#ben braden

[thebeautyofspn]

6x21 Let It Bleed

[kasperikapanenisbetterthanyou]

hockey team thickness - New York Rangers 2024 VERSION (roster as of 27.07.2024)

[thornescratch]

Holtbeast(s)

[lesbians4armand]

cillian murphy in that blonde wig… biblically accurate dorian gray

[ireadyabooks]

Dystopian Reads to Die For 🔥 ☠️

Dystopian fiction has long been a staple on most bookshelves for quite some time (I’m looking at you, 1984), but it isn’t until the past decade or so that we’ve seen such great dystopian stories being told for young adults. I’m sure we all had our dystopian phase when a certain Mockingjay was making her blockbuster debut, so it makes it even more exciting to see the genre coming back into the limelight! We have compiled some of our favorite thrilling and electrifying YA dystopian novels for you to add to your TBR this month!

The Kill Factor by Ben Oliver

Fifty contestants. Five mental and physical challenges. One winner.

In a near-future where a virtual currency of digital content fuels a fame-hungry society, a brand-new experiment that combines social media and reality TV has been greenlit.

Voted on, and contestants are sent to a maximum-security reform camp on an island where they can have no contact with the outside world. To lose means prison. But to win is to be free. The most popular young offender with the most upvotes by the end is given both a second chance in society and a cash prize.

This kind of money could mean everything to Emerson and her family who live in the Burrows, one of the subterranean villages where the government have buried affordable housing. It's more than freedom. It could mean the chance to change her family’s circumstance and finally find a place in the society they’ve never been allowed into.

But what Emerson doesn’t know, what the viewers don’t know, is that the prison on the island is empty. Those who lose, those who are voted off aren’t incarcerated. Each challenge will leave more and more contestants to die. And the only choice they have is to win over viewers before it’s too late.

Start reading The Kill Factor now!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Ambition will fuel him.

Competition will drive him.

But power has its price.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Start reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes now!

Sirens by Braden Cawthon

A thrilling, apocalyptic horror debut from Braden Cawthon, perfect for fans of KR Alexander and Joe Hill!

Joel Walker wakes up to a world suddenly and frighteningly changed. In the wake of a massive power outage, an otherworldly siren begins to blare, changing all that listen to it for too long in frightening ways. Desperate to find his mother and little sister, Joel will have to survive in a world that is coming apart at its seams.

An edge-of-your seat thriller that will have readers guessing until the end, this debut novel is sure to make a huge splash with YA readers.

Start reading Sirens now!

The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson

A girl and a god, alone in communion . . . 

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great peacekeeper of the three systems, a heinous secret lies buried -- and Freida is the only one who can uncover it. As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique -- and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a Tierran boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future.

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives -- if he doesn't destroy her first.

Start reading The Library of Broken Worlds now!

Monarch Rising by Harper Glenn

In a chilling near-future New United States of America, Jo Monarch has grown up in the impoverished borderlands of New Georgia. She’s given one chance to change her fate… if she can survive a boy trained to break hearts.

Today is the day Jo Monarch has been wishing on the moon about her entire life. It's the day of the Lineup, when she could be selected to leave her life in the Ashes behind. The day she could move across the mountains to a glittering, rich future.

Once Jo is plucked from the Lineup, the real test begins. She still needs to impress the New Georgia Reps at tonight's Gala, and her path forward leads straight to Cove Wells. The damaged stepson of one of the Reps, Cove has been groomed as an emotional weapon, taught that love is a tool -- and he's set on breaking Jo's heart next.

When a riot breaks out back in the Ashes the night of the Gala, Jo's dreams might all go up in smoke. Can she really have everything she's ever wished for… when it means leaving all her loved ones behind in the fire?

Harper Glenn's debut is as gripping as it is prescient, an unflinching meditation on whether love can save us from ourselves, and what it takes to be born anew.

Start reading Monarch Rising now!

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world's most famous resorts. He's got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property's main theme park. Life isn't so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it's to get away from all that.

As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay's friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren't leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call.

Whether they like it or not.

Yet Karloff Country didn't count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they'll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what's more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?

Start reading The Getaway -- now in paperback!

[titsbeauvillier]

K'andre Miller's birthday celebration

thanks to @schneiderrider45 for sending this to me

[firsttraintovictoriaville]

me after we finally got Ilithiya and the kids but Ilithiya isn't played by Megan Thee Stallion, Kayden got yeeted out of existence, Zach got yeeted into existence, Utah is a medium shit dad, Jaxon's name is now spelled Jackson, and Brayden's name is now spelled Braden

[thefruitycowboy]

2021-2022 dallas stars dads

(daddy by tmg and quinn xcii)

[zepuckinghockey]

NHL Wedding Season 2024

We're back again for another summer of NHL weddings! If you'd like to see last year's, check out this post.

If you see something wrong or someone missing, let me know! I'll continue to update this list until September when the weddings fizzle out. I appreciate the replies, reblogs, and asks with corrections and additions ❤️

6/7/24: Adam Larsson: (private wedding, no idea)

6/19/24: Jake Evans: Brendan Gallagher, Joel Edmundson, Tyler Toffoli, Nick Suzuki, Joel Armia

6/22/24: Max Jones: Trevor Zegras, Jacob Bryson

6/26/24: Adam Fox: (looked to be just family)

Josh Anderson: Nick Suzuki, Max Domi, Nick Foligno, Seth Jones, Cam Atkinson, Scott Hartnell

6/29/24: Ryan Pulock: Matt Martin, Noah Dobson, Casey Cizikas, Oliver Wahlstrom, Adam Pelech, JG Pageau, Josh Bailey, Mat Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Cal Clutterbuck, Bo Horvat, Simon Holmstrom, Pierre Engvall, Mikey Reilly

Jake Oettinger: Mason Marchment, Tyler Seguin, Ty Dellandrea, Wyatt Johnston

7/3/24: Mason Marchment: Jake Oettinger, Tyler Seguin, Ty Dellandrea, Brandon Montour, Mike Carcone, Owen Tippett, Sam Reinhart

7/6/24: Nic Hague: Cody Glass, Owen Tippett, Zach Whitecloud, Alec Martinez, Shea Theodore, William Karlsson, Keegan Kolesar, Nic Roy

Brendan Gallagher: Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Carey Price, Jeff Petry, Chris Wideman, Tanner Pearson, Nate Thompson, Philip Danault, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans, Sam Montembeault

7/7/24: Adam Fox 2.0: Ryan Reaves, Kevin Rooney, Will Cuylle, Vincent Trocheck, Jacob Trouba, Barclay Goodrow, Alexis Lafreniere, Blake Wheeler, Jimmy Vesey, Jonathan Quick, Ryan Lindgren, Braden Schneider, Sammy Blais, Ryan Donato, John Marino

7/10/24: Elias Lindstrom: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

7/11/24: Jared McCann: Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, Vince Dunn, Jamie Oleksiak, Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers, Will Borgen, Kailer Yamamoto, Justin Schultz, Andre Burakovsky, Ryan Donato, Darnell Nurse, Brandon Tanev

7/13/24: Jack Campbell: Tyler Toffoli, Jake Muzzin, Kyle Clifford, Evander Kane

Alex Carrier: Frederick Gaudreau, Mathieu Joseph, Jimmy Oligny

Pierre Engvall: Simon Holmstrom, Owen Wahlstrom

Andrew Mangiapane: Johnny Gaudreau, Rasmus Andersson, Mikael Backlund, Noah Hanifin, Erik Gudbranson, Mack Weegar, Troy Stecher, Jonathan Huberdeau

Kyle Connor: Zach Werenski, Evgeny Svechnikov, Connor Hellebuyck, Tony Calderone

Eetu Luostarinen: Niko Mikkola, Lundell Anton, Aleksander Barkov

Tyler Madden: Alec Turcotte, Akil Thomas

Zack MacEwen: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

7/18/24: William Carrier: Mathieu Joseph

7/19/24: Kaapo Kahkonen: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

7/20/24: Jamie Benn: Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, Jordie Benn, Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Joel Kiviranta, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lundell, Ben Bishop, Luke Glendenning, Ty Dellandrea, John Klingberg

Alex Killorn: Yanni Gourde, Pat Maroon, Brandon Hagel, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Zach Bogosian, Anthony Cirelli, Luke Schenn, Ryan McDonagh, Tyler Johnson, Blaine Gabbert, Cam Brate, Andrei Vasilevskiy

Thomas Chabot: Josh Norris, Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Mathieu Joseph

Sebastian Aho: Teuvo Teräväinen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Seth Jarvis, Antti Raanta, Nino Niederreiter, Jesper Fast, Jani Hakanpaa

7/22/24: Michael Bunting: Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Jake Muzzin, Morgan Reilly, Fred Anderson, Wayne Simmons, Alex Kerfoot, TJ Brodie, Kyle Clifford

7/26/24: Jake Lucchini: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

7/27/24: Connor McDavid: Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard, Vinny Desharnais, Brett KUlak, Connor Brown, Ryan Mcleod, Derek Ryan, Stuart Skinner, Philip Broberg, Warren Foegele, Devin Shore, Kyle Turris, Luke Gazdic, Zack Kassian, Patrick Maroon, Sam Gagner

Carter Verhaeghe: Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues, Stolarz, Ryan Lomberg, Nick Cousins

8/3/24: Travis Sanheim: Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Shayne Gostisbehere, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Tyson Foerster, James Van Riemsdyk

Connor Ingram: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

Cody Glass: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

8/4/24: David Pastrnak: Taylor Hall, Tukka Rask, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara, Charlie Coyle, Hampus Lindholm, Jeremy Swayman, Linus Ullmark, Torey Krug, David Krecji

8/9/24: Alex Tuch: Shea Theodore, Zemgus Girgensons, Tage Thompson

8/10/24: Tyler Johnson: Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat, Mathieu Joseph, Ryan McDonagh, Alex Killorn, Pat Maroon, Reese Johnson, Adam Gaudette

8/17/24: Cale Makar: Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Erik Johnson, Bo Byram, Darren Helm, Andrew Cogliano, Josh Manson, Kurtis Macdermid

Zachary Sanford: (haven't seen any NHL guests)

Mike Amadio: Zach Whitecloud, Ben Hutton, Brett Howden, Nic Hague, Nic Roy

Andrew Copp: JT Compher, Tyson Jost

Ryan Johansen: Colton Sissons, Luke Kunin, Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, Dante Fabbro, Cam Atkinson, Ross Colton, Miles Wood

8/23/24:

Roope Hintz: Tyler Seguin, Esa Lundell, Patrik Laine,

[theriddletrades]

NEWSIES - THEATRE UNDER THE STARS - MAY, 2024

Newsies | Theatre Under the Stars | 2024, May | MP4 (9.06 GB, 2160p) | The Riddle’s master Cast: Pierre Marais (Jack Kelly), Ben Diamond (Davey Jacobs), Cailen Fu (Katherine Plumber), Luis-Pablo Garcia (Crutchie), Graham Rowat (Joseph Pulitzer), Christina Wells (Medda Larkin), Cole Zieser (Race), Ben Chavez (Romeo/Spot Conlon), Cameron Sirian (Finch), Christopher Tipps (Specs/Bill), Alex Aponte (Albert), Armani Brown (Henry/Scab 3), Madeleine Bourgouis (Hannah), Sebastian Martinez (Mush/Darcy), Holland Vavra (Nun), Michael Alonzo (Oscar Delancey), Hunter Emmett Burke (Morris Delancey), Bret Shuford (Snyder), Mark Ivy (Wiesel/Mr. Jacobi/Mayor/Ensemble), Chris Scurlock (Seitz/Guard/Goon/Ensemble), Trey Harrington (Bunsen/Stage Manager/Goon/Ensemble), Braden Tanner (Nunzio/Roosevelt/Ensemble)

Notes: Great 4k capture of this stunning regional production.  Starts partway through Carrying the Banner.  Has some issues with washout from start of filming until about The World Will Know.  Otherwise, really nicely centered video, with some more wides than usual to highlight choreography.  Unfortunately some loud chatter from an audience member next to me.  This cast is incredible.

NFT DATE: JANUARY 7, 2025 Sales only until NFT date; price is $18

email theriddletrades@gmail.com if interested Screenshots: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjByc25

[theresthesnitch]

URL Song Game

Tagged by @annabtg. Thanks! This looks fun.

T - trust issues by Jessica Baio

H - Hell As Well by We Three

E - Eyes Closed by Ed Seeran

R - Rainbow Connection by Sleeping At Last

E - Elephan Love Medely from Moulin Rouge the Musical

S - Snake Bite by Jared Benjamin

T - This Twn by Nial Horan

H - Honey and Glass by Peytn Cardoza

E - El Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge the Musical

S - Second Nature by Oscar Blue

N - Numb Little Bug by Em Beihold

I - In Case You Don't Live Forever by Ben Platt

T - The Good Part by AJR

C - Chronically Cautious by Braden Bales

H - Hopeless Romantics by James TW

This was particularly hard for the Es? Please excues the two Moulin Rouge sound track songs. I was desperate.

Let's tag.... @heartofspells @brandileigh2003 @hihimissamericanbi @beautitudes @blitheringmcgonagall and anyone else who wants to do this.

[thebeautyofspn]

6x21 Let It Bleed

[baseballjerseynumbers]

Ben Rortvedt takes 30. Last worn by Jake Diekman in 2023.

Jacob Waguespack switches from 67 to 40. Last worn by José Martínez in 2020.

Austin Shenton takes 54. Last worn by Braden Bristo in 2023.

[abbatoirablaze]

Angels & Demons, Chapter 16

Word Count: 1.9k

Warnings: slight angst.

“Yeah...look, I’ve been there,” Dean admitted as he leaned against baby, “i’m a big expert on deadbeat dads...so yeah.  I get it.  I know how you feel.”

“I’m not upset about God!”

“Then what is it?”

“I should have never let Caitlyn out of my sight,” he admitted, his stomach turning at the thought, “I know that when it comes down to it, the angels would have saved you, and the demons, Sam...but Lucifer was the only one that knew about her being an alternative vessel for him...he capitalized on an argument that she and I were in the middle of after he told me that she was pregnant.  I-I never thought that I could father anything.  Angels aren’t supposed to be able to have spawns.  It’s against the natural order.  That’s why-I-I just have to find her, Dean!”

“I know what it’s like thinking about being a dad too,” he sighed as he tried to sympathize with the angel.  Castiel frowned even more, and Dean fought the more base of his urges to punch the angel for knocking his kid sister up.  But he held his emotions in check as he talked the angel through his own insecurities, “there was this girl, Lisa Braden...she was a wildcat who brought me to my knees...thought her son, Ben, was mine...but he wasn’t.”

“Are you saying you don’t think Caitlyn’s child is mine?” he growled, glaring at Dean, “because I was her first.  Her only.  I felt that, Dean.  She loved me.  And I-I love her!  But I let my orders get in my head.  I let my past experiences push her away, because I was scared.”

“Believe it or not, that’s a human response...”

“How do you manage it?” he asked curiously.

“On a good day, you get to kill a whore!” he frowned as he referenced how they needed to kill the whore of Babylon.

“And on a bad day?”

“We’ll find Caitlyn, Cas...and your kid...” he offered, “we’ll find them...and we’ll make sure that they are safe from Lucifer.  We aren’t gonna let anything happen to our sister, Cas.  I’m going to make damn sure of it.”

Castiel stood amongst the trees.  He watched as the further he walked, the more he could see the beginnings of something he was all too familiar with.

The trees that seemingly were burnt to ash in a circle. 

The mud, slowly caving in at the exact spot. 

His heart sunk. 

His stomach turned. 

This wasn’t like Dean’s rising. 

No. 

But just as he went to reach for it, an angel attacked him, brandishing their blade.  Cas pulled his, and the two shared blows, before Cas caught the blade of the angel sneaking up on him and killed the first angel with it. 

Then his attention turned towards the other, and he slit his throat before impaling him on the blade as well.

He was quick to move back to the ground that had moved and was pulsating near his feet.  And he was shocked when a hand reached out from the soft earth.  Pulling him from the ground, the body flopped into the mud with a gasp.  Castiels’ eyes widened when he saw who it was. 

Throwing him over his shoulder, he grabbed the nineteen-year-old and wooshed back to Bobby’s place.

“Help!”

Bobby’s eyes widened at the man covered in mud, “BOYS!”

Sam and Dean ran towards them and were in shock as they saw who it was.

“Who is it?”

“That’s our brother!” Sam proclaimed as the two men watched the fully in-tact body of Adam laying on the couch, “that’s Caitlyn’s brother...the one that was killed by ghouls.”

Dean looked to Cas, before turning his gaze towards the young man, “he was supposed to have been ripped apart…th-the ghouls…they ate him.”

“Wait a minute, your brother...Adam?” Bobby asked.

“Cas, what the hell?”

Cas put down two angel blades to let the Winchester brothers know that Zachariah must have found out about Lucifer’s plan, or at the very least that Michael could use Adam, “angels.”

“Angels, why?”

“Lucifer has Caitlyn...because he knows that she is the younger of the two siblings,” he muttered, “they must have figured out about Adam, and brought him back.  They’ve given up on using you two and moved on to your younger siblings.”

“What?”

“I’m not certain about everything, but I do know one thing,” Castiel explained, “we need to hide him.  Now!”

He put his hand on the young man’s chest and started to carve the symbols on his ribs.  Adam woke to the pain and shot up, panting. 

“Where am I?”

“It’s okay,” Sam informed him, “just relax.  You’re safe.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“You’re gonna find this a little-” Dean began, but instantly corrected himself, “a lot crazy, but we’re actually your brothers.” 

“it’s the truth,” Sam confirmed, “you see we’re actually John Winchester’s kids too.  See, I’m Sam-”

“Yeah, and I’m sure that’s Dean,” Adam growled, cutting Sam off.  Bobby, Dean, and Sam all looked between each other, extremely confused, “I know who you are. “

“How?”

“They warned me about you.”

“Who?”

“The angels.” he began, “now where the hell is Zachariah?  They told me that my sister is in trouble, and only they can help me!”

Sam stepped up from the panic room to see Castiel watching over Adam’s sleeping form.  He turned as Bobby wheeled himself over, “how’s he doing?”

Sam just shook his head. 

“How you doing?” Bobby tried. 

“I don’t know anymore,” he admitted, “I-uh, I went to talk to him and all he could talk about was how the angels and Lucifer have moved on to Adam and Caitlyn.  He knows that right now, he’s probably using her...that the kid won’t be able to face seeing his sister being worn by Satan...and that he has to be the one to fight him...because even if I somehow convince Lucifer to take me instead, he thinks that he has more of a chance...”

“Sam...I’m sure he didn’t mean it like-”

“He said that he had no faith in me!” Sam sighed, “said that he knows I’m going to eventually say yes to Lucifer and that Caitlyn will just be tossed aside.”

Tears lined Sam’s eyes and Cas walked downstairs to speak with Dean.  But just outside of the panic room he heard glass shattering. 

“Dean!” he asked as he started towards the room.  He opened the hatch and looked into the room.  The chair was knocked over and the lamp had been broken,“Dean?” 

He opened the door and walked in, looking for where he could have been, but was surprised to see Dean had put a sigil on a locker.  Slamming his palm to it, he banished Cas for the time being and started his ascent through the drain cellar entrance at the side. 

He knew that he had to get to Michael before Adam got his shot. 

Meanwhile, Adam was dreaming about one of his more peaceful memories. 

One where he was seven, and Caitlyn was five. 

He’d taken her to their favorite park, and was sitting on the bench, waiting for their mom while she played on the park fixtures.

“Come on, Adam!” his little sister begged from the top of the stairs as she giggled, oblivious to the real-world problems he’d been made aware of at a painfully young age, “come down the slide with me!”

“Waiting for mom!”

“Please,” she begged,  pouting, “you’re my favoritest big brother and you never come play with me anymore!”

“Caitly-“

“Come on Adam!” she urged, waving him over, “please…”

He saw himself sigh, before he allowed himself to forget their family’s issues, running away from the bench, his own seven-year-old self began chasing after his little sister. 

“I’m gonna get you, Caty!” he grinned. 

She squealed in excitement and slid down the slide, before running around the playground, Adam happily chasing after her. 

“Your mom’s not coming, you know!”

Adam sat up and looked at the angel to his right. 

“Who are you?”

“This was you and your sister’s favorite park,” he proclaimed, gesturing towards the setup, “where your mom would take you on her days off, right?  She’s not coming...not yet...neither is your sister.  But she will...soon.  And the three of you will be reunited.  Just like the good old days.”

“You’re Zachariah, right?”

“I am,” he agreed, “you weren’t where you were supposed to be kid.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“And I’m having trouble zeroing in on you too,” he murmured, “so let me take a wild guess.  You’re with Sam and Dean.”

“Yeah.”

“Didn’t we tell you about them?” he asked, “so you know you can’t trust them, right?  You know that Sam and Dean Winchester are psychotically, irrationally, erotically codependent on each other, right?”

“I don’t know,” he sighed nervously, “they said a few things about you.”

“Oh really?” he asked, “trust me kid when the heat gets hot, they’re not gonna give a flying crap about you.  They didn’t care when Lucifer took your sister! Or when that angel they hang around with knocked her up?”

Adam’s head shot in the direction of the angel, “what?”

“Oh yeah,” he smiled, “Hell they’d rather save each other’s sweet bacon than save the planet.  They’re not your family, you understand.  They let your sister get taken by Lucifer.  He wears her around town like nobody’s business.  That’s why we got you.  You can save your sister.  You can save your mom.  You want to be able to see them again, right?”

“Y-yeah...” he agreed.

“Good...now tell me where you are.”

“You pray too loud!”  Castiel commented to the man who was trying to let the angels know that Dean wanted to be found.  He touched the man’s shoulder, and he passed out, allowing Castiel to drag Dean into an alley. 

He threw punch after punch at him, “I REBELLED FOR THIS!”

“Cas!”

“SO that you could surrender to them?” he growled, landing another punch, “so that you could just run away and give in to Michael?  Do you know what he’ll do to Caitlyn?  What he’ll do to my child when he finds them?”

“Cas, please!” Dean begged as the angel threw him against the other wall.

“You banished me so that you could run to him.  So that you could let the angels take you and let him use you!” he growled, “he’ll kill Caitlyn and my child.  He doesn’t give a damn about them.”

“And right now, Lucifer is wearing her to the prom!” he tried to argue.

“Right now, Lucifer is the only thing protecting her!” he hissed, “I gave everything to you, and this is what you give to me!  You play hero for everyone but cower to the angels.  He continued to beat Dean up, kicking him into a chain link fence. 

“Do it!” Dean urged, “Just do it!” 

“I promised your sister something,” he growled, letting his fists unfurl, “I promised it to her the night we first made love...the night that I shared my truest self with her.  That I would always make sure that you and Sam never gave into Michael and Lucifer...and I’m going to live up to that promise.”

“But you let her!” Dean reminded him.

“And that’s my biggest regret…but know this Dean.  I will find her.  And my child.  And I will protect them at all costs.” 

And with that, he touched Dean’s shoulder so that he could knock him out and bring him back to Bobby’s.

Chapter 17

[farnwedel]

Samantha Young

Valentine – Tag der Liebenden

Valentine ist nun definitiv kein Stadtteil von Edinburgh. Aber eigentlich ist Edinburgh als Stadt auch völlig egal. Vielleicht ist es ja auch Edinburgh, Indiana.

Jedenfalls passt das ganz gut zum Rest des Buches - das kommt mir alles vor wie Smutfic, nur, dass es halt keine Fanfic ist, bei der man die Figuren und die Dynamiken zwischen ihnen schon kennt, sondern hier völlig unbekannte Personen ihre Beziehungen navigieren. Das ist öde, repetitiv und mir so egal wie die Figuren in The Apocalypse: Undead Winter, und das will was heißen.

Kapitel 1 – Jocelyn und Braden

Sie haben zwei Kinder namens Luke (6) und Beth (9) und Joss ist schon wieder schwanger. Hurra! Beth ist verärgert, weil sie in der Schule eine Valentinskarte basteln sollen und jemandem schenken, und sie macht sich Sorgen, dass ihr „Freund“ Aaron ihr keine bastelt. Alter, die Kinder sind neun, ist das diese Frühsexualisierung, von der alle immer sprechen?

Joss‘ größtes Problem hingegen ist, dass sie rallig ist, am Valentinstag aber auf Ellies und Adams Kinder aufpassen muss statt mit Braden zu vögeln. Als die Kinder alle im Bett sind, schaffen sie es aber doch noch und „sein heißer Schwengel drängte sich zwischen [Joss‘] Beine“. Schwengel ist nun echt kein besonders sexy Wort, aber okay. Joss kommt jedenfalls zweimal und dass die Kinder nicht aufwachen, ist ein Wunder.

Kapitel 2 – Ellie und Adam

Die beiden gehen essen. Ellie sagt, dass sie gerne mal Sex in der Öffentlichkeit haben würde, und als Adam eher verblüfft reagiert, ist sie beleidigt. Hinterher flirtet ein anderer Mann auf einer Party mit Ellie und braucht ewig, um ihren Ehering zu bemerken. Adam zerrt Ellie rasend vor Eifersucht ins Bad, wo sie laut genug vögeln, um es als „öffentlich“ zählen zu lassen.

„Ellie“, grunzte er mit vor Verlangen halb geschlossenen Lidern. „Meine Ellie.“

Auch „grunzen“ finde ich eher. Unsexy. Aber für die beiden funktioniert’s, wie schön.

Kapitel 3 – Johanna und Cameron

Keine Ahnung, wer die beiden sind, aber sie hatten seit 6 Wochen keinen Sex mehr. Jo geht Cam im Büro zum romantischen Abendessen abholen, aber sie sieht ihn mit einer attraktiven jungen Kollegin sprechen, was für die erste Unstimmigkeit des Abends sorgt. Daheim streiten sie sich weiter über ihre Entfremdung in den letzten Wochen.

„Ich meine, dass ich seit Monaten einsam bin und du nicht auf mich zugegangen bist. Du hast es noch nicht einmal gemerkt.“

Jo, darling…hast du es ihm denn gesagt?

[2 Seiten später sagt Cam genau das. Ha!]

Nach etwas Hin und Her und tränenreicher Versöhnung vögeln sie vor dem Kamin. Sehr stimmungsvoll.

Kapitel 4 – Olivia und Nate

Liv hingegen stört sich daran, dass Nate und sie im Bett nur noch Sex haben statt zu reden. Man kann’s ihnen aber auch nicht recht machen!

Liv trifft einen weiteren echten Schotten namens Ben Livingston (Cousin von Dan Dee und Richard Stirling), ihren Ex. Der ist allerdings auch verheiratet, also…Entwarnung. Trotzdem ist sie ein bisschen pissig, dass Nate offenbar den Valentinstag vergessen hat, bis sie abends heimkommt, die Kinder bei den Großeltern sind und Nate mit Abendessen, roten Rosen und einer Nerd-Diskussion (und später Sex unter der Dusche) auf sie wartet. Am nächsten Tag holt er sie in der Mittagspause ab und nimmt sie mit in ein Hotel, wo sie noch mehr Sex haben. Nate verbietet es Olivia, ihn „Daddy“ zu nennen, sagt aber selbst „mein kleines Schweinchen“ zu ihr. Sexy!

Kapitel 5 – Hannah und Marco

…wer?

Die beiden haben Sex auf einer Picknickdecke in den „Douglas Gardens“ (die es nicht gibt. Das Nächste wären die Douglas Crescent Gardens, aber das ist eher ne Schrebergartenanlage). Daheim haben sie auch nochmal Sex, auch wenn sie zwischendurch ihre kleinen Kinder versorgen müssen.

Kapitel 6 – Shannon und Cole

Once again I am asking…whomst?

Sie arbeiten in einem Tattoostudio. Eine Kundin flirtet mit Cole (ehrlich…dieses ständige „oh, eine attraktive Person [von denen es in Edinburgh mehr zu geben scheint, als ich damals erlebt habe] guckt mein S/O an! Zeit, stinkwütend zu werden und kein Wort zu sagen“ geht mir so auf die Nerven). Als die Kundin weg ist, lässt Cole sich ein „S“ für Shannon auf die Brust tätowieren. Da er ein Tattoo auf der Brust hat, muss Shannon am Abend oben sein. Logisch. Uuund wir haben den ersten Blowjob in diesem Buch! Konfetti!

[triviareads]

I saw someone say bridgerton season three has she fell first he fell harder as one of the tropes. I thought Penelope had just a crush on Colin. Does it count?

I do think the "she fell first he fell harder" trope applies to both S3 based on when we know of it, as well as Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. The thing is, it's such a shitty iteration of the trope imo. Because Penelope is just hopelessly pining for Colin from the get-go, and ultimately, she waits for twelve years for him to notice her (in the book; and let's not forget the shitty implications of her losing a lot of weight in between). It's so so fucking passive and when you read her thinking shit like "she was born for this man"..... it doesn't feel romantic. It feels pathetic. And quite frankly, there is not one solid reason given for why Colin magically noticed her all of a sudden; it just feels like he was ready to settle down and "find purpose" and she was conveniently there. tbd on how the show will handle this but I don't super care at this point.

I feel like the best executed romances with the "she fell first he fell harder" trope have heroines who do fall for him first, and because they're cognizant of their feelings earlier than he is, they basically chase after him and make their feelings KNOWN. For example, in When a Girl Loves an Earl by Elisa Braden, Viola is OBSESSED with James to the point where the entire ton refers to her pursual of him as the "Tannenbrook Hunt", and honestly, good for her for putting her feelings out there despite the initial rejection. Another example is Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway. Livvy may be over a decade younger than Ben, but she knows she wants him (and everything she saw him doing to that other woman in a stable That One Time) and isn't afraid to go after him.