#and a hint of dadstiel

[thevioletcaptain]

🌵🤠🙄

Crouched down behind the bar at the back of the room, Dean pushes bottles around until he finds the little box of cactus-shaped cocktail sticks left over from Jack’s “Green Stuff” themed birthday party (Dean’s given up on questioning the kid’s requests) and holds them up triumphantly.

“Got ‘em!”

Sam peers around the back of his recliner and narrows his eyes as Dean makes his way back to the couch and plonks back into his seat, shaking a few out into his hand and sticking them into several cubes of cheese and deli meats on the platter he’d set up earlier.

“What are those, pickles?”

“They’re cactuses, man. They’re thematically relevant to the movie. Y’know, cowboys, deserts, cactuses.”

“Oh my god, I told you we are not watching it again,” Sam groans.

“Well, it’s what’s playing in the Deanplex tonight, and there’s only one screen, so—”

“The Deanplex? Really?”

“You kept whining about me calling it the Dean Cave,” Dean reminds him. “Reap what you sow.”

“Dean. I’m serious. No more Tombstone.”

“It’s a classic!”

“So is Citizen Kane, but we don’t need to watch it six times a year!”

Dean makes a face. Slaps Sam’s hand away when he tries to take one of the cubes of colby jack before he’s had a chance to stick a cactus in it.

“Okay, one? Citizen Kane is boring as fuck and you know it.”

“Not the point,” Sam huffs.

“And B? What are you talking about, six times? Who’s watched it six times?”

Sam stares, then raises his hand to count them off on his fingers.

“We watched it on your birthday,” he starts, raising his index finger.

Dean rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, ‘cause it’s one of my favorite movies. Choosing the movie is a time-honored birthday tradition.”

“So then why did we have to watch it on my birthday?”

“Hey, that’s on you, man. Not my fault you struck out on your date and came home when me and Cas had already hit play.”

“I didn’t strike out, Eileen had to—”

“And anyway, that’s only two times, so—”

Sam raises his second and third finger and cuts him off.

“We watched it again on Valentine’s Day.”

“Again, when you were supposed to be out! I don’t see why I have to suffer just because you can’t seem to manage to get a date with Eileen to continue past 7pm.”

Sam ignores the dig and lifts his fourth finger.

“We watched it on Jack’s birthday.”

“His choice, and as we’ve established: it’s birthday tradition,” Dean reminds him, and shrugs. “Kid inherited my good taste genes, I guess.”

“That’s not — that doesn’t make sense on literally any level.”

“Says you.”

“You’re not even his father!”

“How dare you say that about my son,” Dean says in exaggerated horror, and Sam grits his teeth, visibly making the decision not to push that particular argument, even as Dean can tell how infuriated he is.

He lifts his thumb.

“And then we watched it again two weeks ago, and— fine, yeah, that one I’ll give you, ‘cause it was like. The anniversary of that time we had the hunt in Tombstone when Cas just came back from the dead, so. Fine. But dude. Two weeks ago. It’s only July and we’ve already watched it five times this year. We are not watching it for a sixth.”

“It’s National Day of the Cowboy, Sam! How are we not gonna watch the best cowboy movie of all time on the Day of the Cowboy?”

“You’re still arguing about this?”

Cas’ voice floats over from the doorway, and Dean looks over to see him wearing the denim Western shirt Dean bought him for the occasion. The pearl snaps glint, silvery in the light from the TV screen where Tombstone is loaded and ready to play.

“Yeah, ‘cause Sam’s being unreasonable.”

“I’m not—”

“You realize I left to drop Jack off with his friends almost an hour ago,” Cas points out.

“Remind me again what he’s doing with his friends,” Dean says, and looks at Sam to see his reaction when Cas answers.

“They’re celebrating National Day of the Cowboy by watching the Dollars trilogy in Eliot’s backyard.”

“Sounds like Jack and his friends are getting into the sprit of the holiday,” Dean says pointedly.

“It’s not a holiday!”

“They’ve set up a projector to show the films on the side of the barn,” Cas goes on.

“Okay, so hey— a compromise,” Sam offers. “Why don’t we just watch the Dollars trilogy?”

“…oh, did you think we were only watching Tombstone tonight?” Dean asks, bemused. “Dude, that’s just the appetizer. We’ve got a whole damn buffet to get through.”

“I hate you so much,” Sam tells him, but he’s already given up. He snatches up several pieces of cheese and slouches back in his chair. “Start the damn movie.”

“Hey, man,” Dean says, and settles into the couch, spreading his arm for Cas to settle against before he kicks his cowboy-booted heels up onto the edge of the coffee table and hits play. “You’re the one who keeps crashing date night.”

[written for this prompt game] [find me on ao3 as imogenbynight 💚]

[spnangelsanddemons-rb]

The end is almost nigh!

Hey SPN artists and writers, time to sign up for the SPN Angels & Demons Reverse Bang is running out fast! Artists are already starting to submit their work for claims, but you still have until December 29 to register and join in (authors can join until December 30th).

This is an all-ship/pro-ship event and we're expecting a great variety of characters and ships featuring many the angels & demons of Supernatural. Be sure to read the rules and if you're interested, you can sign up here.

[cornflowershade]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Supernatural Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Castiel & Jack Kline, Jack Kline & Dean Winchester, Castiel/Dean Winchester, Jack Kline & Sam Winchester, Castiel & Dean Winchester Characters: Jack Kline, Dean Winchester, Castiel, Sam Winchester, Marvelous Marvin the Talking Teddy - Character Additional Tags: Team Free Will (Supernatural), Team Free Will 2.0 (Supernatural), Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Teddy Bear Doctors (Supernatural), Episode: s15e15 Gimme Shelter, Episode: s14e18 Absence, Dead Mary Winchester, Fluff and Angst, Domestic Fluff, Domestic Dean Winchester, dadstiel, Post-Episode: s15e13 Destiny's Child, Destiny's Child coda, Canon Compliant Summary:

In the emotional turmoil caused by his restored soul, Jack fears that nothing he breaks can be fixed.

[hawkland]

(Mostly) Destiel Fic Recs #5

This is a LONG recs post because it’s been a while since I did an update and I fell hard into reading one author’s work (DeanRH). In fact I could easily do a rec post just of their fics alone, but for this round I’m just going to pick out a handful of my absolute favorites so far, the ones I’d recommend to start out with, along with more other authors’ works I’ve especially enjoyed lately.

Absolution at the Five-and-Dime by DeanRH (125k)  - this is perhaps THEE DeanRH fic to start with if you want a good, long read with a little bit of everything (Roadtrips! Intriguing casefic! Americana! Tasty Dean/Cas pining! Wing!kink and unique angel lore! Kinky soul fisting and tentacles!) It’s kind of two of parallel stories in one: the first, a flashback to Dean and Sam's first year hunting on their own (as well as trying to avoid hunting, and John in general); the second on how Dean and Cas finally get together during an unusual case and when Dean is able to really let go of his past trauma and accept himself/accept love from Cas. 

What I love about DeanRH’s work is that they write from the unique point of view of a drifter, so they understand living on the road, traveling place to place, and the highs and lows of that life like no others I’ve encountered in SPN before. (The author’s notes are often as much fun to read as the stories themselves). They also write a kickass angel!Cas and never lose sight of his non-human traits and background. Their writing style is unique - almost poetic in nature, and I know some readers have found it difficult to get into. But it works really well for me in their SPN fic...gives it the flavor of oral story telling as might actually happen at a drifter’s camp (with one story written exactly as such). Be warned this particular fic does play up the idea of John Winchester being mentally abusive and Dean having to turn tricks when he was younger in order to support him and Sam, so there is some dark stuff. But as someone who grew up with mentally abusive parent, reading this was extremely cathartic to me and believably written (unlike some stories that go too over the top with abusive John, or just don't understand how that kind of abuse leaves lifetime psychological scars.)

The rest of this round’s recs below the cut.

Carnevale by DeanRH (18k) - Actually the first fic by this author I read, because I just couldn’t resist a story set in my favorite place in the world, Venice, Italy. Castiel is the Angel of Venice, banished there for so long he does not even know or remember the reasons why. But Carnevale season is the one time a year he can let his wings out - figuratively and literally. And during this particular Carnevale season, he meets an intriguing masked young American tourist there with his brother and their one night stand turns into something far more powerful than either expected. This one’s hot, romantic, and achingly sad at the end as it all ties together unexpectedly with canon-verse...though with a hint for the future so it’s definitely not totally sad. I loved how DeanRH clearly understands Venice as a fellow lover of the city, the side of it most tourists never see unless they spend a long time there. This story made me cry just from wanting to be back in Venice again.

Ice cream was sweeter, food more satisfying, everything was an epicurean delight. There was just something magical about Venice, and he had lived here in the city for hundreds of years, so the shine should have worn off by now.

But it didn't, and there was always something more, something wonderful to discover around the next corner. The painted eaves of a church. The beauty of two women dancing with flowers in their teeth across the Piazza San Marco one day, overcome by the sheer joy of just being there. The way the university students still created Venetian masks, like Castiel's extravagant volto mask and Dean's humble servetta muta, with crafts that had been handed down across the generations. The morning silence that lay against the stones.

Hard Landing by DeanRH (26.9k) - A bit similar in theme to Carnevale. A pre-series Dean and Sam are sight-seeing in Spain when an angel, struck by a babel-spell, crash lands right in front of Dean. A strange yet seriously hot encounter with the angel turns into something much more complicated when the brothers return home and realize something more serious is afoot and they are both trapped in the middle of it. This is another story where things are very much not as they seem at first (as fun as that is!) It features master strategist Cas at his best, with a side helping of delightful trickery care of Gabriel and Balthazar as they deal with Lucifer, Michael...and a few others along the way.

The Sacred Band of Thebes by DeanRH (14.5k) - The last DeanRH fic I’m gonna allow myself to include in this round up, because it’s just very soft and sweet and beautiful - for a story about Dean & Cas being magically transported back in time to ancient Sparta! This is another story infused with a great knowledge of place and history, with some wonderfully delightful original characters added in that make it all the more enjoyable to read.

And now on to some other authors, I promise!

IPAMIS OL OLPRIT by emmbrancsxx0 (56k). A really wonderful fic that take a different look at what might have happened with a temporarily resurrected John Winchester during Season 14. Dean & Cas are in an established relationship here, and John here isn’t too happy about it — though mostly because he sees Cas (and Jack) as monsters, the kind of monsters he spent his lifetime hunting. This is a great fic for the emotional complexity of how John, Dean and Cas are all handled. John isn’t a cardboard evil dad, Dean is struggling between his loyalty to his father and to Cas, and Cas is increasingly bitchy/frustrated at Dean still being so desperate for his father’s approval (and all the more complex for not just being a quietly suffering perfect supporting boyfriend.) There’s some great action sequences in this too along with the emotional angst and a delicious dose of hurt!Cas if that’s your thing (as it is for me :D)

Abrenuntio by Neonbat (51k). A very dark but compelling AU take on the/a apocalypse universe. Dean, Sam and John are all alive in this post-angel war-apocalyptic world. They are part of a group of human survivors fighting against the angel army when they manage to capture “Blue” — a particularly feared angel of death. Dean is tasked with bringing Blue in for interrogation and he becomes a prisoner in their camp after John is killed. As mentioned, this is a pretty dark/sad fic (with some rather gruesome torture scenes) but I still found it quite compelling as a look at how things could have gone in some other parallel universe. And somehow the author manages to make the Dean/Cas relationship come together despite them starting out as complete enemies. This is one of those AUs that works for me because the core of the characters really shine through despite the differences in the setting.

if it all fell to pieces tomorrow by spocklee (37k) - a gorgeous post-Empty rescue fic that takes an approach I haven’t really seen explored in detail before (despite being something I’ve actually thought about as something that could’ve happened.) What if Cas has spent so long denying himself happiness, and then trapped in regrets and false-rescue scenarios created by the Empty, that he can’t trust that his rescue is real? And so he runs off to be on his own - literally stealing the Impala because he can’t handle being in Dean’s presence one moment longer - and only slowly comes to terms with the idea that it’s over now and he can be happy with/around his friends and family. This one’s both deliciously angsty and at times funny/sweet, looking at Cas’s relationships not just with Dean but with Sam, Jack, Claire, even Eileen. It does some fun stuff with other returned angels and demons who now find themselves back on Earth (and human), and...I just really enjoyed this one a lot.

Both Saved and Lost by angelfishofthelord (13.7k) Gen Cas character study, absolutely gorgeous and sad and one of those fic I couldn’t stop thinking about the day after reading it. AU where Apocaverse!Cas isn’t immediately killed by our Cas during 13x22 but instead hitches a ride back to the main ‘verse. Dean and Sam want to keep him alive for information on Michael; Cas is torn and trying to figure out just how similar—or different—they really are. Some great angel stuff here (I also highly recommend this author’s Jack & Cas “dadstiel” fics, they’re equally lovely and heartbreaking at the same time.)

flesh of the mighty by Mudprophet (2.7k) - THEE “What exactly did Dean eat in Purgatory, anyway?” fic you’ve probably already heard about. *cough* I’ve been trying to work up the courage to read this one for a while and finally gave in and OH MY CHUCK I’m so glad I did. It’s perversely disturbing and beautiful at the same time, Cas is wonderfully DERANGED and ALIEN in that way that I love it when fics managed to convey just how much angels are NOT human. Do heed the tags.

Full of Grace by ilovehowyouletmefall (11k) - Another one for the weird-as-fuck-angel!Cas lovers’ list. Heaven/canon-compliant fic where Dean knows he should feel happy and at peace but he just...isn’t, even with Cas and all of his friends and family there. He finally goes looking for Cas when he’s been absent for a time and, for the first time, gets to not just see but experience his true form. Another one that hits some kinks I knew I had and others I didn’t...until now. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

don't ask me where i've been by saltwound / @1x06 (8k) - I can never resist a good 09x06 fiction gap fic! What makes this one really stand out is how well it captures Cas’s internal voice - his struggles adapting to human senses, limitations and emotions versus what/how he experienced things as an angel. The longing and feelings between Dean & Cas here are so achingly beautiful and I just wanted to cry when Cas says he misses hearing Dean’s prayers, so Dean, he...oh, I’m not going to spoil it. *happy sigh* Just read it.

this room is wrong by DarkHeartInTheSky (12k) - Sometimes I like torturing myself with some good 15x03 divorce arc angst and this fic hit that button just so. It’s an alternative take on where Cas might have ended up after leaving the bunker and features some great Cas & Sam friendship feels, when Sam sets out to try to bring Cas home. It’s all the stuff you’d wish the writers would’ve let them talk out in canon.

Well that’s more than enough for this round! Go forth, read and give some great writers some kudos & comment love!

[found--family]

desticule asks - 14, 15, 18?

14. If there was a reverse French Mistake (actors go to canonverse), who would cope the best?

Interesting.. I'm not sure I trust that idea for on-screen appeal (due to various reasons) but i would definitely read a fic of it.

I think Misha is enough of an oddball to just roll with the general existence of magic, creatures, other dimensions, etc. He'd have an absolute blast. 

Important question: would Canonverse folk know there's been a changeup, or would the IRL folk try to keep their cover? Could go either way, tbh.

But since The French Mistake doesn't have Cas transported with TFW, let's say Jensen doesn't make this cut. Imagine Dean encountering Misha, thinking it's Cas, having a brainfreeze moment over his inexplicable wardrobe: jeans, tight t-shirt, leather jacket, bracelet.. plus a wedding ring!? imagine Misha rolling with some BS about being undercover for a case - suddenly we have Misha and Dean fake dating for a non-existent case?! I'm down for some crack!

Also, Misha could be open (but not too open) about Cas' feelings for Dean. Subtle hints, just open the door a bit, y'know? Enough of a nudge to lessen Dean's doubts. Canonverse!Cas returns amidst some chaos sequence and claims amnesia, and some of Dean's doubt has slipped away. Things are looking up for them.

BONUS: Mark Sheppard gets transported with Misha. The lack of Armani suits has folks thinking Crowley's really let himself go, maybe an after-effect of spending so long in The Empty. Dean likes this resurrected Crowley because apparently he plays the drums. Cue open mic night at the local dive bar - "Crowley" on drums, Dean singing and playing guitar. They'd have some witty band name I can't think of rn, but the potential is there..

. 

15. Name three things you would change about spn.

The Writers Room: Goodbye nepotism, misogyny, and Lucifer-loving Bucklemming. But overall, cull it. There have been just way too many cooks in the kitchen affecting Continuity each season (clashing or forgotten lore, etc.), ruining Character Arcs (too many out-of-character eps), and fudging Overall Plot Cohesion (season 13 took some weird turns, season 14 was a mess, but every season has its disjointed moments).

The Network: Change it. Change it to whoever would let them swear, have tattoos/piercings/jewellery, and show more skin. Whoever wouldn't meddle in the story, aka. non-homophobes who wouldn't pander to so-called conservative audiences.

Better Representation and Treatment of Women and Minority (queer, poc, neurodivergent, those with a disability) characters. Pretty much every season is guilty of bad rep for minorities, but we also need more diverse characters written in. 

BONUS: Keep the early seasons gritty filter, or at least tone down that high def orange of later seasons. Most soundstage scenes in the later seasons (namely The Bunker, but also motels, etc.) feel like we're on a soundstage and it ruins the suspension of disbelief. And the Bunker being their fixed HQ means we get far less on-location shots and I miss the landscapes of Americana. 

. 

18. Ideally, what season would have Dean and Cas gotten together?

I'm a fan of the Slowest Burn To Ever Slow™ (and seeing as how I binged seasons 5 to12 for the first time when season 13 was airing I had high hopes for what was still to come). I'm going with one of the later seasons. 

I definitely thought season 13 was gearing up for a Love Confession and/or Kiss after grieving!Dean and Cas' resurrection. Throw in Dadstiel and it was the greatest letdown of the series to see them shy away from that awesome potential. 

Alternatively: the end of season 15. Rewrite 15x20 and have Dean rescue Cas from The Empty and confesses his own heart with words and an on-screen kiss.

. 

🥰 thankyou lovely! i enjoyed pondering these! 🥰

💬 send me more Desticule asks from this list 💬

[ao3feed-destiel]

Life As a House

Read it on AO3 here!http://bit.ly/2I30NNY

by Castielslostwings

Dean Winchester is staring down the barrel of forty years with nothing to show for it. Nothing, save for a house that’s falling apart around him and a tumultuous, strained relationship with both his teenage son Jack and his estranged husband Castiel. In the face of earth-shattering, painful news, he decides to go for broke attempting to rebuild all three from the ground up before it’s too late.

“Life as a House” follows Dean’s determined journey to tear down his old life and literally build a new one by finally following through on twenty-year-old plans to construct the house he once designed for him and Cas to live happily ever after in. But before he can do that he’ll have to tear down not only the house his father left him but all the walls he’s built up over the years to keep the people he cares about at arm’s length. Will his efforts be enough to repair his relationships and put to right all of the mistakes he’s made before his time is up?

A poignant, emotional love story set against the backdrop of Southern California and the Pacific Ocean about hope, heartbreak, regret, taking chances, and how it’s never too late to start all over again.

Words: 47800, Chapters: 5/5, Language: English

Fandoms: Supernatural

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Castiel, Dean Winchester, Jack Kline, Claire Novak, Lisa Braeden, Meg Masters, Crowley (Supernatural), Garth Fitzgerald IV

Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester

Additional Tags: Dean/Castiel - Freeform, Modern AU, Explicit m/m sexual content, Sick Dean, major character illness, threatened (not actual) MCD, Miscommunication, Mutual Pining, Getting Back Together, Apologies, John Winchester’s A+ parenting, Divorced DeanCas, Angst with a Happy Ending, Humor, dadstiel, Medical issues, California, Oceanside setting, Caretaker Castiel (Supernatural), Castiel and Dean Winchester in Love, Minor Castiel/Meg Masters, Past Lisa Braeden/Dean Winchester, Literal building of a house, Architect Dean Winchester, Construction Worker Dean Winchester, Painter Castiel (Supernatural), Punk Jack, Troubled Jack Kline, Tattooed Jack Kline, Pierced Jack Kline, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Marijuana, Prescription pain medication, Garth is a good egg, Claire is Lisa's daughter, Touch-Starved Dean Winchester, Top Castiel/Bottom Dean Winchester, Bottom Castiel/Top Dean Winchester, Very minor hints at Dom!Cas

Link: http://bit.ly/2I30NNY

[ao3feed-castiel]

Life As a House

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2I30NNY

by Castielslostwings

Dean Winchester is staring down the barrel of forty years with nothing to show for it. Nothing, save for a house that’s falling apart around him and a tumultuous, strained relationship with both his teenage son Jack and his estranged husband Castiel. In the face of earth-shattering, painful news, he decides to go for broke attempting to rebuild all three from the ground up before it’s too late.

“Life as a House” follows Dean’s determined journey to tear down his old life and literally build a new one by finally following through on twenty-year-old plans to construct the house he once designed for him and Cas to live happily ever after in. But before he can do that he’ll have to tear down not only the house his father left him but all the walls he’s built up over the years to keep the people he cares about at arm’s length. Will his efforts be enough to repair his relationships and put to right all of the mistakes he’s made before his time is up?

A poignant, emotional love story set against the backdrop of Southern California and the Pacific Ocean about hope, heartbreak, regret, taking chances, and how it’s never too late to start all over again.

Words: 9027, Chapters: 2/5, Language: English

Fandoms: Supernatural

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Castiel, Dean Winchester, Jack Kline, Claire Novak, Lisa Braeden, Meg Masters, Crowley (Supernatural), Garth Fitzgerald IV

Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester

Additional Tags: Dean/Castiel - Freeform, Modern AU, Explicit m/m sexual content, Sick Dean, major character illness, threatened (not actual) MCD, Miscommunication, Mutual Pining, Getting Back Together, Apologies, John Winchester’s A+ parenting, Divorced DeanCas, Angst with a Happy Ending, Humor, dadstiel, Medical issues, California, Oceanside setting, Caretaker Castiel (Supernatural), Castiel and Dean Winchester in Love, Minor Castiel/Meg Masters, Past Lisa Braeden/Dean Winchester, Literal building of a house, Architect Dean Winchester, Construction Worker Dean Winchester, Painter Castiel (Supernatural), Punk Jack, Troubled Jack Kline, Tattooed Jack Kline, Pierced Jack Kline, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Marijuana, Prescription pain medication, Garth is a good egg, Claire is Lisa's daughter, Touch-Starved Dean Winchester, Top Castiel/Bottom Dean Winchester, Bottom Castiel/Top Dean Winchester, Very minor hints at Dom!Cas

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2I30NNY