#casip

[dork-in-a-trenchcoat]

That seemed an appropriate Valentine's card for his Mate. It was left on her kitchen table to be found at leisure with a small book of scratch off adventures; essentially a booklet of date ideas, though picking which one would always be a game of chance.

@ask-flip-frost

[dork-in-a-trenchcoat]

"Many happy returns of the day,"

💙

[dork-in-a-trenchcoat]

~The Elephant in the Room~

Ten minutes past eight in the evening, Castiel quietly clicked the door closed behind him in the Rexford hideout he’d come to know as home. His shift at the Gas N Sip had gone by rather uneventfully. No complaining customers, no robbery attempts, not even a spill to clean up. As much as he could appreciate that, it gave the ex-Angel little to focus on besides time slipping by. On the one hand, Flip was off this evening and they had decided to spend some time together. On the other hand, things had been terribly tense ever since their argument and Flip’s subsequent Mirth infusion treatments which had inevitably followed as a result of the depression episode. She had accepted the misunderstanding at face value, but still seemed reluctant to be as physically affectionate with him as she used to be. Less hand holding, less snuggling, and absolutely no random pokes or side squeezes. To be quite honest, he missed the playful nature of the way things used to be. It had made the world seem less dire and serious.

Now that was gone. It made him feel… tolerated. Much as she had felt, he supposed. It was uncomfortable. Sad. Even if things had improved in spades over the last few weeks, a lingering sense of discontent had remained. And more recently… a touch of jealousy.

Soft rustling noises from the kitchen prompted Castiel to head in that direction first, where he immediately spotted Flip digging around in her satchel bag on the counter. He cleared his throat to announce himself, though had no doubt her sharp ears had caught his presence from outside the house. She seemed to be readying herself to depart somewhere.

“I thought you were off work this evening?” Castiel frowned.

“I am. But the new recruits are killing my Gibble stock. They really aren’t used to being scared yet, so at the slightest thing that makes them tense, they’re chugging Juice like it’s as plentiful as water. I’m going to have to crack down on rationing because it’s getting ridiculous. Sometimes you just have to deal with being scared, or your tolerance will never go up.” Flip shook her head, annoyed. “I need to collect more laughter, so I’m going to sit in the rafters at Gabriel Iglesias’ comedy show in Los Angeles. That should give me enough for a hundred cauldrons or so.” she paused in packing her multiple containment chamber items to look over her shoulder. “Do you want to come with me?”

Castiel sat aside his work vest, draping it over the back of a kitchen chair. A comedy show. Some people did use that sort of outing as a date, so this was her being inclusive in something that was a work related hobby. If he hadn’t come home in time, would she have told him? He shook it from his mind and tried to be positive.

“Ah… that could be entertaining. Yes. I will go.” he agreed, swallowing before following up. “Do I have time to shower? Or did you have any other stops to make tonight?”

“Sure, grab a shower. The announcements and warm up comedian will take up the first part of the show anyway.” Flip sat back on her haunches, thinking. “I don’t think I had anywhere else to go tonight. Did I forget we’d planned something else?”

“No,” he assured her. “No, you didn’t forget. Just… wondering if you were seeing Markie tonight or meeting Ace or Dove for games… or tormenting teenagers with Dee. Coffee with Jilomena… something…” Cas trailed off, absently rubbing his arm.

Now Flip put her full attention on him. She closed her bag and perched at the edge of the counter, head tilted softly to one side. She could see a faint twinkle of a particular shade of green in his Heart Signature: jealousy. It didn’t seem to her that he had anything to be jealous of, but in the spirit of better communication, she decided to ask him to speak plainly.

“Is that really what you want to ask me?” Flip pressed.

Castiel shrugged.

“That’s not a good answer.” Flip tick-tocked her wings, waiting.

After a moment of internal debate, Cas sat down and tapped the kitchen table, indicating that he would appreciate it if Flip would come sit with him. He waited until the tiny woman had fluttered over and settled cross-legged in front of him. His Heart thumped wildly in his chest, panic rising when he realized that he would need to explain things while simultaneously making sure he was thoughtful enough of feelings and clear enough so as not to be misunderstood. He was not jealous of her spending time with other people. He was jealous that she was unsatisfied and seeking out other ways to fill a need. He didn’t need to be her sole source of Mirth by any means, but… well, he wasn’t really included at all anymore.

“The first time I tried eating food, out of a curiosity, I did not enjoy it. All I could taste were molecules.” he explained.

“I know.” Flip squinted.

“Let me finish.” Cas requested, holding up a hand. “I didn’t understand how people could take joy in it because I was experiencing it out of context, in a manner of speaking. When my Vessel was affected by Famine, I was able to taste a cheeseburger for the first time. It made me… very happy. Sadly, the effect did not last. Without your flavor serum, I was unable to taste things as an Angel. I couldn’t do it. Now, in this Human form, I am able to taste effortlessly. If I am ever able to regain my Angelic status, I would hope that you would continue to brew serums for me because I would enjoy being able to have flavor as a part of my life.”

Well, that was obvious, Flip thought. She felt distinctly that he was going to use this story as a lead into something else. Though impatient by nature, she bottled the impulse to ask her Mate to get to the point. So she simply gave a slow nod, unsure if she was not supposed to verbalize anything until he was finished.

“My time in Vessels as compared to time in my natural form is minuscule at best. As such, my exposure to things unrelated to missions is next to none. The concept of play was something I had observed in Humanity, but never experienced first hand. My relationship to my brethren and my relationship with the Winchesters is different. Though there is humor, and the rare embrace from time to time, it mostly confused me. In the context of our friendship, and then mateship, I began to understand that you use it as a form of affection. I enjoy affection.” Castiel waited a few seconds to let that sink in. “Due to our argument, our misunderstanding one another, I have seen a marked decrease in your affections, playful and otherwise. I know that is because I was unclear initially that I was not bothered. I made you feel rejected, and that is something I struggle daily to forgive myself for.” 

Castiel licked his chapped lips, thinking of how best to continue. He didn’t want to guilt her into anything, but it was important to address some concerns if ever he hoped that they could become easier to handle in time. He let his hands drift under the table to squeeze his own knees as a means of self comfort. This was hard.

“Lately I have become more aware of the fact that I am not satisfying a need for you. Around me, you are starved of Mirth. So you leave. Before… you were living naturally, taking in Mirth from everyone around you in various daily ways, which has always been fine… but I was a part of it. And now I am not.” 

A realization dawned on Flip’s face. All this time, she thought she’d been doing him a kindness by exclusion. But he actually felt left out.

“I miss you pretending there is no room on the couch to sit, so you must sit sprawled over me. I miss that you would tell me I would have to fight you for the last mango, and then proceed to fight me anyway even if I told you that you could have it. I miss you putting bubbles on my face if we washed dishes together.” he counted off on his fingers, making sure he held eye contact as much as possible, as embarrassing as it was to explain all of this. “I miss having intimacy interrupted because you get distracted blowing raspberries into my neck, or flying up my shirt to look for an ‘off button’ to my grumpy mood. Your glee at seeing how I came undone in those moments was infectious. I miss all of it. Everything has been so intensely serious that I’ve only been able to focus on events that are triggering self doubt and depression. With you, I have had safety and vulnerability linked hand in hand. Whether it’s silly or calming. I understand that biologically it is a need for you. What I would like you to understand is that to an extent it is a need for me also.” Cas rubbed the back of his neck. “Um. Now I am finished.”

Flip let out a whoosh of air and scratched her head. That was not where she had been expecting the conversation to go.

“Okay.” she said simply.

“Okay?”

“Okay. I think we’re on the same page now.” Flip reached out to give his index finger a squeeze.

Castiel broke into a relieved half smile and tipped his hand to the side to cuddle the Fairy into.

“I am glad to know that. Um. I will… go shower. I would still like to go with you tonight.” he breathed, leaning down to kiss her head. 

“It’s a date.” Flip confirmed, waving him off.

[ask-flip-frost]

Nobody: What’s that noise?

Flip: Castiel’s new ringtone on my teller-phone.

[ask-flip-frost]

Jil had worked through the night tirelessly, keeping a wary ear out for any signs of stirring from the bedroom where hopefully her friends were sound asleep. When they entered the kitchen the next morning, they’d be in for a shock. Every cupboard, every drawer, and every door including the fridge had a glitter bomb placed behind it, set to shower the unsuspecting in glitter. And what’s more, Jilly had managed to locate willy-shaped glitter on the internet...

No wonder Jilomena had been able to prowl about as she pleased. The house was empty. Not for long, though. Castiel had been somewhat left out of the latest mission, as the Winchesters were called away on a minor emergency whilst he’d been out gathering items for a spell. As his presence was not vital, he’d left the parcel in the safe warding of the bunker and left.

Though the hideout was currently empty, he knew that Flip would be arriving soon. It was customary to surprise one’s mate with a bottle of wine, he’d been told, so he’d purchased one on the way. The Angel opened the refrigerator to chill it, and-

POOF

He blinked through the shower of glitter just as Flip Portal-ed into the kitchen to greet him. 

“What, ah… what kinda party have you been having in here, ah?” Flip asked with a snort. 

Castiel frowned in thought.

“There are penises everywhere. I suspect Jilomena’s involvement.” he replied.

Flip meant to agree, of course, but all she could do was fold up on herself in hysterical laughter. What a Very True statement.

“Ahhh, don’t worry. She’ll get her comeuppance. I left a life size cutout of Danny DeVito in his underpants in her shower and Nonsense Twinkles in her bed. Everything she says will come out as gibberish for the day. AND changed her ringtones to play someone screaming PUT ICE IN MY TEA!!!”

[ask-flip-frost]

Forelsket - Casip

Forelsket: The euphoria experienced as you begin to fall in love

—–

((Lady. You know what happened. You’re the only one who read that story X’D Uh. Right. Lemme get some fresh soon-after story going))

“Your hands are cold.”

Flip glanced away from the copy of The Man in the Iron Mask floating a few inches above her face. She hadn’t realized that Castiel had woken up. For the last several hours he’d been in a fitful doze, leaning against her on the large sofa in the Rexford hideout. Being out and about in poor weather had pushed his relatively new Human immune system far too hard. He had a terrible flu. She’d given thought to calling one of the Healer Sprites, but decided that it was probably more beneficial for the man to ride it out and build up a resistance to the illness. Who knew if he’d ever get his Grace back…

One of her hands had been resting on atop his head while he’d snored softly into her shoulder. He was right, of course. Flip’s body temperature was well below what a Human resting temp would be, though she often raised her heat levels when sizing up into a Big Person disguise. Today, though, after waiting for him to sleep, she’d let it fall once more to a natural state in hopes of reducing his fever.

“Sorry. You’re still pretty over-warm, ne?” Flip re-raised her body temperature, if only a bit. “Probably about time you took a fever reducer.”

Castiel curled hard into the throw blanket when Flip slid off of the sofa and waved her book off to drift onto a side table. She fished in the grocery bag of meds she’d picked up from the drugstore in town, but none of them seemed to be perfect for his symptoms. She supposed she would just have to mix an amount of Fae potions into his doses for the best effect without over-taxing his organs.

“Drink this.” she pressed a highball glass of fizzing blue fluid to his cheek until Castiel begrudgingly sat up to take it. “It tastes like cherries and moss, but it’ll help. Sheesh. Barely been dating a month, and here you are trying to slough off your mortal coil already. I see how it is, hmhm…”

True to a fault, Castiel scrunched his nose, but downed the potion despite the peculiar flavor. He sat the glass down on the floor, closed his dulled eyes, and held open the blanket for Flip to crawl back in. He was relieved to find that she was once again pleasantly warm, so unconsciously he wrapped their ankles together to prevent her leaving. Some muffled Enochain was mumbled into her side.

“Enunciate, Cas, you’re killing me.” Flip scoffed.

“I don’t want to leave the mortal coil. I am… saddened when you self-deprecate in jokes so often.” he yawned, earning a complicated expression from the Fairy. “You are a balm for stresses. You are empathy and strength. Even in a state as this, I would still claim to know better than most how to recognize… that you are a miracle.”

Flip swallowed, floundering for a response. Thankfully, she was spared having to come up with anything as Cas was nearly immediately back to snoring. Love was a purely befuddling thing. She supposed that she was lucky to feel so thoroughly disarmed. With a shake of her head, and a kiss to his temple, Flip went back to her book, knowing full well she’d be distracted for all the time she spent on that sofa.

[ask-flip-frost]

Hygge - Fab Four

Hygge: The act of relaxing with loved ones and good friends, usually while enjoying food and drink; the word is associated with coziness

——–

How rare it was that both couples could enjoy a night together now. No drama from Angelic wars, no Nightmare barrier renewals, no proper responsibility aside from the efforts it took to set up a modest meal. The night air was crisp and cold if anyone moved back away from the bonfire. Thankfully, there was little reason to.

Jilomena used a long stick to rotate the cooking crane enough that the cauldron of mulled wine could be ladled out into the enamel camping mugs they’d tucked away into a picnic basket. She then cuddled back into the hammock she shared with Metatron, tucked comfortably into his left wing. Being Human, she was feeling the effects of her fourth cup far more than the two Angels or the Fairy in her company, but as long as her significant other kept her staggering over into the fire like a Salem fire log, she would be fine.

“Are you warm enough in that wingpit, Jilly bean?” Flip teased.

“Yes. Yes I am. What of it?” Jil huffed, wiggling deeper into the swath of white feathers. “I notice your mate won’t let you anywhere near his.”

Flip sighed and put one lavender wrist to her forehead in an exaggerated swoon from her perch on a low-hanging branch.

“I know. He doesn’t love me enough.” she warbled. “Here it is, dead of winter, eight million feet of snow on the ground…”

“Ahem,” Castiel interjected quietly, returning from the wood pile to toss more fuel on the fire. “One: you prefer the cold. Two: it has barely begun to snow. And three-” he squinted an accusing glare in her direction. “You lick if you’re close enough to the joint. Every time.”

“Pshh… how would you know? You weren’t there, ne~” Flip scoffed.

“I wasn’t th…? It happened to me. Of course I was there.” Cas replied pointedly.

Jilomena grinned into the Metatron’s chest, fully amused by the nonsense. Her mate rolled his eyes affectionately and curled his wing tighter around her. The banter between his brother and his mate’s best friend always tended towards the bizarre.

“I mean it sounds like something I would do, but-”

“Flippitin, did you lick me in my ‘wingpit’? Repeatedly?”

Bound by Sprite folklore, of course, Flip had to answer truthfully when asked a direct question with no room for avoidance. With a trilling Fae noise of disapproval, she nodded. Cas gave her a cool, appraising expression.

“Well, ‘course I did. You’re a cure wiggler. I like the way it makes your Grace spark up. Fireworks. It’s pretty, ah?”

Everyone laughed richly at the gaping, pinked expression on Castiel’s face. He cleared his throat and stuffed the Fairy into the pocket of his trenchcoat with her thimble of wine. On the one hand, she was well out of place to be a nuisance there. On the other hand, she was close enough that they would technically be sitting together now.

[dork-in-a-trenchcoat]

Send ◊ for a headcanon of the mun’s choice

Castiel also plays Sims, Jil, though he does it because he gets lonely waiting for people to be done sleeping.

He plays the updated mobile game. Pretty graphics, but quite boring at times. He doesn’t seem to mind.