MJL, An Excerpt From The Writing Collection, “mimicking Maelstroms.”

Me: *hits decline on a phone call so I can finish the fic I’m reading*

Me: sorry, grandma they’re finally gonna kiss.

What breaking ice on a trampoline looks like. From here

"When you're born in a burning home, you believe the world is on fire. But it isn't."

I try to run from the fire yet the world feels cruelly calm now, there are no singes on my arms, no blisters on my palm and it feels eerie; like it doesn't belong to me. Almost as if I dont deserve the careful caress of the cool wind. The noise that is not the sizzle of melting flesh is not meant for me.

The world is not on fire and my mind will never escape the unrelenting desire to run back and, bury my charred corpse in the home that burnt my sanity away.

𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟽, 𝟷𝟿𝟷𝟻 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙾𝚏 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚣 𝙺𝚊𝚏𝚔𝚊, 𝟷𝟿𝟷𝟺-𝟷𝟿𝟸𝟹

40 Rabbanaa Duas

1. Rabbanaa taqabbal minnaa innaka Antas Samee'ul Aleem Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing [2:127]

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيمُ

2. Rabbanaa waj'alnaa muslimaini laka wa min zurriyyatinaaa ummatam muslimatal laka wa arinaa manaasikanaa wa tub 'alainaa innaka antat Tawwaabur Raheem Our Lord! Make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will); and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful [2:128]

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

3. Rabbanaaa aatina fid dunyaa hasanatanw wa fil aakhirati hasanatanw wa qinaa azaaban Naar Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire [2:201]

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

4. Rabbanaaa afrigh 'alainaa sabranw wa sabbit aqdaamanaa wansurnaa 'alal qawmil kaafireen Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance, make our foothold sure, and give us help against the disbelieving folk [2:250]

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْراً وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى القَوْمِ الكَافِرِينَ

5. Rabbanaa laa tu'aakhiznaaa in naseenaaa aw akhtaanaa Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error [2:286]

رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا

6. Rabbanaa wa laa tahmil-'alainaaa isran kamaa hamaltahoo 'alal-lazeena min qablinaa Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us [2:286]

رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا

7. Rabbanaa wa laa tuhammilnaa maa laa taaqata lanaa bih; wa'fu 'annaa waghfir lanaa warhamnaa; Anta mawlaanaa fansurnaa 'alal qawmil kaafireen Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith [2:286]

رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

8. Rabbanaa laa tuzigh quloobanaa ba'da iz hadaitanaa wa hab lanaa mil ladunka rahmah; innaka antal Wahhaab Our Lord! (they say), Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure [3:8]

رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ

9. Rabbana innaka jami'unnasi li-Yawmil la raiba fi innallaha la yukhliful mi'aad Our Lord! Thou art He that will gather mankind Together against a day about which there is no doubt; for Allah never fails in His promise. [3:9]

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لاَّ رَيْبَ فِيهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ

10. Rabbanaaa innanaaa aamannaa faghfir lanaa zunoobanaa wa qinaa 'azaaban Naar Our Lord! We have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire [3:16]

رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

11. Rabbanaaa aamannaa bimaaa anzalta wattaba'nar Rasoola faktubnaa ma'ash shaahideen Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger. Then write us down among those who bear witness [3:53]

رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا بِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ وَٱتَّبَعْنَا ٱلرَّسُولَ فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ

12. Rabbanagh fir lanaa zunoobanaa wa israafanaa feee amirnaa wa sabbit aqdaamanaa wansurnaa 'alal qawmil kaafireen Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything We may have done that transgressed our duty: Establish our feet firmly, and help us against those that resist Faith [3:147]

ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَِ

13. Rabbanaa maa khalaqta haaza baatilan Subhaanaka faqinaa 'azaaban Naar Our Lord! Not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire [3:191]

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

14. Rabbanaaa innaka man tudkhilin Naara faqad akhzai tahoo wa maa lizzaalimeena min ansaar

Our Lord! Any whom Thou dost admit to the Fire, Truly Thou coverest with shame, and never will wrong-doers Find any helpers! [3:192]

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ

15. Rabbanaaa innanaa sami'naa munaadiyai yunaadee lil eemaani an aaminoo bi Rabbikum fa aamannaa Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith, 'Believe ye in the Lord,' and we have believed [3:193]

رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا

16. Rabbanaa faghfir lanaa zunoobanaa wa kaffir 'annaa saiyi aatina wa tawaffanaa ma'al abraar Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous [3:193]

رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الأبْرَارِ

17. Rabbana wa 'atina ma wa'adtana 'ala rusulika wa la tukhzina yawmal-Qiyamah innaka la tukhliful mi'aad Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine apostles, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: For Thou never breakest Thy promise [3:194]

رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلاَ تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لاَ تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَاد

18. Rabbana aamana faktubna ma' ash-shahideen Our Lord! We believe; write us down among the witnesses [5:83]

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

19. Rabbana anzil 'alaina ma'idatam minas-Samai takunu lana 'idal li-awwa-lina wa aakhirna wa ayatam-minka war-zuqna wa anta Khayrul-Raziqeen O Allah our Lord! Send us from heaven a table set (with viands), that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a solemn festival and a sign from thee; and provide for our sustenance, for thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs) [5:114]

رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاء تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيداً لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

20. Rabbana zalamna anfusina wa il lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakoonanna minal khaasireen Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost [7:23]

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

21. Rabbana la taj'alna ma'al qawwmi-dhalimeen Our Lord! Send us not to the company of the wrong-doers [7:47]

رَبَّنَا لاَ تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

22. Rabbanaf-tah bainana wa baina qawmina bil haqqi wa anta Khairul Fatiheen Our Lord! Decide Thou between us and our people in truth, for Thou art the best to decide [7:89]

رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَاتِحِينَ

23. Rabbana afrigh 'alaina sabraw wa tawaffana Muslimeen Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will) [7:126]

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ

24. Rabbana la taj'alna fitnatal lil-qawmidh-Dhalimeen wa najjina bi-Rahmatika minal qawmil kafireen Our Lord! Make us not a trial for those who practise oppression; And deliver us by Thy Mercy from those who reject (Thee) [10:85-86]

رَبَّنَا لاَ تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ; وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

25. Rabbanaaa innaka ta'lamu maa nukhfee wa maa nu'lin; wa maa yakhfaa 'alal laahi min shai'in fil ardi wa laa fis samaaa' O our Lord! Truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven [14:38]

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَى عَلَى اللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ فَي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاء

26. Rabbij 'alnee muqeemas Salaati wa min zurriyyatee Rabbanaa wa taqabbal du'aaa' O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer [14:40]

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ

27. Rabbanagh fir lee wa liwaalidaiya wa lilmu'mineena Yawma yaqoomul hisaab O our Lord! Cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness - me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established! [14:41]

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

28. Rabbana 'atina mil-ladunka Rahmataw wa haiyi lana min amrina rashada Our Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way! [18:10]

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

29. Rabbana innana nakhafu ai-yafruta 'alaina aw any-yatgha Our Lord! We fear lest he hasten with insolence against us, or lest he transgress all bounds [20: 45]

رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَى

30. Rabbana amanna faghfir lana warhamna wa anta khairur Rahimiin Our Lord! We believe; then do Thou forgive us, and have mercy upon us: For Thou art the Best of those who show mercy [23: 109]

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

31. Rabbanas-rif 'anna 'adhaba jahannama inna 'adhabaha kana gharama innaha sa'at musta-qarranw wa muqama

Our Lord! Avert from us the Wrath of Hell, for its Wrath is indeed an affliction grievous,- Evil indeed is it as an abode, and as a place to rest in [25: 65-66]

رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا إِنَّهَا سَاءتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا

32. Rabbana Hablana min azwaajina wadhurriy-yatina, qurrata 'ayioni wa-jalna lil-muttaqeena Imaama O my Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous [25:74]

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

33. Rabbana la Ghafurun shakur Our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving Ready to appreciate (service) [35: 34]

رَبَّنَا لَغَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ

34. Rabbana wasi'ta kulla sha'ir Rahmatanw wa 'ilman faghfir lilladhina tabu wattaba'u sabilaka waqihim 'adhabal-Jahiim Our Lord! Thy Reach is over all things, in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive, then, those who turn in Repentance, and follow Thy Path; and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire! [40:7]

آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ

35. Rabbana wa adhkhilhum Jannati 'adninil-lati wa'attahum wa man salaha min aba'ihim wa azwajihim wa dhuriyyatihim innaka antal 'Azizul-Hakim, waqihimus saiyi'at wa man taqis-saiyi'ati yawma'idhin faqad rahimatahu wa dhalika huwal fawzul-'Adheem And grant, our Lord! that they enter the Gardens of Eternity, which Thou hast promised to them, and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their posterity! For Thou art (He), the Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom. And preserve them from (all) ills; and any whom Thou dost preserve from ills that Day,- on them wilt Thou have bestowed Mercy indeed: and that will be truly (for them) the highest Achievement [40:8-9]

رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدتَّهُم وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَمَن تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

36. Rabbana-ghfir lana wa li 'ikhwani nalladhina sabaquna bil imani wa la taj'al fi qulubina ghillal-lilladhina amanu Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed [59:10]

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

37. Rabbana innaka Ra'ufur Rahim Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful [59:10]

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ 

38. Rabbana 'alaika tawakkalna wa-ilaika anabna wa-ilaikal masir Our Lord! In Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal [60:4]

رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ

39. Rabbana la taj'alna fitnatal lilladhina kafaru waghfir lana Rabbana innaka antal 'Azizul-Hakim Our Lord! Make us not a (test and) trial for the Unbelievers, but forgive us, our Lord! for Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise [60:5]

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

40. Rabbana atmim lana nurana waighfir lana innaka 'ala kulli shai-in qadir Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for Thou hast power over all things [66:8]

رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Wolfstar in a pizza parlor where they first meet.

“One deep dish pizza.”

Remus’ head jerked up from where it had rested, face down, on his folded elbows. There was a waiter standing over him in the dim light of the restaurant. He had thick, dark hair that curled around the antlers he was wearing, and a pin on his apron that read, May your days be cheesy and bright. Remus blinked up at him.

“What?”

The boy raised an eyebrow at him, “Your pizza.” When Remus still didn’t say anything he pushed it forward a little, “It’s a deep dish pizza.”

Remus looked down at the steaming meal, then back up at the boy. The name Sirius was embroidered over the cheesy pin. Remus thought it was a bit of an odd name. Maybe it was the name of the restaurant he was in, he couldn’t quite remember. Although, it was an odd name for a pizza restaurant too.

“I…Oh. I didn’t order a pizza.”

The boy—Sirius, possibly—cleared his throat, “Yeah. But you… you looked like you might, y’know,” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, “need one.”

Remus shifted, “I look like I need a pizza?”

Sirius sighed, “You’re sitting her in a practically empty pizza place on Christmas Eve. It’s negative one degrees out and you walked in here with nothing but that sweater on and you’ve been sitting here with your head down for the past ten minutes.” Sirius shrugged, “Yeah, you need a pizza, in my opinion.”

Remus opened and closed his mouth a few times, “I…” Remus felt a flush start at his neck, “Thank you, but I can’t pay for it.” He pushed the menu away from him nervously. The top said Pizza Corner. So, Sirius was his name, “I don’t have any money—“

“Who said you had to—“

“I did.” Remus cut him off, looking back up at the boy, “I’m not taking free pizza from you.”

Sirius hesitated, hovering over the table. Remus wondered if he would shrug again and take the pizza back. Then he wondered if he would insist. He wasn’t sure which one he preferred. Then, Sirius let out a breath, took his antlers off, and slid into the booth opposite Remus. He picked up a slice of pizza, “Well, I’ll eat it then.”

Remus blinked, sitting up straighter, voice lost as Sirius started munching on the first slice. He nodded towards the pizza, “You can still have some, if you want.”

Remus looked at the pizza. Cheese was falling in strings onto the pan from the thick crust. The pepperoni looked spicy, the outer crust crunchy. His stomach growled painfully. He turned away.

Sirius produced two cans of ginger-ale from somewhere within his apron and slid on discreetly towards Remus, “What’s your name and why won’t you share my pizza?”

Remus scoffed, “You know why I won’t share your pizza.”

Sirius folded a second slice and took a bite, “But it’s sharing now!”

“Sirius—“

“Ah,” Sirius pointed his pizza at him, “You know my name, I should know yours.”

Remus pressed his lips together at his slip. He hadn’t mean to say it but…it was nice. It was a nice name, he decided. “Remus.”

“Remus.” Sirius nodded, like he was testing it out. Remus felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and goosebumps rise pleasantly. Then he pushed the tray towards him, “Remus, have a slice of pizza.”

“Jesus Christ.” Remus sighed and sat back in the booth.

Sirius just looked at him, eyes soft. Remus looked back for a moment, until he realized he’d started to admire rather than just look, and to wonder of Sirius was doing the same. He looked away.

“I don’t know what you think I’m trying to do, Remus.” Again, Remus fought the urge to shiver at Sirius’ voice, “I don’t know you, you don’t know me, I get it. But…” Sirius set his slice down on the tray and folded his arms on the table, “But, mate, I can see every notch in your spine through that sweater of yours and it isn’t the thickest thing in the world but it isn’t the thinnest either.” Sirius bit his lip, “Certainly not thick enough for weather like this.”

Remus looked down at his hands. They were red and raw from the wind. He hid them beneath his thighs and blinked hard.

“I don’t know your story,” Sirius’ voice was soft and calming, like he could sense Remus’ fight with himself, “but I recognize it. Just a little. I’ve lived it, maybe, or something like it and…” Sirius broke off, maybe regarding Remus or, maybe, maybe, admiring, “It’s just a pizza. It’s Christmas.”

Remus let out a shaky breathe, trying to calm his heart beat down. He felt frozen, and weak, and unbearably thankful. Who was he, to receive this? Slowly, without looking up, he reached forward and picked up a slice.

He heard Sirius let out a breath, “Okay. Good. Alright.”

Remus looked up as he took a bite and met Sirius’ eyes. He smiled, Instantly, Remus felt warmer. He told himself it was just the food entering his system for the first time in he wasn’t sure how long.

Sirius picked up his own slice and they ate in silence for a few minutes, Sirius cracking Remus’ ginger-ale open for him and sliding it the rest of the way across the table.

“So,” Sirius broke the silence when he reached his third slice, “Do you have a place to stay?”

Remus looked up, swallowed thickly, “Don’t push it. I’m eating your damn pizza.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, I’ve gotten this far, I damn well am gonna push it.”

Remus rolled his eyes, “Yes. I do.”

Sirius just looked at him, chewing slowly.

Remus sighed, “No. I mean.” Remus took another bite, “Yeah, no. No.”

“Well, I do.”

“Good on you.” Remus grumbled.

“So.” Sirius pressed on, “So, you do too.”

“No. What? No—“

“Why?” Sirius waved his arm and a piece of pepperoni went flying to the floor by the opposite booth. He looked at it for a second before continuing, “I live, like, five minutes away, there’s more than enough room—“

“This isn’t about room. This is—“ Remus was going to say that it was about the fact that he didn’t know Sirius, but, he found that that wasn’t what was stopping him. “This is about the fact that I, I can’t give you anything in return.”

Sirius dropped his crust onto the tray, “Did I say I was looking for payment?”

They stared at each other. Remus felt a flush creep up his neck and bit into his lip. His eyes flickered down then back to Sirius’ face, “You don’t eat the crust.”

Surprise flickered in Sirius’ eyes but his face remained strong, “No. I don’t.”

Remus kept his glare in tack, “It’s the best part.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Sirius stood, “As long as you keep in mind that it’s negative one degrees. Now,” Sirius untied his apron, and picked up his antlers, “I’m going to put these away. Then, I’m going to grab my coat, and go wait by the door. Okay?”

Remus looked stubbornly ahead of him, “You’ll be wasting your time.”

“Negative one degrees!” Sirius called over his shoulder.

And suddenly, Remus was alone again in the booth. He watched from the corner of his eyes as Sirius hung his apron up, making smalltalk with the chef. He seemed to be doing things in slow motion. He took his time folding his things, even straightening his stupid pin. Remus sat, rigid. His chest felt four times smaller than usual, filled with a strange mixture of guilt and want. This boy, Sirius, whoever he was, was warm. Remus closed his eyes. He was warm and kind. Remus had forgotten what warm and kind felt like, and now it was right in front of him. Right in front of him and about to walk out the door.

No, about to wait by the door.

Patient.

Warm, kind, and patient.

It made Remus want to cry, and smile, and let go, all at once.

Remus jumped, head whipping behind him as the bell above the door rang. He just caught a head of dark hair walking out into the darkness before the door closed and his own face was reflected back at him. He blinked at the expression on his face.

He looked terrified.

Remus turned around quickly, shrinking into the booth and breathing hard. Not so patient then. Not so kind, not so warm. God, he felt stupid. He was stupid. Pizza was one thing. Remus pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. Sirius didn’t want him to stay. Sirius didn’t know him. Remus shook his head to himself. He was stupid. He was stupid.

The bell jingled again.

“Hey, sweater-boy.”

Remus looked up, spinning in his seat. His heart clenched.

Sirius was there, in the open doorway. His nose was pink from the cold and a hat was pulled low over his head. He wore a sweatshirt, and held what looked like a thick winter coat in his arms. Remus breathed out, shaking, relieved.

Sirius jerked his head towards the outside and grinned, “Coming? Car’s warmed up.”

Remus didn’t hesitate this time. He didn’t even think to. He got up, he smiled back, and he went.

“Sometimes I think people take reality for granted.” - Francesca Zappia, Made You Up

via @the-book-diaries

the cw going bankrupt was the finale we deserved

“I learn a good deal by merely observing you, And letting you talk as long as you please, And taking note of what you do not say.” - T.S. Eliot

via @quotemadness

Squirrel looking for his NEXT NUT TO CRACK??!

The Annuls of Jimmy Novak, Volume II

By @afanofmanystuffs and @sparklingcas

Tags: Castiel x Reader, Jimmy Novak x Reader, Crack, afanofmanystuffs’ Christmas Special, technically dub-con if you squint, co-written by sparklingcas and afanofmanystuffs, highly NSFW

A/N: So, uh, I think Katie is gonna go ahead and get nagged into posting Volume I, which is something of a drabble she created on a too warm September day. As of 12-21-17, there is a plot for The Annuls of Castiel. No idea if/when it will be written and published. I kind of took off with this a few weeks ago.

I took the liberty of tagging Katie’s NSFW Everything tags. She wrote the first part of that, which is divided with ~. I wrote the rest, which has – as page dividers.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate- I hope everyone gets a laugh out of this.

~

Jimmy Novak was a devout Christian man and a good husband and father on the outside.

He went to church and work, a perfectly productive member of society. He played his part, put food on the table, and read his daughter bed time stories like any good man would.

But deep down, and behind closed doors, only he and his wife knew the truth.

Jimmy Novak was a fuckboi™.

He had a heart like ice and a cock of steel, and could get any woman in bed with a wiggle of his ears. Some might think it’s strange, but you’d have to see it to believe it.

It wasn’t until he made a woman come from pure cervical stimulation and a menacing ejaculation that he realized that things needed to change.

~

On that one night, late, after he was sure his wife was in bed and her four inch vibrator had fresh batteries, he went out. And he wooed a woman with those ears of his, wiggling them at her as if he was a squirrel looking for its next nut to crack.

Not only had this woman been seduced to the max, but from the very first touch of his steel cock against her moist flaps, she knew that her life was over.

Or, life as she knew it anyway.

Keep reading