean to refill.

“No, he won’t,” Dean replied, pouring too much wine into his brother’s glass. “He knows how Gordon is. He’ll just be glad I didn’t break too many of his fingers to get him to agree to pay his dues.”

“Whatever you say, Dean,” Sam replied, rolling his eyes. He ran his fingers through his absurdly long hair, and Dean found himself itching to strap his brother into a barber’s chair and order a buzz cut.

A clink of cutlery against glass brought the assembly to silence and drew everyone’s attention to the man standing at the head of the table. John Winchester was an imposing figure at the best of times, and his broad shoulders, clad in the threads of his fine Italian suit, added to his commanding demeanour. His neatly trimmed beard was flecked with grey, as was the perfectly slicked hair on his head. He stood with pride and demanded the respect of those around him with ease.

“Now that my son has finally decided to grace us with his presence, we can call this meeting to order,” John spoke with an air of distaste directed solely at Dean.

“Ah, you know me pops, better late than never,” Dean said nonchalantly. Sam was right; John was pissed.

“Indeed,” said his father coolly.

Dean tuned out most of the ensuing conversations. It was the typical discussion of territory, who was responsible for handling the gang activity on the west side, who was collecting from which businesses for protection owed and whether or not they had paid (Dean received a small nod of approval from John when he informed the table that Gordon would no longer be causing issues).

When the food came, Dean was treated to the most delicious looking plate of carbonara he had ever seen. Cain truly did know the way to his heart. Before he had the chance to dig in, a noise from the opposite end of the table drew everyone’s attention.

A beautiful woman with wavy brown hair rose from the table, and Dean rolled his eyes, huffing dramatically into his chair. Bela Talbot was always trying to draw attention to herself at these meetings, and tonight would be no exception. She wasn’t, strictly speaking, part of the Family, but she was part of a necessary evil alliance that the Winchesters had forged years ago to have hands in the art trade, and Dean had found her to be nothing but a nuisance ever since.

Her words dripped with a caramel sweetness, and despite his intense dislike of the woman, Dean couldn’t help but stare at her as she spoke.

“John. Mary. Dear Winchester Family. It has come to my attention that there appears to be a new family on the North shore. They arrived from New Jersey about six weeks ago and have been a thorn in my side ever since.” She scowled.

“Why hasn’t it been dealt with, Bela?” Asked Sam. “The North shore is your territory, isn’t it?” Sam was flexing his powers a little bit, addressing Bela that way. Usually, it would be up to John to chastise her for not taking care of a threat to their operations, but Dean could see the look of pride in his father’s eyes at Sam stepping in so willingly.

Bela’s face tinged pink slightly at the admonishing tone in Sam’s voice, and she puffed her cheeks out before speaking out again. “Under regular circumstances, Samuel, I would, but it seems that these Novaks are a bit better at playing cat and mouse than I would have anticipated.”

“Novak?” Dean snorted. “What is that, Polish?”

Bela glared at him. “I believe it’s Serbian, actually.”

Dean shrugged and twisted his fork idly in his pasta, hoping she would get to the point before it got cold. Sam continued to address her. “What’s the problem, Bela?”

“They’ve taken out three of my warehouses since their arrival, and the attendance at both the craps game and the pool hall is down by thirty-two percent.” She sighed, and Dean perked up. He almost wanted to shake the hand of anyone who could cause Bela this much distress, but this was clearly an attack on the family’s assets. “Half the shops on Arthur Street aren’t paying their fees because the Novaks have started charging them, and when I sent Ruby over to persuade them, she came back bloody and threatening to skip town.”

Dean’s smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. Ruby was savage in the art of ‘persuasion,’ and he could hardly imagine anyone getting the better of her. He leaned forward, his brow furrowed. A new family trying to start a war with the Winchesters? The last time that had happened, Dean was a teenager, and, much to his dismay, his parents had insisted he not be involved. He had watched helplessly from inside the Catholic boy’s school his father had shipped him to, as his people were shot in the street.

But Dean was in his thirties now, and the prospect of war looming on the horizon made him giddy with anticipation.

Mary Winchester, who had been quietly observing her husband and sons until this point, suddenly cleared her throat, which made all the men at the table sit up a little straighter. She was a fierce-looking woman with high cheekbones, a square jaw, and deep eyes, all framed by locks of cascading blonde curls. It was easy to see where her sons had gotten their charming good looks from.

She sat forward and touched her husband’s forearm gently. “Bela. While I’m sure the loss of your warehouses is devastating, no one would be foolish enough to start a war with our family.” She smiled. “And if Ruby and the girls from Rowena’s can’t handle what is being asked of them, then perhaps it is time to remind them who it is they work for. I’m sure Sam and Dean would be happy to deal with the Novaks, right boys?”

Sam nodded at his mother, and Dean could feel his excitement bubbling. He looked to his brother and saw a dark glint in his eye. The two of them together were unstoppable.

“Anything for you, mother,” Dean said, and he basked in her pride.

“Wonderful,” John said, clapping his hands together, dispelling the tension surrounding the table, and causing Bela to sink back into her seat as her concerns were dismissed. “Now, let’s eat before the food goes cold.”

The rest of the evening dissolved into easy conversation amongst the members of the meeting. Sam laughed wildly at Bobby’s account of a man who he had once held over a woodchipper for his disrespect, even though he had told the story a hundred times. Mary and John spoke quietly with Jessica about her parents and how thrilled they were that her contacts on Broadway would benefit the Winchester dynasty. Dean occupied himself by kicking Jo under the table and watching her face go from mildly irritated to genuinely annoyed as she tried to maintain a discussion with her mother about liquor importing.

When the food and wine had been consumed, John stood again and waited patiently for the conversations to cease. “Thank you all for joining us this evening.” He spoke warmly to everyone. “I trust to see you all again next month.” A chorus of murmured agreement rippled through those assembled. John raised his glass, and everyone else followed suit. “To the family.” He toasted and drained the remaining wine from his glass.

The sound of chairs scraping back from the table filled the small dining room as the Winchesters and their associates made to leave. They passed the other patrons, enjoying their meals and trying obviously not to stare as the finely dressed men and women filed out the front door, thanking Cain with handshakes and smiles as they left.

Dean stepped into the street and stretched, breathing the exhaust soaked air deeply into his lungs and once again being reminded of just how much he loved this city. A large hand dropped heavily onto his shoulder, and he turned to find his gargantuan little brother towering next to him.

“You wanna come over for a beer?” Sam asked casually.

“Nah, man, I was thinking about heading over to Lee’s,” Dean said. His head was foggy from the wine, and he needed some real liquor to bring his senses back.

Sam scowled. “You know, Dad doesn’t like you going out without protection.”

“Always keep a condom in my wallet, Sammy.” Dean winked, and Sam rolled his eyes dramatically.

“That’s not what I mean.” He said. “If Bela is right and the Novaks are looking to start a war, none of us should be going anywhere alone.”

“Oh, is Sam freaking Winchester scared of a few Jersey boys?” Dean snarked at his brother, punching him in the arm playfully. “I’ll be fine. Besides, it’s Lee’s bar. I’m basically royalty there.”

Jessica appeared at Sam’s side and snaked her arm around his waist. She really was beautiful, far too good for his brother. Dean sometimes wished he had met her first, but he shook the thoughts from his mind. Sam was happy with Jess, and that’s what he deserved.

“Your parents invited us over to look over the blueprints of the new hotel, honey.” She said. “Dean, will you be joining us?”

“Not tonight, sweetheart, but hey, tell 'em to put one of those fancy water features in like they’ve got in Vegas,” Dean replied sarcastically.

Jess smiled at him. “You ready, Sam?”

“Uh, yeah, one second. Why don’t you go ahead with Mom and Dad? I’ll meet you at the car.” Sam said. He rubbed his hand across her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her sweetly. Jess cast one more smile at Dean before turning back down the sidewalk to where Mary and John stood waiting.

“What’s up, Sammy?” Dean asked. He knew there was a reason his brother was holding him back.

Sam stepped closer to Dean and quickly looked over his shoulder before shoving his hand into his pocket and producing a small black velvet box. “I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I can’t help myself.” He said, opening the box. Inside was a beautiful diamond engagement ring. The center stone was massive and cut into the shape of a teardrop. On each side were two smaller diamonds, surrounded by a cluster of sparkling rubies. “I’m gonna ask Jess to marry me.”

Dean laughed out loud. “Holy shit, Sam!” He blurted out loudly and pulled his brother into a hug.

“Shhh!” Sam warned. “Keep your voice down! I don’t even know if she’ll say yes.”

Dean scoffed. “Of course she’ll say yes! You two have been together, what, forever?” He grinned. “Although, if she does say no, you can tell her I’m available.”

Sam smacked him around the head, and Dean laughed. “Alright, have fun at Lee’s. Call Benny if there’s any trouble.”

Dean waved over Sam’s shoulder at John, Mary, and Jess, and gave his brother a nod before turning and heading down the dark sidewalk in the direction of Lee Webb’s bar.

Swayze’s was more than a few blocks from Cain’s place, but Dean didn’t mind the walk. He’d left his car at home after visiting Gordon this afternoon, and he enjoyed the refreshing night air against his face. The downtown lights glared into the sky through the ever-present smog rising from the city, and Dean hummed a little to himself as he walked. This was his city. The Winchesters owned these streets. He knew one day, the empire his mother and father had built would fall to him and Sam to manage, but that time was a long way off. John would never relinquish control of the family assets to his sons while he still drew breath, and without any heirs of their own to ensure the continuation of the dynasty, that was even less likely.

Dean smiled to himself, thinking of the ring currently sitting in Sam’s pocket. Jess would be an excellent addition to the family. Her parents were both high profile talent agents on Broadway with a lot of influence there and in Hollywood. There had never been a reason for the Winchesters to get into theatre, but he knew they wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if Jess said yes to Sam tonight. His smile faltered slightly. It had been a long time since Dean had been as happy as Sam was now. His last relationship had been with Lisa Braeden, and that had only lasted a few months. She had a young son, Ben, who Dean still saw on occasion, but he had left when things had started to get really serious. He wasn’t going to drag someone else’s kid into this mafioso life. It wasn’t his place.

The truth was, Dean didn’t even know if he wanted kids. He’d thought about it, sure, and his mother had been pressuring him since his mid-twenties to find a nice girl to make babies with, but Dean liked his hang-up free lifestyle. He was happy to carry out orders for his father, help the family, and maybe hustle a few out of town suckers at pool when the mood struck him. Sam was business-minded, and Dean was more than happy to allow his not-so-little little brother to take over for their father when the time came.

Dean had been so deep in his own head that he barely registered when he had arrived at Lee’s. He sat down on a barstool and scanned around the room. Dean sighed contentedly. As he had expected, the bar was devoid of anyone immediately recognizable save for Lee himself.

Dean rapped his knuckles on the bar top to get Lee’s attention. “Who do I gotta gank to get a drink around here, hey buddy?” He said as Lee tossed the towel he had been using to clean a pint glass over his shoulder and turned to Dean. His expression changed from annoyed to ecstatic when he registered who was speaking.

“Dean freaking Winchester.” Lee drawled. “It’s been a while. You too good to come see me anymore?”

Dean grinned. “Never too good for you, Lee.”

“What’ll it be? On the house.” Lee spread his arms, gesturing at the impressive selection of alcohol arranged along the wall behind him.

“Whiskey. Neat.” Dean replied. Lee nodded approvingly, selecting a bottle from the top shelf and pouring a heavy-handed three ounces into a glass. He slid it across the bar to Dean, and he took a sip, letting the liquid burn deliciously in his throat and warm him from the inside out.

“That’s good stuff.” Dean smiled as a low rasp crept into his voice.

“Only the best for you.” Lee matched his tone. “So, what brings you out tonight?”

“Dinner with the family,” Dean replied noncommittally.

“Yeah, you always did hate those.” Lee whipped the towel off his shoulder and picked up another glass, wiping the water from around the rim. “Anything exciting?”

“No, just business as usual. Bela is being a bitch, Bobby’s still telling the same stories he has for the past 20 years…” He paused before taking another sip of his drink. “Oh, and uh, Sammy’s gonna ask Jess to marry him.”

“No shit!” Lee said, his eyebrows rising in mild surprise. “I’d say that’s pretty exciting.”

“Yeah, it’s been a long time coming.” Dean chuckled into his glass. “Never seen anybody as happy as those two. Kind of a miracle she hasn’t killed him yet with what a pain in the ass he can be.”

“Ah, you’re only saying that cuz he’s your brother.” Lee laughed.

“Yeah, well, brother or not, he’s still a giant pain.” Dean downed the rest of his drink and tapped the rim for a refill. Lee shook his head but complied.

“You feeling a little jealous there, buddy?” Lee smiled devilishly at him as he set the bottle down on the bar top.

Dean chuckled darkly. “Nothing to be jealous of. I’ve got my life, my health, my family,” he grinned at Lee over the rim of his glass. “And a buddy with a bar. What more could a guy need?”

Lee shook his head but said nothing. Dean appreciated the silence that fell immensely.

The sudden clatter of a barstool hitting the floor drew Dean’s attention to the opposite end of the bar. Two men stood chest to chest, shoving each other back and forth.

“What the fuck is your problem, man?!” One of them exclaimed.

“What’s my problem? What the hell is your problem?!” The other responded, punctuating his words with a shove to the man’s shoulders.

“Hey!” Lee shouted. “Take it outside, boys.”

“Yeah, some of us just wanna drink in peace,” Dean said.

“What the fuck did you just say?” One of the men said to Dean. Having found a common enemy in him, the two men turned towards Dean’s seat and advanced. He drew in a breath, immediately regretting his decision to speak up. They were both much larger than him by a wide margin, and Dean couldn’t help but think to himself ruefully that maybe Sam was right about needing protection.

As he balled his fists, ready to start swinging, he felt someone step into the space at his side.

“I believe both of these fine gentlemen just politely told you inbred walnuts to get lost.” The voice that spoke was low and gravelly, and Dean felt his stomach flip a little at the sound of it. He turned his head to identify the stranger and was met by a tan trenchcoat.

His eyes travelled upwards to the man’s face, and Dean felt his stomach do another small flip. A strong jawline covered in light stubble, slightly chapped pink lips, and tousled black hair were Dean’s first indications that the man suddenly standing next to him was unfamiliar. When the man cocked his head slightly, Dean caught his eye and felt his breath hitch in his chest. Framed by thick, dark eyelashes were a pair of icy blue eyes that Dean very quickly found himself staring at. He looked away as soon as he realized because, as much as he would have loved to stare, the two aggressively drunk men in front of him posed a much more immediate problem.

Returning his attention to them, Dean rose from his seat and drained the remaining liquid from his glass, vaguely registering that Lee had also rounded the bar and was standing behind him.

“Well, fellas. Looks like it’s two against three.” Dean said, gesturing at Lee and the stranger. “Not that I don’t like those odds being in my favour and all, but I’ll give you a chance to walk away before this gets too outta hand.” He heard Lee crack his knuckles and grinned. There was no one in this world Dean would rather have in his corner for a fight than Lee Webb, except maybe Sam.

The two men in front of him hesitated slightly before one of them let out a yell and charged towards Dean.

He reacted in an instant, ducking below the man’s outstretched arms and coming up under his knees to flip him over his back towards Lee. He heard the man hit the ground with a thud as Lee reached down and heaved him back up into the edge of the bar. Dean turned just in time to see the other man following his partner towards him, arms reaching out like some great ape. He didn’t have the forewarning or space to execute the same move, and so he simply ducked out of reach. As the man’s arms closed above his head, he heard the unmistakable sound of a fist colliding with a nose as the cartilage and bone crunched under the force. Glancing to his right, he saw the trenchcoated stranger land a blow directly into the second assailant’s face and smiled to himself. Not bad, he thought.

As the ape staggered back, clutching his now broken nose, blood streaming down between his fingers, Dean stood up and grabbed the man by his shirt. Together, he and Lee shoved the two towards the bar’s door and unceremoniously tossed them into the street.

“Don’t let me catch you goons in here again,” Lee shouted as they took off quickly down the alley.

Dean watched them go and shook his head ruefully. Even at Lee’s, trouble managed to find him. He looked to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. “You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Lee said, brushing him off. “Guys like that aren’t a problem. You and I both know I’ve fought worse.”

Dean laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.” They turned to go back inside, and Dean spied the mysterious stranger as he picked up a stool that had fallen over in the scuffle, cradling his right hand against his chest.

“Hey,” Dean called out to him. The man looked up at Dean, and he was pierced by the full intensity of his stare. Those blue eyes, which before had been icy and cold with adrenaline, were now pools of deep ocean blue, and Dean once again felt himself beginning to drown in them. He cleared his throat, trying to get rid of the lump that was quickly forming there. “Um, thanks. For that. You, uh, you didn’t have to get involved. Lee and I could have handled it.”

Way to sound ungrateful, Winchester, he kicked himself internally.

The stranger cocked his head to the side as he stared at Dean, his eyebrows knitted together in the most perplexing stare Dean had ever seen. Lee walked up next to him. “Lemme get you some ice for your hand. If that dude’s skull is as thick as it looked, you’re probably hurting pretty bad.” He walked behind the bar and began filling a small bag with ice. “Oh, and your next drink is on me. Dean may not know how to actually say thank you but, we aren’t all as uncivilized.”

Dean felt the heat rising in his cheeks as he sat back in his seat, and Lee refilled his glass, adding a second one for their new friend. “Thank you.” The man said, taking the bag of ice and placing it over his knuckles. He took a small sip of his drink and set it back on the bar top.

Dean shook himself and realized the man was still staring at him, and being under his scrutinizing eyes made Dean fidget uncomfortably. He cleared his throat again. “So, uh, you got a name?” He asked. Then, because Dean was not one to relinquish the upper hand, he plastered on his charming Winchester smile and said, “Or am I just supposed to call you handsome?”

A small smile lifted the corners of the man’s lips as he extended his uninjured hand for Dean to shake.

“Novak.” He said, and Dean felt the colour immediately drain from his face.

“My name is Castiel Novak.”

[quillyfied]

Mega Good Omens Fic Rec Post 1

OH BOY Y’ALL IT’S HERE

This is the first string of fics I would wholeheartedly recommend from my bookmarks (probably first of three, we’ll see). There are 65 fics sorted into 9 categories: Jaunts Through History/Canon; South Downs; Post-Apocalypse; Bus Ride/Night Before/Heaven and Hell; AU/UA (UA is Universe Alternate, where everything is the same, just...a bit to the left. I feel like that term has more nuance, idk); Soft; Touch-Starved/Body Worship/Wings; Bonus; H/C /Whump/BAMF. These will be the same categories for every fic rec post in this vein. I try to include warnings for sex and gore, if applicable, but please check the tags of each fic before you read, just in case.

Mega GOmens Fic Rec Post MASTER

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I BROKE A LINK OR MISATTRIBUTED SOMETHING.

I don’t read explicit works and I’m not a big fan of Human!AUs so there’s not any of those, but there’s a bit of just about everything else. Please enjoy! Hope the ReadMore works, sorry for folks on mobile if it doesn’t!

JAUNTS THROUGH HISTORY/CANON

1. Bright With His Splendour – Daegaer (T, specifically book-verse. This is an exquisite look at the developments in Crowley himself, especially as it relates to his war-related traumas in the War in Heaven and later WWI. The Arrangement is Aziraphale’s idea here, which is awesome. Highly emotional and visceral.)

2. Whatever Road We Choose – @ri-writing (T, the one where Aziraphale gets jumped by some demons and Crowley nurses him back to health, and Aziraphale has to confront his worldview when he realizes Heaven never responded to his call for help. Quiet and powerful as Aziraphale starts to realize Crowley isn’t everything he thought he was and maybe Heaven isn’t, either.)

3. Linked – @chekhov (T, the one where Crowley shows up in Bukhara and Aziraphale has to pretend to capture him so his angel intern doesn’t destroy Crowley entirely. Has a lot of fun moments and emotional growth in play. And yearning. Lots and lots of yearning.)

4. The Demon Favourite – @kanna-ophelia (T, the one where Crowley is posing as a nobleman and manages to build himself a little ramshackle family, and Aziraphale takes care of them when Crowley gets himself discorporated. Extremely tender, lots of Crowley cooing over babies.)

5. Akashic Records – @penig (Generally G, one T, the series where Crowley is head-over-heels from the start and broadcasts it loudly, and Aziraphale is in Panic Protective Mode. The series is gorgeous and vibrant, the characterizations are so spot-on and yet fresh, the dialogue is perfect, the character growth is delicious. I can’t gush enough about this one.)

6. But The Old Love Was Not So – BuggreAlleThis (G, the one written in the style of Le Morte d’Arthur about Aziraphale’s final few days in the court of King Arthur. Hilarious with the promise of emotional pain to come in the second half.)

7. flightless bird (dumb, wild, and free) – JennaCupcakes (@veganthranduil) (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale make out for half of history while Aziraphale has an ongoing existential crisis about being a broken angel. Poignant, sensual, culminates in a deliciously fraught confrontation where Aziraphale has to finally sort himself out and Crowley says some hard but true things. I once spent three hours trying to find this fic again without remembering the title so now it’s kinda ingrained.)

8. Nanny Knows Best – @patricianandclerk (M, rest of series is T, the one where Crowley endures some truly horrible experiences while serving as Warlock’s nanny. Adorable relationship between Warlock and Crowley, and it’s only getting better. The dynamic with Aziraphale is nuanced and beautiful. Rating for sexual harassment and groping, and it’s a bit of a difficult read at times during those moments, so be careful.)

9. The Holy Essence of Experience – Dragonsquill (T, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley have loved each other almost since the beginning, but have been very careful to not put a name to it. The yearning is real and so gorgeous. The scene just before they come up with their plan to avert Armageddon haunts me.)

10. The Arrangement – @writeonclara (T, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley try to get a handle on this sex thing. Non-explicit, hilarious, and unique! I can only assume the rating will probably be going up, which makes me sad because it’s hard to find nonexplicit fics that still deal with what sex brings to a relationship, but what’s written for now is well worth it.)

11. And After – @randomacts13 (T, the series where Crowley and Aziraphale work through their self-worth and have lots of flashbacks. The first one involves Crowley taking care of a seed that keeps dying and leaving another seed behind, which is not at all feeding into his self-hatred; the second has Crowley and Warlock gluing coins to the sidewalk; the third is about Aziraphale on a one-way flight to Complete Mental Breakdown if he doesn’t get some help for his anxiety and repressed emotions soon.)

12. The road to rapture has a lot of pit stops – emmagrant01 (E but only for the sixth chapter, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley have shared five kisses throughout history and one where they meant it. People like me who don’t like explicit material can skip Chapter 6 (or just read until they smooch) and go straight to the epilogue. The rest of it is amazing; every kiss is believable in context and has such good lead-up. Very romantic, very good.)

13. Round and Round the Garden – SanSanFanFan (G, the one where Brother Francis and Nanny Ashtoreth get up to some hanky-panky beneath a willow tree while Warlock sleeps in his pram. Just sweet and silly fluff.)

14. Flecks of Light and Dark – volunteerfd (T, the one where Aziraphale learns to deal with his emotions. Has a really beautiful recurring thing of Crowley and Aziraphale making up stories of who they’d be if they were human, and Aziraphale doing his best to do good and help even when Heaven ties his hands.)

15. Before the Water Rises – VitreousHumor (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale become friends while helping a village make rafts to escape the Flood. Has a lot of really cute moments and some pretty exquisite romantic tension.)

16. Beneath the Stars – @brooklynbabybucky (G, the one where Crowley asks Aziraphale to cut his hair. Just has some really lovely imagery and a sweet bonding moment.)

17. lit in the darkness – @toedenandbackagain (M, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale share a bed sometimes throughout history. Warnings for some sexual content in chapters 7 and 14, but each chapter has its own warnings in the description. Presents some beautiful bonding moments and the absolute finest pining known to man.)

 SOUTH DOWNS

18. The Play’s the Thing – volunteerfd (G, the one where Aziraphale is cast in the local production of Hamlet and Crowley is trying his best to be supportive of his truly awful actor husband. Hilarious and light and absolutely a classic.)

19. Parsley, Thyme, Sage, Daffodils – @mostweakhamlets (NR, the one where Aziraphale has a cooking YouTube channel and Crowley is camera-shy. Tackles PTSD in a really thoughtful way and is Peak Soft Cottage Husbands aesthetic, it really packs in the most warm fuzzies in a small package.)

20. to carthage then i came – @lvslie (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale move to the South Downs and learn to work through their issues around being together and being their own people after cutting ties with Heaven and Hell. Poetic, poignant, the last chapter is a thing of absolute beauty. Very heavily symbolic, that one.)

21. A Better Place for Us to Be – @befuddledmackem (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale tour a particular cottage. Deeply emotional, the Absolute Best Real Estate Pr0n if you also secretly watch HGTV and weep, has completely ruined any future house-buying opportunity I might have because nothing will be this sweet and perfect.)

22. Something We Were Withholding Made Us Weak – trieduntrue (M, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale move to the South Downs and very carefully orbit into something more like a relationship. Exquisite tension, beautifully-done pining and slow-burn, really fun bits of world building. M is for a sex scene at the very end but it’s easy to skip over, it’s small.)

23. reasons wretched and divine – @stammiviktor (T, the one where Crowley storms out after a fight and finds himself in an actual conversation with God. Highly emotional and a great look into Crowley’s head, both in how he feels about God and how he feels about Aziraphale.)

24. The Sprawl of Life – @dietraumerei (T and G, the series where Crowley and Aziraphale settle into village life quite well. Has sex-positive asexual characters, which is fun (brief note about that: it’s not explicit, but the places it happens, there is clear leadup and it can get a bit intense, so take care of yourselves). Has touches of angst that balance beautifully with the fluff, lots of BAMF Aziraphale for the soul.)

25. Seashells and Fingerpainting – Vagabond (@waffleironbiddingwar) (T, and I recommend this one specifically from the series, can be read independently: the one where Gabriel is sent to the South Downs for a time out. This is quite possibly the best Gabriel character study I have ever seen; it’s tender and heartbreaking and somehow you find yourself rooting for Gabriel to figure out why he’s being punished despite yourself. All the warm fuzzies. All of them. Read the whole series, it’s great!)

 POST-APOCALYPSE

26. Laugh When It Sinks In – @tenoko1 (G, the one where Crowley helps Aziraphale build a home in the bookshop flat. Another one that feeds right into my interior decorating itch. So sweet and uplifting, will absolutely make you feel proud of Aziraphale.)

27. Chosen and Unchosen – Bookwormgal (T, the one where the kids have to go save Aziraphale and Crowley from Heaven and Hell. Has some EXCELLENT Warlock characterization and some really good tension between him and Adam, and the angst is properly upsetting. A right good adventure romp that’s really starting to ramp up.)

28. Resonance – Macx (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale become something Else. Good world building, beautiful romance, and Gabriel getting told off. Love how Crowley and Aziraphale growing into their new roles is handled, and how Adam unexpectedly ties in at the end.)

29. Falling Heavenward – @kanna-ophelia (T, the one where Crowley unexpectedly has to win his angel back because of a really twisty deal with Heaven. This one is a pretty wild ride, but I would say the centerpiece is Fallen Gabriel, who becomes Asmodeus. It becomes a battle for Aziraphale’s heart, though Asmodeus isn’t in it for the feels so much as the revenge, obviously. Really interesting premise and something to read if rooting for Crowley is a way you like to spend your time.)

30. A Leisurely Stroll Down – Saturniidae (@Saturniiddae) (M, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale have to fight for their relationship. Has some sexual content that isn’t explicit, and gore that really sort of is. I have thrown things and cried a little at this one, but that was the price for reading while it was still updating. Absolutely gorgeous in every way. Also has God speaking through a household object and it’s hilarious.)

31. From God’s Perspective – Unfortunately (T, the one where God comes down personally to interfere in Her children’s business. The absolute best portrayal of God in any fic ever, really humanizes her in the best ways. I love how she interacts with her angel and demon children. It’s almost more of a character study of God than anything. And yes, the Sound of Music is sung.)

 BUS RIDE/NIGHT BEFORE/HEAVEN AND HELL

32. Worth Knowing – summersage (T, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley discuss the Fall and manage Miltonian angel sex despite it. Has a take on how the Fall works that I was thinking about but couldn’t find words for until this fic, and it’s absolutely fantastic. The Miltonian angel sex is esoteric and weird and not at all erotic, but it is beautiful. The mortifying ordeal of being KNOWN indeed.)

33. Legendary Lovers; Your Hand in Mine – @tenoko1 (G, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale regroup in a hotel instead of his flat and have a bit of a knock-down-drag-out. Crowley is angry and scared and so in love he can’t stand it, and Aziraphale is practically going at light speed in confronting and knocking down his own barriers, and it’s highly emotionally charged and wonderful.)

 AU/UA

34. Love of My Life – @ellewrites4 (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale get together very early and make it work all throughout history. Gorgeous romance, and the fallout from the Holy Water caper and the bandstand breakup are EXQUISITE. Peak emotional turmoil, sweet boundary negotiation, forgiveness and love and anxiety and fear—just delicious.)

35. True Love and High Adventure – @grifalinas (T, the one that’s a Princess Bride au. Absolutely on-point casting, wonderful writing style, the perfect escape fic for a little while. Incomplete but still worth the read.)

36. Inverse Omens – @amuseoffyre (T, the one where Aziraphale is a demon with a p0_rn shop and Crowley is an angel running a community center from a bombed-out church. Y’all recommended this to me on my demon!Aziraphale rating post, and it’s AMAZING. Perfect characterization and a wonderful retelling. Warning for Chapters 11 and 12, Aziraphale’s Nanny Ashtoreth messes with the Dowling parents in far more direct ways and there’s scenes of Mr. Dowling jerking it, so take care, friendos. Also Aziraphale makes the filthiest double entendres and it’s delightful. Also also Crowley needs all the hugs.)

37. A Blaze of Light – @wingedspirit (T, the one where Crowley is Raphael and he and Aziraphale make a Pact instead of an Arrangement. This one is a wild adventure, friends, and a riveting one. The Pact puts an interesting spin on their developing relationship, and by the time it gets to TV canon, it’s already off the rails in the best ways. Also Crowley has some pretty heavy depression that manifests in his former Archangel-level powers blowing up a bit, which is cool. Should be wrapping up soon and I’m pumped for it!)

38. it’s high time that you love me, cause you do it so well – mygalfriday (T, the one where Crowley can’t physically say the word “love” but can diddly dang well show it if he wants. Already super sweet but the confession scene at the end is just incredible.)

39. Hold the Line – sum_nemo (T, the one that’s a Pacific Rim AU. I adore PacRim, you guys, and this one is just *chef’s kiss*. Puts Crowley as Raleigh (lost his twin sister copilot) and Aziraphale as Mako and includes a pretty painful shared past between them, which is already simmering and delicious. Can’t wait to see where this one goes.)

40. The Truth Remains – @wanderingalicewrites (NR, the one where Crowley was Raphael, had a good relationship with his siblings, was in love with Aziraphale, and knew he was destined to Fall. Aziraphale is still in mourning for Raphael and Crowley is still working out the point of his existence, so there’s some very good pining and existential dread up in the mix. A highly interesting take on the situation and very, very good at punching you in the feels with the flashbacks to Heaven and how different things are now, especially with the other Archangels. LOL it just updated while I was writing this and I am UNDONE, I am in PAIN, the bandstand scene always hurts but NOT LIKE THIS. ALSO MORE ARCHANGEL FEELS, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN)

41. Everything Dark and Unseen – @enjambament (M, the one that’s a Psyche and Eros retelling. After the Fall but before Eden, Heaven and Hell need a truce, so they marry Crowley and Aziraphale to keep the peace in a symbolic sort of binding. A beautiful romance, an excellent action sequence, the cutest OC creatures, the best OC angels, and I wish there was a continuation of how canon progressed with this monumental change in their history bc I am THIRSTY for more. Rated M for a kinda-sorta sexy scene but there’s not really Efforts sooo…it’s more sensual than sexual? I guess? Either way, highly recommended.)

42. The Name of the Star is Wormwood – LusBeatha (T, the one where Crowley was Raphael and the Fruit of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a fly agaric mushroom. It is exactly as eccentric as it sounds, but presented in such a way that it actually makes sense. It jumps around in time, but the storyline taking place in the present is looking like Armageddon 2.0. Beautifully written, great take on canon.)

43. Sticks and Stones – @justkeeptrekkin (T, the one where Crowley takes on the guise of Casanova while trying to get over Aziraphale and Aziraphale shows up, whoops. GORGEOUS imagery, the most scrumptious pining, and if y’all appreciated the 2005 Pride and Prejudice dance scene, the one in here will about blow that one out of the water, if you can believe it. Knocked the breath right out of me.)

44. Yearning to Hold You Close – @guanin (T, the one where Aziraphale has a relationship with King Richard and asks Crowley to help save him, and there is a big sticky mess of feelings when they realize Richard and Crowley look almost exactly alike. In part inspired by David Tennant playing Richard II. A delicious, delicious emotional quandary where Crowley and Richard both wonder if Aziraphale only loves them because they look like each other, and Aziraphale doesn’t know how to say what he feels. Very sweet, very emotionally fraught.)

 SOFT

45. Just This Once – @julia-writes-fanfic (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale kiss in the 90s and it’s amazing. The drunk 90s kiss is already good, but them revisiting it sober in 2010 makes both even better.)

46. A Sky Full of Stars – @kedreeva (G, the one where Aziraphale takes Crowley someplace where they can see the cosmos. The first GOmens fic I ever bookmarked, so I felt like including it, because it’s unbelievably sweet and has amazing visuals.)

47. The Serpent and the Seagull – @ineffably-good (G and T, the series where Aziraphale misses Crowley so he gets a little pet snake. Frederick the snake is among the best of the GOmens OCs, hilarious and foul-mouthed and once Crowley starts being able to understand him, it only gets better. Frederick likes helping his pets work their problems out so they’ll leave him alone to sleep. It’s extremely cute.)

48. The Discerning Black Swan – @lwtis (T, the one where Crowley is definitely not projecting on a black swan desperately trying to court a white mute swan in St James’ Park. I love how Crowley interfaces with his emotional problems through the swan, and the visual of the two swans is gorgeous.)

49. What A Demon Dreams – @whatawriterwields (G, the one where Crowley has some weird dreams, dude. I love the symbolism and the imagery in this one, it’s really vivid. It’s hard to pull off a concept like this so I respect how the author is able to do it and make it work.)

 TOUCH STARVED/WINGS/BODY WORSHIP

50. Sunlight – crorvid (M, the one where Aziraphale is a touch-starved angel. Doesn’t deserve the M rating, in my opinion, but Aziraphale does feel the touching during their makeouts very intensely and it’s incredibly satisfying.)

51. The Curious Attractiveness of Others – @giddygeek (T, the one where Crowley finally gets to groom Aziraphale’s wings and Aziraphale gets to show Crowley how tender that can be. Another one with some great world building tucked into the corners, and emotionally satisfying grooming.)

52. Broken Wings – werebear (@werebeary) (T and M, the series where wing grooming is incredibly intimate and I got the vapors from the tenderness. Also the first time I saw anything about preen glands. The second one is rated M because the preening gets a bit…intense. Not sexual, exactly, but it’s close. Very passionate.)

53. Birthmark – Linebreaker (G, the one where Crowley has a scar on his lower back and a sad story to go with it. This one needs a bit of a harder rating, imo, and there’s one line that’s a bit Much, but otherwise it’s a sad and beautiful look at a potential reason why Crowley hates the fourteenth century so much. Lots of Crowley body worship packed into few words, very satisfying.)

54. They Are A Pale Picture of You – @ineffablefool (T, the one where they go for a walk during winter and things are just Soft. Ineffablefool has a wealth of body-positive asexual GOmens fics, but I think I like this one best, it’s sweet and adorable and some jerk who insults Aziraphale’s weight rightly gets the worst day of his life. Also Crowley compares Aziraphale in his winter wear to a plump little bird and it’s cute imagery.)

 BONUS

55. Ineffable Bureaucracy Drabbles – Shift7 (T, the series of short fics where Gabriel and Beelzebub are kinda-sorta falling into friendship and being very judicious about it. Lots of paperwork, very orderly.)

56. Ineffable Bureaucracy – @eshnoazot (T and G, a series of longer fics where Gabriel and Beelzebub are navigating a careful arrangement of their own. Still lots of paperwork, of course, but there’s also emotional friction and conflict resolution. Excellent characterizations. Wednesday night Thai and Friendship night is a+++++. Gabriel deffo called a board meeting to talk about his feelings.)

57. A Bentley Sang in Berkeley Square – CastielHamilton (G, the one where the Bentley is sentient and a good, good girl. She is doing her best and I love her. Basically the series from her point of view.)

58. Fairest and Fallen – VitreousHumor (T, the series where Beelzebub and Gabriel encounter each other a few times and Gabriel tries his best to remember their shared pre-Fall history. Poignant, sad, and beautiful.)

59. Observer Effect – SquarePudding (T, the series where the Grigori in charge of recording Aziraphale’s Earthly movements starts to ship him and Crowley and records their romance. The Grigori, Rezathaniel, is a precious baby who needs to develop a better palate outside of “greasy literal garbage” and has 0 chill when it comes to their ship. They’re kind of like a celebrity blogger at this point but watching their character growth in the first story is very sweet.)

60. Soul of Vellum, Heart of Chrome – @29-pieces (G, the one where the Bentley and the Bookshop are sentient and very protective of their owners. This one is going to KILL ME with the plot I wasn’t expecting—Heaven and Hell are hunting Aziraphale and Crowley down again, so the Bentley and the Bookshop do their best to help. They’re doing so good and I’m so proud of them, it’s not their fault things went a bit south. Precious beans. Good, good things.)

61. Real Fire and Brimstone Stuff – @jessikast (G, the one where college-age Warlock helps accidentally summon his Nanny and a lot of things start to make sense. A very sweet story about Warlock getting closure and getting back in touch with Crowley and Aziraphale through the weirdest means possible.)

 H/C /WHUMP/BAMF

62. Broken Hallelujah – @atlantis-is-burning (T, the one where Hastur comes to kill Aziraphale and Crowley and it’s ugly, folks. It is kinda gory and it is injury-ridden and painful, very touch-and-go for a bit. It ends well, though, and Hastur gets his, which is the Best. Tore me up one side and down the other in all the best ways.)

63. Fall Here – @marbledwings (T, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley are easing into a relationship in fits and starts, and then Crowley gets snatched. This one was AGONIZING to wait for it to update, so be glad it’s complete, because it gets pretty dark for a while. Be warned of torture, though it’s mostly implied and it’s the aftermath that’s dealt with most. It absolutely sticks the landing at the end, and has a great characterization of Michael.)

64. how deep the sand – Handful_of_Silence (G, the series where Aziraphale is trapped in a glass bubble in a wizard’s basement for fifty years and the ensuing aftermath. Feels mostly book-verse, but there are some cues from the show. Intense and realistic and emotional and heavy, drags you through the darkness and you appreciate the light all the more for it. A beautiful story.)

65. you taught me how to love, (it’s me who taught you how to stop) – @clankclunk (G, or the one where Aziraphale comes to find out that you can’t just rush into a relationship after six thousand years of repression. This one is absolutely murdering me. The angst is real. The hurt is real. I’m hoping the fluff and comfort promised in the tags is coming soon because WOW. Has a fantastically haunting view of what happens to angels, who are highly emotive beings, when they fall into depression. And Crowley’s adverse reactions to praise and love are so realistic and painful. Ouch.)