Oftennix

21 | She/Her | Art ‘n Stuff | https://linktr.ee/Oftennix

[foreverdrunkatheart]

I love fics where Mel and Frank are friends that are actually dating and Mel doesn’t know it. The ones where he is like “I asked her out, we hang all the time, I’m taking it at her pace, we share a bed more than not, I love my girlfriend Mel. I want her to know how love and cherished she is so I will show her through my actions rather than creep her out with words.”

And she’s like “Frank is my best friend, we get platonic dinners after work and hang all the time, after I gave him a hug that one time I found out he gives the best hugs and he hugs me all the time, we platonically snuggle at night, I love my best friend Frank, gee I wish he’d see me romantically though because I would love to fuck him non-platonically”

Love love love it!

(For me it started with @avocado-moon s two-player (loooove it) but I’ve seen different variations and I eat every single one of them up every time!!!!)

However it’s always Frank thinking he’s dating Mel and her being oblivious. And I neeeed the reverse

I need Mel seeing Frank fresh out of rehab and divorce and thinking “I better let him set the pace, like a good girlfriend who respects her man’s feelings and supports him through the hard times” while he thinks “wow what a great friend Mel is, hope I don’t fuck up this friendship by letting her know I’m in love with her!”

Frank confessing he’s lonely w/o the kids and Mel stepping in and letting him have a family with her and becca while Abby has the kids.

Frank invites Mel over when he feels weak and might relapse and they end up sharing a bed and he whispers confessions abt how he thinks he might not be ready for a relationship with anyone, and if he was “I don’t think anyone would be patient enough to be with me.” He means this in a “I’m a bad partner, ask my ex wife, I have baggage and issues up the wazoo and I make a lot of mistakes” she takes this as a “I want to take it slow”

He goes on to confess how he’s ashamed he’s letting her see him like this. But she is the only one he’d wanted to call. And she shushes him and says she’s there for him and Frank is like “wow Mel is the best friend I could have ever asked for. I better not scare her off with my romantic feelings” and Mel is like “wow he wants to take it slow WITH ME.”

And she takes him literally and decides to be the most patient girlfriend Frank’s ever had and the next morning they go out to breakfast and she takes his hand and invites him to dinner after shift and he says yes and she’s so happy!

They hold hands, they have dinners, they watch tv, spend time with the kids and with becca, Abby and Mel even exchange numbers and Abby sends her a text telling her how happy she is that Frank met her.

Months go by and Mel is the most patient girlfriend ever. Letting Frank take the lead in all things physical and relationshippy. She’s a little relieved at first because he has more experience than her with relationships anyway. Her only real relationship was in highschool and they were less physical than her and Frank are now so it seems on par with the course.

Frank meanwhile is just so happy to have a best friend that he’s terrified she’ll find out he’s deeply in love with her and decide she needs to give him space to get over her because it would break him. He gaslights himself to construe all late night conversations whispered while spooning in bed together, all dinners and movies and family outings with his kids and becca to different museums and activities as platonic.

He panics every time someone assumes they are a couple but doesn’t correct them because 1 he wants it so bad, 2) it would bring attention to the fact that they aren’t in a way that might spill the beans on how much he wishes they were and 3) Mel doesn’t correct anyone either, just smiles like it’s a compliment. But that is just standard Mel with everything he fears.

The one time he’d reacted awkwardly and denied it was a comment it was at work and Mel had assumed he wanted to avoid even more hr red tape and he’d mumbled something about not being a fan of labels and she’d accepted that and explained to becca that she shouldn’t call Frank her sisters boyfriend because he was going through a hard time and they needed to be patient with him.

Frank gets a clue abt 6 months into the relationship when he drives becca to the centre without Mel and becca, not the most patient person, asks when Frank will propose, or if he will move in with Mel first? And when they do get married will Frank and Mel move into Mel or Frank’s place or will they buy a house, because Mel’s lease is up in 3 months and Becca worries about change more than Mel does and is already preparing but Mel has no answers yet so maybe Frank knows.

And frank stops the car and stares at her because what?

“You and Mel have been dating since October. It’s April now and I know Mel said you wanted to take things slow but I know you and Abby met just one year before Tanner was born so I figured if it took you three months to decide to have a child, propose and move in with Abby. then twice the time for a third of the things is slow enough.”

That’s as far as I got, now I need someone more talented than me to write Mel dating an oblivious Frank, or link me to a fic I’ve missed that already does it! 🥺🥺🥺

[foreverdrunkatheart]

Forgot to tell y’all that I did it. I wrote the fic. :)

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

And @oftennix did amazing artwork for it 🥰🥰🥰

[oftennix]

It was an honor ☺️

[destielaureversebb]

“Indie Darlings” 

Author: @bleuzombie Artist: @oftennix

Rating: Explicit Archive warnings: None Length: 23,715 words Tags:  Fake/Pretend Relationship, Coming Out, Hollywood AU, There Was Only One Bed, Happy Ending Relationships: Dean/Castiel, Garth/Benny, Eileen/Sam

Summary:  Dean Winchester has aspirations beyond horror movies. Castiel Novak is tired of acting his heart out to empty theaters. An upcoming independent film gives them both the chance to get noticed. Throw in a plan to fuel rumors of an onset romance and the two young actors are sure to be A listers in no time. What could possibly go wrong?

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[oftennix]

Art masterpost for the @destielaureversebb

Indie Darlings

Rating: Explicit

Archive warnings: None

Length:  23,715 words

Tags:  Fake Dating, Hollywood AU, 1990s, angst

For a while now I’ve wanted to retire from making supernatural art, but it’s what I originally grew with so finding stability doing something else was really difficult. I decided I needed to go out with a bang and thankfully I was given that opportunity when I was asked to join the DCAURB one last time. I’m so grateful for my author Bleu for bringing my idea to life and for elevating it tenfold to be something so meaningful.

Maybe in the future I’ll return to the series, but I’m closing that chapter for now and I’m so proud that this is how. Go check our fic out here and leave a comment and some kudos for my lovely, lovely author 🙏

❤️

[oftennix]

Let’s be more than this.

[oftennix]

I just think Langdon wants to impress Mel soooooo bad but also…. He really just loves when she shows how smart she is y’know…

[oftennix]

Dr. Smile and Dr. Chin :)

Kingdon girlies come get your juice

[destielaureversebb]

Coming soon for the @destielaureversebb: “Indie Darlings” 

Author: @bleuzombie Artist: @Oftennix

Rating: Explicit Archive warnings: None Length:  10,000 words Tags:  Fake Dating, Hollywood AU, 1990s, angst Relationships: Dean/Castiel, Jody/Donna, Sam/Eileen, Garth/Benny

Summary:  Dean Winchester has aspersions beyond horror movies. Castiel Novak is tired of acting his heart out to empty theaters. An upcoming independent film gives them both the chance to get noticed. Throw in a plan to fuel rumors of an onset romance and the two young actors are sure to be A listers in no time. What could possible go wrong? 

Excerpt: 

He moves closer to Cas, pushing his thigh under Cas’s bent knee. He’s cheating to the camera as he reaches out and hooks a finger around the silver chain at his neck. Castiel’s pupils are blown wide as he looks at Dean, licking his lips, an action Dean mirrors. Castiel shifts his leg and half sits in Dean's lap, moving his face closer to Dean. 

The world disappears as Cas advances. Surely the photographer and crew are still there, flashes are still flooding the set with even more light but for Dean, all he can see, all he can sense, is Castiel. He moves forward, brushing their noses together, lips hungry and parted. His hand is resting on the firm planes of Castiel’s stomach as their mouths prepare to meet. 

“Now turn out and look at me!” The photographer, Mark, breaks the spell with his direction. Castiel obeys immediately and Dean follows suit. He can feel his chest heaving, his skin warm, and the solid weight of Castiel on his lap. 

“Perfect!” Mark yells. “Love the energy. Have fun with it.” 

Dean doesn’t need to be told twice. He shifts, pushing Castiel back on his elbows and looms over him. He wants to bridge that gap, just kiss Cas, consequences be damned. But Castiel hooks his legs around Dean and flips them, sending the carefully placed tea set on the floor with a crash and both of them into a fit of giggles. Castiel hangs his head, smile wide as he laughs and Dean doesn’t think he’s ever seen anything so beautiful. He runs his hand down Cas’s back and lets himself believe, just for a moment, that this could be real.

Posting date: April 15, 2026

[oftennix]

Single images under the cut!

[deancasbigbang]

Bad Habits

Author: Dmarie

Artist: Oftennix

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: Dean Winchester/Castiel Novak, Dean Winchester/Benny Lafitte, Castiel Novak/Inias, Dean Winchester/others, Castiel Novak/others

Length: 40080

Warnings: Alcohol use/abuse, drug use/abuse, using drugs/alcohol as a coping mechanism, mentions of past suicidal ideations

Tags: AU - musicians; angst; angst with a happy ending; fluff; explicit sexual content; implied sexual content; mutual pining; friends to enemies to lovers

Summary: Bandmates and long time friends, Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak have been writing, recording and performing music for most of their lives. Both secretly pining over the other, their friendship - and their band - is corrupted by sex, drugs and alcohol.

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[oftennix]

Bad Habits

Art masterpost for the @deancasbigbang

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented author for this year’s DeanCas Big Bang! I hope I did her vision justice. Go check it out here and leave some much deserved kudos!

[oftennix]

“Serampulous!”

Cringetober 2K25, Day 3: Chibi Art

First Life Series fan art, kind of nervous! I do plan on doing the other members as plushies too, (and maybe even sewing them).

More traffic art in the future :)

[oftennix]

“What’s wrong with my pants??”

Cringetober 2K25, Day 2: Weird Colors

[oftennix]

“I am as human as anyone.”

Cringetober 2K25, Day 1: Overpowered

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Bad Habits

Author: Dmarie

Artist: Oftennix

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: Dean Winchester/Castiel Novak, Dean Winchester/Benny Lafitte, Castiel Novak/Inias, Dean Winchester/others, Castiel Novak/others

Length: 37000

Warnings: Alcohol and drug use/abuse; using drugs/alcohol as coping mechanisms; mentions of past suicidal ideations

Tags: AU-musicians Dean and Castiel; alcohol/drug use/abuse; mutual pining; explicit sexual content; implied sexual content; slow burn

Posting Date: November 18, 2025

Summary: Bandmates and long time friends, Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak have been writing, recording and performing music for most of their lives. Both secretly pining over the other, their friendship - and their band - is corrupted by sex, drugs and alcohol.

Excerpt: As Castiel is about to take a sip of his own drink, he looks over at her and catches a slight twinkle in her eye. A twinkle that invites the old familiar face again and kicks his heartrate up a notch. It had to be this woman that approached him tonight, of all people. It had to be the one possible person that would remind him of his struggles. He knows he probably shouldn’t indulge in her antics, but the continuing conflict with Dean - Castiel’s musical partner, longtime friend, and unrequited love of his life - is really starting to get under his skin. As much as he gets along with Dean, the proximity often wears Castiel out, exhausting himself trying to hide his true feelings from his friend. Before he can talk himself out of it, he’s finishing his drink and addressing the woman with an outstretched hand. \*\*\* ...all Dean can do is wait. Wait for Cas to get back. But then what? Congratulate him on a night out with some hot date? Brag about the threesome he indulged himself in last night? How many more nights does he have to watch Castiel walk out on him when all he wants is for him to stay? Of course, Dean can’t just tell Castiel how he feels. They’ve been friends for years, playing music together just about every day since they met. They spend nearly every day together, except when they visit their respective families. It would be too awkward, telling his best friend that he wants more from him. But everyone knows relationships just don’t work between musicians - “bad for the band” or whatever.

DCBB 2025 Posting Schedule

[icryink]

WELCOME TO CRINGETOBER 2025 !!!

as per usual the list is here one month in advance! no rush to get to all the prompts, feel free to skip around or be slow, no hard rules except to have fun! and your regular disclaimer, none of these prompts are really “cringe” they’re just things commonly considered “cringey” by popular culture

I go into more depth on the prompts here, so go ahead and check it out! Feel free to send asks my way with any remaining questions :)

Also, check out Cringetober merch here! And find me on Patreon, Ko-Fi, or Buy Me a Coffee to support!

I’m super proud of the list this year! I hope you all enjoy :) I’m looking forward to October to see everyone’s awesome art!!

[oftennix]

I’m on Art Fight this year!!

Let’s attack each other!! You can find me here! My goal is 15 attacks, but I hope to exceed it!

[oftennix]

The Noble Heart

Art masterpost for the @deancasreversebang

I had the amazing opportunity to work with some very talented authors for this year’s annual DeanCas Reverse Bang. I loved working with my author for this piece to make such a beautiful story. Go check it out here and leave some much deserved kudos!