#velvethopewrites

[casdeans-pie]

if you get this, answer with three random facts about yourself and send it to the last seven blogs in your notifs! anon or not, doesn’t matter, let’s get to know the person behind the blog <3

Ooooh ! I love inbox games !! ❤️

1) I have physiologic anisocoria, so one of my pupils is naturally bigger than the other - it's harmless though.

2) I've been lucky enough to save up and go to Japan twice - once with friends and once on my own.

3) I live with my giant ginger and white cat called Pumpkin (he's bigger than a small dog)

[izupie]

Once you get this, you have to say five things you like about yourself, publicly. Then you have to send this to ten of your favourite followers (non-negotiable, positivity is cool~)🌈🌈

💕💕💕 ahh thank you!! Love ask games!

1. My eye colour - green eyes are apparently rarer than the others? And green is my favourite colour 💚

2. My positivity - I mean, I'm only human, I have bad days, I'm not positive all the time, but in general I'm cheerful and I enjoy it

3. My writing - I genuinely love reading my own stories! Especially if it's been a while - almost feels like it's someone else's story, but it's full of all my personal favourite tropes

4. My coffee art - I have fun making the coffees and I'm really pleased with how they come out!

5. My adventurous spirit - I've been all sorts of places by myself! Including Tokyo!

[kapreday]

#17! 😊

an anxious compulsion you do everyday?

i HABITUALLY chew on my lips and the insides of my cheeks.

it's my anxious stim developed from years of braces. i used to just grimace/smile in anxious situations (always - my brain is a nightmare sometimes) and played clarinet through them. my braces would tear up the insides of my cheeks in both situations. after the orthodontic torture devices came off, the scarring on the insides of my cheeks annoyed me and i'm still chewing the scar tissue down to be flush with the insides of my cheeks a decade later. gross!

[charmsandtealeaves]

Here have a few… 🌹 🌹 🌹 🌹

send a 🌹 for a random line of a random WIP

Merlin's Beard! I didn't expect to get one let alone four so thank you!

I have an entire google doc dedicated to random scenes to go into fics I'm either currently working on or planning to work on in future. So I've picked out four at random. 1. If you take away the dumbass shit he does he’s a nice person. 2. “Magic alone is not enough and you do not have the strength. Dumbledore has failed you, as he fails all his followers in the end.” He roared.

3. “You have what my aunt calls an unfortunate manner, you know that?”

4. “For Merlin’s sake Black, if you want to partner with Remus so badly, have at him. I know Potter can brew.” Lily huffed, grabbing her satchel from the floor and getting out of her seat.

[readysetjo]

💗 incoming love train! I appreciate you and recognize the amazing presence you have on this site, thank you for contributing to our community! 🌷 send this to all the blogs you love! don't forget to spread the love. 💌

Aw thanks!! I’m glad we’re mutuals! 😊

[destiel-wings]

if you get this, answer with three random facts about yourself and send it to the last seven blogs in your notifs! anon or not, doesn’t matter, let’s get to know the person behind the blog <3 !!

Okay, three random facts about me, um...

1) I can speak three languages (Italian, English and French), used to be four with German but it's been way too long

2) I'm a blue belt in karate

3) My brother was born when I was 16 years old

[destieltropecollection]

Destiel Trope Collection 2024 | Day 24: Fluff

Animal | @ididitallofitforyou Rating: General Word Count: 1,014 Main Tags/Warnings: Fluff, Established Relationship, Kid Fic Summary: Cas and the kids stumble over a pet adoption event

The Bliss | @blessyoushondahurley Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 1,223 Main Tags/Warnings: established relationship, domestic fluff, halloween Summary: A fluffy domestic day in the life of a happy, settled, married, post-hunter Dean Winchester and family.

Kiss it better | @tami-ryver Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 1,332 Main Tags/Warnings: Season/Series 09, Human Castiel (Supernatural), Human Castiel in the Men of Letters Bunker (Supernatural), Sick Castiel (Supernatural), Caretaker Dean Winchester, Fluff, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Cuddling & Snuggling, Cuddling Castiel/Dean Winchester, Dean Winchester Takes Care of Castiel Summary: Cas is sleeping soundly, and Dean tries his forehead; it's not as hot as it was before. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and smiles. Cas is indeed in good hands, and Dean is going to make sure he is healthy as soon as possible. Because if there is one thing he doesn't like, it's when the people he loves are in pain. Wait, loves? He loves Cas? Oh. Oh.

Early Morning | @ididitallofitforyou Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 1,378 Main Tags/Warnings: Fluff, Post Canon, Boys Kissing, Established Relationship, Retired Dean and Cas, Baker Dean, Bookstore Owner Cas Summary: When Dean’s alarm goes off, he quickly silences it and groans as he falls back against his pillow. Before he can talk himself out of bed, Cas rolls over and snuggles up against him, head on his shoulder, arm around his waist. Dean leans down to nuzzle Cas’ hair as he slowly rubs his hand across Cas’ back and shoulder. How did he - Dean Winchester, hunter extraordinaire, the guy with nothing but a GED and a give ‘em hell attitude - get so lucky as to end up here? Married to his not-quite-an-angel-anymore, best-friend-turned-love-of-his-life. He’s so goddamned happy he doesn’t know what to do with himself sometimes. Dean huffs an incredulous laugh and shakes his head. He’s got to get moving or he’s going to be late.

loving on island time | @deancaskiss Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 2,015 Main Tags/Warnings: Dean Winchester, Castiel (Supernatural), Kissing, Boys Kissing, French Kissing, Originally Posted on Tumblr, Cross-Posted on Tumblr, Established Relationship, Established Castiel/Dean Winchester, Married Castiel/Dean Winchester, Anniversary, Day At The Beach, Beaches, Sunsets, Road Trips, POV Castiel (Supernatural), Surprises, Surprise Kissing, Flirting, Castiel/Dean Winchester Flirting, Romance, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Roses, Alcohol Summary: Cas slipped a note into the handle of Dean’s coffee mug, set it on the bedside table, and placed a kiss against Dean’s temple. 'Let’s go on a road trip. I’ll drive.’

Hot & Cold | @macy2me Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 2,064 Main Tags/Warnings: Established Relationship, Domestic Fluff, Marriage Proposal, Castiel Proposes Marriage to Dean Winchester, Established Castiel/Dean Winchester, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Human Summary: When Dean accidentally finds out that there is an engagement ring hidden in the house, he plays a game of Hot & Cold with Cas to find it. Short fic created as part of the Love & Winchesters birthday drabble exchange.

Fairy Cake Shop | @verobatto Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 2,546 Main Tags/Warnings: Fantasy, love at first sight, fairy!Dean, human!Cas, modern setting Summary: Dean, Charlie and Benny are unpaid fairies working for Fairyland collecting human's emotions like pearls. To do this work, they run together a cake shop that fullfils human's good wishes. One day Dean meets Castiel, a widower father, and his life changes for ever.

The Starlight | @Velvethopewrites Rating: General Word Count: 3,803 Main Tags/Warnings: Meet-cute, AU, shy!Cas, awkward!Cas, fluff, bartender!Dean, human AU, pre-slash Summary: A cold and rainy night brings two people together.

The Way to a Man's Heart (In a Blizzard) | @thefandomsinhalor Rating: General Word Count: 4,344 Main Tags/Warnings: Neighbors AU, Dean Has a Crush on Castiel, Snowed In, Baker Castiel, Sweet Dean, Happy Ending Summary: Determined to spend the weekend on his own as a snow storm hits the city, Dean may change his mind when a handsome neighbor knocks on his door. Propositioning him with delicious food, no less.

One Way Mirror | @starstiels Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 5,312 Main Tags/Warnings: outsider pov, fluff, didn't know they were dating, protective dean, protective castiel, episode: s12e01, episode: s12e02, cas and dean use their words Summary: When Mary comes back from the dead, she didn't expect her 4-year-old to be 37. She also didn't expect him to be a hunter and married to an angel. AU where deancas are just slightly more openly affectionate and Mary immediately assumes they're married.

The Royally Unexpected Jollification of Two Princes | @thefandomsinhalor Rating: General Word Count: 6,096 Main Tags/Warnings: Royalty AU, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending, Temporary Meg/Castiel, Helpful Sam Summary: Prince Dean has a lot of feelings to sort out when he hears the unexpected news that best friend Prince Castiel is engaged. Unsure if he’s upset about not having been told the news by his own friend—or perhaps because of another elusive reason—he plans on clarifying the situation. Good thing his friend is set to arrive at the castle on that very afternoon, unaware that an important discussion is awaiting him.

Their Own Personal Eden | @thisisapaige Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 7,394 Main Tags/Warnings: Canon Divergence After Episode: s15e19 Inherit the Earth, Gardener Castiel, Gardener Dean Winchester, Inspired by Draft Script for Episode: s13e06 Tombstone, Language of Flowers, Fix It Summary: Years ago, Dean lost Cas and spread his ashes across a meadow with a windmill, a brook, and a garden. Years later, Dean loses Cas again and returns there to plant flowers in his honour. One day, while Dean lies in the meadow now full of forget-me-nots, a portal opens and Cas returns. With the help of soil, seeds, and the language of flowers— and perhaps a little meadow miracle— Dean and Cas learn how to navigate their relationship in the new, Chuck-free world.

[brotrustmeicanwrite]

✨ Library Tag Game ✨

Let’s make a little library of stuff you made that you want others to see so there’s a list to choose from for anyone who’s interested ( because we kinda forgot how to reblog each others writing )

Rules:

Add one or more of your projects, finished or WIP, text or other media as long as it tells a story

Add a link instead of text or images so everything stays neat and organised

Add a short description (feel free to use mine as a template)

Add TWs where necessary; If the tag would spoil too much add „TW proceed with caution“

Tag at least 3 other people for every link you add

If you weren’t tagged please still participate!

If you don’t want to participate you can still tag other people you’d like to see here

I’ll start with my mini comic :D

The Flower Spirit Who Became The Guardian Of The Dead

In the forest of spirits a crimson flower grows under an ancient tree. One dark and stormy night a human child finds shelter by their side. As they return to visit day after day, they grow beloved by the spirits of the forest, until one day they don’t return….

Genre: Fantasy

Media: textless short comic

Vibe: Why must you hurt me

Status: Ongoing (prologue & EP 03/15 completed as of Feb. 26th)

Length: on average 2 pages/ Episode

TW: child abuse

Tagging @stellar-man-ia @illarian-rambling @caxycreations @velvethopewrites @sleepywriter00 @revenantlore @vi-timepiece @aziz-reads @melobro29 @riveriafalll @infinnative @lexiklecksi

[casdeans-pie]

Okay!

So…would you rather be a feral cat, wild on the streets of life or a fat house cat, lounging in the sun for the rest of your days? Or feel free to give me a secret third option. ;)

Asdfhjkljgdkl

I love random asks !!!! Thank you !!!!

Okay

So

I was a Warrior Cats girlie and I would love to live out the Warrior Cat Clan fantasies from my childhood, but realistically I know I'd last like. a day at most. And hunting for your own food just sounds like way too much effort. The other feral cats would bully me

Sooo gotta be a house cat for me - being fed, knocking stuff over, having willing slaves dedicated owners, comfy beds you never have to leave....

They don't know how good they've got it

I am filled with cat energy for wanting meals ready provided for me and sleeping all day and yet I have to suffer going to work and cooking my own food 🙄😔 a tragedy

[izupie]

For the asks:

✅ What's something that appears in your fics over and over and over again, even if you don't mean to?

Or (also) conversely this one: 🤭

Thank you so much for this ask for the writers ask game! <3 <3 I'm sorry it took me a bajillion years to reply to it !!!!

✅ What's something that appears in your fics over and over and over again, even if you don't mean to?

I already answered this one, but I have so many other examples now I've had time to think about it asdfghjkl;

So I use parentheses a lot. like. a lot.

but I just love them so much. I am always having Thoughts that contain Side Thoughts (like little additions) so I have to throw those brackets in there in my writing to contain them. I think nearly all of my stories have a few instances of this kind of thing.

I cannot help myself and hope readers don't find them too annoying

🤭 Do you have a favorite tag to use when posting your works?

I already mentioned fluff in a previous ask answer, but another one is Alternative Universe ! I use that tag soooo much. Who needs canon amirite? I just love to think of different universes these characters could meet in and still fall in love !!

[kapreday]

Also “sun” for the asks

Astrology Ask Game! sun ⇢ name 5 things you like LOVE about yourself? 1. my nose - especially with the little stud i put in it! 2. my hair - though it's short now, i can't wait to grow it out again! i used to be so self-conscious about my thick curls but i love how when they're long they coil like snakes and when they're short they roll like waves on the ocean. 3. my lungs - i have a great lung capacity. more to inhale ;) or shout! or sing! or play clarinet! or swim! i'm especially thankful covid pneumonia and long covid hasn't taken them from me. 4. my creativity - i love looking at things a little differently! putting watercolors to paper and watching the water swirl and absorb, trying something new when baking, finding loopholes to make things easier at work. I want to be a jack of all trades creatively - try everything and fail but find something fun! 5. my patience. - i love the comfort of knowing i can wait it out and see what happens. i love helping my students find time to be kids, or helping my neighbors bring heavy grocery bags up the stairs, or waiting for a look in someones eyes when I surprise them. I love being lazy when things can be done later. patience lives at the core of me - my radical honesty, self-love, and community compassion comes from being able to wait and know good things will come, change will come, no matter what.

[charmsandtealeaves]

10 Songs 10 people Game

Rules: Shuffle your library and list 10 songs and tag 10 people!

Tagged by the superstar that is @velvethopewrites outing me and my very uninteresting music tastes

Phoenix by Olivia Holt

Learn To Let Go by Kesha

Can I be Him by James Arthur

Don’t Forget Your Roots by Six60 (Te Reo Māori version)

This City by Sam Fischer

…Ready For It by Taylor Swift

abcdefu by GAYLE

You Should Be Sad by Halsey

Last Night (Beer Fear) by Lucy Spraggan

Shut Up and Dance by WALK THE MOON

Tagging: @abihastastybeans , @practicecourts , @yanet10543 , @evesaintyves , @iamladyrain , @arianatwycross , @steadygalaxychild , @startanewdream , @mppmaraudergirl and anyone else who would like a go (sorry if you’ve already been tagged!)

[destiel-wings]

Ok —

If you could travel in time to one famous time in history, which one would it be and why? (And by famous time I mean things like first step on the moon, the London fire, etc - you know, a set date of importance)

Oh my, that's such a good question.

I've been sitting with this one for a little while, but i think I'd want go at the beginning, like, to see the first steps of the human race. I'd like to see how it was when it was quiet, before everything happened. I don't know that there'd be anything that much interesting to see there though specifically (it would be so much more interesting to go even further back before human race to see how the world was then, to see the dinosaurs, and maybe if I'm being honest that's where I'd want to go, but i want to think I'm smart enough to know better than to actively choose to go somewhere with the most dangerous creatures ever existed on earth that could kill me any second). I'd like to witness the Big Bang, solve the mystery of how it all began, and i know that's impossible (because where would i even stand physically to be able to see that??) but that's where I'm drawn to i guess, if we're talking about the past.

[smallgear]

BINGOO LES GOOOOOO

I have actually never played bingo before ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Thank you @riveriafalll for the tag!

Blank BINGO Card for anyone who wants to join in:

And now mine:

The Flower Spirit Who Became The Guardian Of The Dead

GO READ THE COMIC >>>>:(((

It’s about a flower spirit who meets an abused child and despite being invisible to them tries to make them happy by giving them nice dreams. The flower spirit is bound to the flower that keeps them alive and can’t follow the child home to at least try and keep them safe. But one day the child doesn’t return to their usual place and after many days of waiting the flower spirit brakes the bond to their flower to go and search for the child.

Mirrors Of Sands

Was supposed to be a webcomic but my adhd brain decided a video game would be less work

_(:3 」∠)_

It isn’t if anyone needed that clarification

The MC Arthur is a knight who fights demons known as “mirages”. He’s the heir to the Dalrway dukedom but his older twin brother Baine makes the noble life anything but peaceful by being a complete and utter menace. One day Arthur wakes up as his 5 year old self, seemingly having travelled back in time. He slowly realises that many things were much different than how he remembers them. Maybe his brother was not at all as awful as he thought he was and maybe the great hero, their father Duke Dalrway, was never a hero to begin with.

No Title Yet

This one’s gonna be a VN. It’s about a god who is part of a group of gods who invade and conquer worlds created by others. She was mostly manipulated into partaking in these things but she’s not exactly innocent either. In the story she has to decide if she wants to “exercise her rights as a god” and finally be respected by the others by taking a lead instead of always just doing what she’s told or if she wants to “fulfill her duties as a god” and take responsibility for everything she has done. Parallel to this, the story is also about one of the creatures that god has created who was made to serve her and the others as a knight/ attendant. He’s faced with the choice to “follow his programming” and keep serving the gods or rebel and do what he believes is right. Depending on the combo of choices the player makes there’s four different endings. (Three of which are fucked up as hell. )

Tagging @stellar-man-ia @illarian-rambling @caxycreations @velvethopewrites @sleepywriter00 @revenantlore @vi-timepiece @aziz-reads @infinnative @lexiklecksi

[practicecourts]

Thank you @wearingaberetinparis, @mppmaraudergirl, @abihastastybeans, @annabtg, @missgryffin, @nodirectionhome-ao3, @eastwindmlk, @jamesunderwater, @glitterwitch1 @uncertainwallflower for tagging me. I want to read all of those wips of yours (and I wish you all the time to write for those!)

The Book Marauder (title might change- not posted)

Silent Night next chapter

Thoroughbreds don't cry (side snippets here and here )

.... Helena & her misfits > a crazy dark tale of Helena Ravenclaw and her bad choice in men.

TBM: I'm excited to get to the part where Lily has a big confrontation with James as well as ***** (redacted for reasons) and the stakes for each of them will finally be clear (which is not going to help anyone... but still) I know this is ridiculously vague but it is what it is.

Silent Night. I want something to happen, and I'm not sure how to fit it- and it is sad - so I'm stalling. (again I apologise for being vague)

TDC: I want to write the confrontations these two are going to have. I'm still undecided on some of the bigger directions this fic will have to go. I'm looking forward to Lily showing up on the Peverell training facility to find Remus gone and James (who is by that time a guy she slept with when she didn't know who he was) washing one of the horses. His shirt will be wet. see through. but she's a professional and only there to look at a lame horse's tendons... so what could possibly go wrong.

Helena... I am toying with the idea or Riddle flirting Helena's socks off so he can get his hands on the tiara. After a millenium has passed, she'd hoped men would have improved.

I think everybody has already been tagged so consider this an open tag for anyone who wants to do this... but if you haven’t and you want to;) @blitheringmcgonagall

@nought-shall-go-ill @velvethopewrites

@welsh-green @mabelexclamationpoint @maraudersftw @siriuslychessi

@turanga4, @celestemagnoliathewriter @bellairestrella @downn-in-flames

[scones-and-texting-and-murder]

Get My Heart Under Contract

Written because I couldn't shake this post by @stonelionhearts. Thanks to @velvethopewrites for the little push i needed to write it!

ao3 1400 words, rated T (for now anyhow) 4926 word, Rated E

This is all Gabriel’s fault.

Cas’s business is doing just fine. He’s staying busy. He has a steady stream of customers. Home improvement never goes out of fashion. But his brother has insisted he join a--God, Cas can hardly even think it without rolling his eyes--networking group. Which is why Cas is dressed in a goddamn dress shirt, tie, and slacks on a Tuesday morning instead of finishing up the jetted tub install on his latest job.

Which reminds him. He needs to pick up a part. Glancing at the time, he sees he has a few minutes to kill before the meeting starts. He’s across town from his usual hardware store, but these chains are all the same so he can pop into the one over here and kill two birds with one stone.

He strides purposely into the store, confident he’ll know the layout, to grab the piece and be on his way again. Instead, he finds himself wandering from aisle to aisle, frustration building as he does. By the time he finds the plumbing section, he’s muttering to himself about inefficient store planners and glaring at the long rows of products as if they've personally offended him. Honestly, if he had the time he’d start re-organizing the entire layout in a way that actually makes sense. Sighing, he tries again to find what he’s looking for, a small headache beginning behind his eyes. Definitely Gabriel’s fault.

A friendly voice comes from his left. “Can I help you?”

Cas tugs at his own collar in an attempt not to snap at this salesperson who has no idea he’s just taken his life into his own hands. He turns to crisply dismiss the poor fellow and finds himself face to face with what can only be described as an incredibly beautiful man. He’s looking at Cas expectantly, green eyes wide. There’s a smattering of freckles on his face, and he wets his lips as he waits for Cas to answer. Which Cas should definitely do, but this is such an unexpected turn of events that Cas finds they’re standing and staring at each other for much longer than is socially appropriate.

The man--and now Cas sees he’s got a name tag pinned to his work apron--Dean nods at the display and tries again. “Looks like you’re working on a plumbing project. Those can be tricky. Do you know what piece you need?”

Of course Cas knows what he needs. He’s got all the dimensions memorized. He could do this job in his sleep. “Uh,” he begins, and has to clear his throat. He holds out his hands. “About this big?”

Dean studies the display, his tongue poking out at his concentrates. It’s all Cas can do not to reach out a hand to steady himself. He’s watching Dean’s face instead of finding the part he needs, and maybe he should feel bad about all this blatant staring, but he feels something akin to starstruck by this man.

“It’s probably this one.” Dean reaches for the exact part Cas was looking for, and Cas watches the muscles of his shoulder flex beneath his tight black t-shirt. “But just to be on the safe side, you might want to take this size as well.” He turns to face Cas, a part in each hand. “We make returns as easy as possible,” he says with a smile.

Cas definitely only needs the larger size. He takes both parts, happy to have something to do with his hands at least. “Thank you. That’s very helpful.”

“Anything else?”

If Cas leaves right now, he’ll only be about five minutes late for the networking meeting. He takes a step to his left, moving into Dean’s personal space, and pivots to the display behind them. “Can you tell me about these?”

They’re nothing complicated. Ball valve shut offs. Cas has an entire drawer of them in his tool box. Still, Dean answers his question respectfully, explaining various uses and pointing out the differences. “And these?” Cas realizes he's pointed to a display of brass nipple fittings and why do all these pieces sound so dirty? Cas works on not blushing as he lets Dean’s words wash over him, watching the way Dean’s face lights up as he talks, his strong hands picking things up to show Cas the minute differences. There’s nothing condescending in his speech, just the pure joy of sharing his knowledge with someone who wants to learn.

And does Cas ever want to learn. He wants to learn if Dean’s lips are as soft as they look. He wants to learn if those gold flecks in his green eyes look different under candlelight. He wants to learn how the calloused touch of those work-worn hands would feel on Cas’s shoulder and chest and hip…

“You know a lot about building things, it seems,” Cas manages. “Where did you learn it all?”

Dean glances away. “My dad was all about uh, DIY, I guess you could say. Left me with some skills.” There’s a story there, Cas is sure. He wants to learn that, too. Dean, however, seems eager to change the subject. “What about you? Are you working your way through your honey-do list?”

Cas watches as Dean’s mouth twists, like he regrets the words as soon as they leave his mouth. It warms something inside him and he’s quick to respond. “Nothing like that. I live alone.”

Dean smiles at him. “You know, you’re going to need a piece of drywall to patch the hole after that installation.”

He’s not wrong. And Cas has many pieces available already. He feels his head tilt, eyes squinting in confusion. “Where would I find that?”

“Happy to show you!” Dean leads the way, and dear God now Cas can see that he’s got bowed legs, his hips swaying as he walks in a way that has Cas wanting to learn many, many more things.

Dean continues to guide him through the process, at some point grabbing a flat bed cart and loading it up with everything Cas might need. He opens up a register so that he can handle the payment himself. “Thank you, Mr. Novak,” he says, handing him the receipt. And then he offers to help Cas out to his car.

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Cas says quickly, because this has gotten out of hand. “I can do it.”

“Nonsense,” Dean says. “No point in you getting dirty when you’re all dressed up nice for work.” He reaches a hand out and Cas freezes, breath caught in his throat, but all Dean does is flip his tie which has somehow turned backwards. While Cas will his pulse to slow, Dean grips the cart. “Now, where are you parked?”

Any other protests die on his lips. There’s nothing to be done and Cas leads him across the parking lot, doing a walk of shame to his very own contractor van parked at the end of a row.

Dean pulls up short with the cart, eyes blinking rapidly. “Novak,” he says. “That’s you?”

“I’m so sorry,” Cas says in a rush, knowing that he’s ruined this. “I didn’t mean to mislead you, it’s just that…”

Dean raises an eyebrow. “Just that what?”

Cas can’t look at him. He stares miserably at his stupid dress shoes. “I was enjoying your company so much.”

There’s a long pause. “Hmm.” Chancing a look, Cas sees Dean is smiling at him. It’s a bit smug, but it looks good on him nonetheless. Dean pulls out his phone and takes a picture of the side of the van. “So, I could call you if I want to continue this conversation?”

Relief has Cas smiling back. “I wish you would.”

Together they unload the cart. “So, what’s with the monkey suit?” Dean asks.

“My brother convinced me to go to a business networking meeting.” Cas checks his watch. “Which I am now embarrassingly late for.”

Dean leans a hip against the side of the van. “That so? Guess you’ll never meet anybody new then.”

“Guess not.” They’re staring at each other again.

Finally, Dean breaks eye contact. “I gotta get back.” He reaches out a hand. “It was a pleasure helping you today, Mr. Novak.”

Cas clasps his hand longer than necessary. It’s warm and strong and Dean uses his thumb to rub a small, secret circle on Cas’s skin. “Call me,” Cas says and it only sounds a little desperate.

“Oh, I will,” Dean assures him with a wink. “You look like the answer to all my pipe-laying needs.”