#to make things clear Tea is that dense about the supernatural world-

[marshmallow-biscuit-blog]

I never posted this @firecurls-27 we'll leave them without context

[whatdoyouthinkmyjobis]

Girl Next Door

Hunters on the Hellmouth masterlist

previous chapter

AN: Still not fully happy with it, but here we go!

Chapter 13: Summoning for Beginners

Jada sat alone at a table in the university’s dining commons, trying to decide if she was nervous or angry. Sam was still hanging fliers for a fake school project, while Willow fetched hot water for tea.

Magic tea.

The phrase sounded ridiculous, yet Jada knew it was real. She’d spent a lot of time practicing how words like vampire and demon hunter sounded in her voice. They never sounded right.

But here she was, waiting for a magical tea party to begin.

“It’s not dangerous,” Sam had reassured her as they lounged in her bed on Sunday morning. “I just thought maybe you’d want to see what I saw.”

He had drunk some magic tea the day they went to the bookstore. The day he had started telling her about magic and vampires. She had known before then. She’d known since she was attacked by one of those monsters, but she’d known it the way a person remembered a place from childhood -- dreamlike and peripheral.

“People with their heads in the clouds?” she’d asked, suspicious this was less about showing her anything and more about inching her toward comfort with the craziness he surrounded himself with.

“Aren’t you curious about who or what put you under the forgetting spell?”

A chill had run from her scalp to her toes. Of course, she was curious. She didn’t want to be controlled, but the idea of getting further into the supernatural world made her queasy. Throwing back the covers, she had quickly snatched Sam’s hoodie from the floor. “You want any coffee? I was thinking about making cinnamon rolls today.”

Looking at the smattering of students in the commons, she hoped they knew nothing. She wished them a monster-free life and blissful ignorance.

Willow, cheerfully dressed to fight winter in a red coat and purple hat, returned with three steaming mugs on a tray. She smiled warmly at Jada, as if they were old friends. “Oh good! You’re still here!”

Jada was surprised herself. “How do people normally commemorate doing their first spell? This feels like a moment.”

“No pomp; little circumstance. But you do get the personal satisfaction of your own secret coolness,” the witch said confidently as she removed her winter things and pulled a small box from her bag. “It’s not much of a spell. I did an abracadabra on these herbs a while ago. You just have to drink them.”

“So what made you decide to become a, uh, a witch?”

A grin broke over Willow’s face as she set out paper and pens. “I like a challenge, and I sort of have a talent for it. Once I started, I felt like I was unlocked, connected to something deeper, you know?”

Jada did know, and she wanted to lock herself up again.

Soon Sam arrived, the sight of him reminded her why she bothered with this chaos. The chilly air outside had turned his cheeks pink, and his nose was still cold when he kissed Jada’s cheek. “Ready?”

She wasn’t. “Tell me the plan again?”

“We want to get a better sense of what this spell is, so we need to test the waters. I put fliers up a few days ago requesting people meet us here to help with our grad school research project.”

“Spooky local folklore?” Jada recalled.

“And we want to see what happens to people’s clouds as we ask questions.”

Willow handed Jada and Sam clipboards. “One is questions for people with clouds, the other is for clear skies people. The lunch rush should hit in about fifteen minutes, so I’ll mill about while you two unmill here at the table.”

She crushed herbs over the mugs, making a colorful, if flaky, drink. “Ready, set, spell,” Willow said, taking a sip of her brew.

A little scared but not wanting to show it, Jada took a small sip. The flowery drink burned her mouth, but she felt nothing else. A dozen unclouded students and a handful of cafeteria staff, all unclouded, peppered the commons. Her fear melting away, she took a large gulp. Clouds ranging from an impenetrable darkness to a thin mist formed around the heads of all but four people in the commons.

She must have looked panicked, because Sam gently squeezed her hand. “I see it, too. Four of them?”

Jada nodded.

Willow cheerfully picked up a pen and clipboard. “Okay, let's get interviewing.”

The following day, Sam came over for breakfast before work. After Jada got her aunt settled in watching morning talk shows, her conversation with Sam took a shocking turn.

“You want to what?!” Jada set down her coffee mug to avoid dropping it.

Sam hadn’t expected her to take the news well. But it was one thing to coddle his girlfriend when it came to vampires; it was another with Lucifer on the loose. He needed to know more about what had been preventing her from remembering the vampires. What was over the town?

Their interviews at UC Sunnydale hadn’t told them much. People with dense clouds weren’t aware of the supernatural. People with thinner clouds had heard rumors of weird events. People without clouds: They knew.

But what was causing it?

The fear that it could come back, reclaim Jada’s mind and blind her, kept Sam up at night. Would she go out at after sunset? Remove the protective symbols from the apartment?

For the first time since he and Dean and landed in Sunnydale, Sam felt the familiar squeeze of being up against a wall. And that made him desperate.

“Jada, I know it sounds insane, but Willow has summoned D’Hoffryn before. They’re on good terms. Besides, he’ll be bound in a demon trap.”

“But why here? Why not...far from here?”

“D’Hoffyrn already knows where we are,” Sam lied. He didn't want to admit he was afraid of going too far from home at the moment. Lucifer was wounded with the loss of the Turok-Han and his sleeper agent, Spike, but that didn’t make it safe. “Might as well use the empty store downstairs. Besides, the apartments are protected, and he's unlikely to be interested in you unless you're feeling vengeful. Just stay inside.”

Jada cocked one eyebrow and examined him. Her lie detector was getting better. The day was coming that he would have to tell her everything.

“He’s dangerous?”

“Yes and no,” Sam said. “Not a claw-your-eyes-out-the-moment-he-sees-you sort of dangerous, but not exactly a creature you want to piss off either.”

She tapped her finger to her lips as she mulled it over. “Three o’clock. That’s when Auntie naps. If you're going to invite a demon into our home, I plan to be there.”

“Really?” His stomach dropped. D'Hoffryn knew something about Sam, Dean, and whatever had brought them to Sunnydale. There was no telling what he'd reveal.

“I'm not about to go vampire hunting with you, but this is about something done to me. Besides, I am a consummate hostess.”

She handed him his satchel full of books and notes. “We can talk about it some more later. Don't want to be late.”

The Winchesters, Buffy, and Willow gathered on the first floor of the brothers’ apartment building. It had previously served as a hair salon, and the tang of relaxers and dye still lingered in the air.

Sam and Dean were hanging blankets over the shop windows. It was the middle of the day. Not an ideal time to summon a demon.

“Do we really need this?” Willow asked, pointing to the demon trap Dean had painted on the floor.

“Demon. Yes,” Dean replied.

“I’ve talked to D’Hoffryn loads of times and never needed a trap.” Willow took a large jar of sand from her bag. “He’s no Clem, but he’s still pretty friendly as demons go. If anything, a trap’s going to make him pissed.”

“Kinda on the fence myself,” Buffy said.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Sam said as he and his brother walked back to the middle of the store. “Can’t be too careful with--”

The bell over the front door rang. Jada stood just inside the door, her fingers tightly grasping a red tin. Sam walked back to the front of the store and locked the door behind her.

“Oh, that’s a...date idea,” said Willow.

Jada eyes darted between Sam and the room. “I’m here for the summoning.” Her voice raised slightly at the end, as if she were asking herself if it were true.

“Wha’cha got?” Sam asked, leading her around the demon trap.

Jada held the tin tighter and grinned weakly. “Something to share later.”

“I still don't like this,” Dean muttered, running his fingers through his hair.

Sam had only mentioned Jada joining them to Buffy and Dean. Even then, he knew he’d need Buffy to help him win Dean over to having the greenest newbie imaginable around while they summoned the most powerful demon they’d met in Sunnydale. And Sam was still in knots.

“Welcome,” said Buffy. “I found a good hiding spot for you.” She steered Jada to the back office where she’d be able to watch through a two-way mirror.

With Jada safely tucked out of sight (they hoped), Willow began to pour sand in a circle around the demon trap. She clutched an amulet in her hand as she chanted, “Beatum sit in nomine D'Hoffrynis. Fiat hoc spatium porta ad mundum Arashmaharris.”

In a flash of lightning, D’Hoffryn appeared. “Behold!-- Oh, it's just you. What do you want?”

“Answers,” said Buffy, sharply.

“I don't want to play with you,” D’Hoffryn sighed. “Miss Rosenberg, I didn’t give you my talisman so you could call me for Lady Pain. I was hoping we could get a bubble tea. Talk about your gifts.”

Willow nodded pleasantly. “I’ll have to check my calendar. New semester has me busy. I signed up for an advanced course on dead languages.”

“Bubble tea, then tell me all about it.” D’Hoffryn snapped his fingers. Nothing happened. He snapped them again. The demon glowered at them before noticing the trap under his feet. “A demon trap? That’s so extra-dimensional... and tacky.”

“You ain’t going anywhere until we get some answers, chuckles,” Dean barked.

The demon curled his lip, baring his yellow fangs. “Chuckles? Do you know who you’re talking to, boy?”

“Excuse me? Mr. Demon?”

Everyone turned to Jada, standing outside of the safe office. She suddenly seemed smaller and more delicate than before.

The demon looked at her with confusion. “D’Hoffryn.”

“D’Hoffryn,” her voice small, “would you like some cookies? It must have been a long trip for you.” With trembling hands, she held out the tin.

Sam whispered, “Now really isn't--”

“Cookies?” D’Hoffryn snarled. “Do you think the Master of the Vengeance Demons can be swayed by baked goods?”

“I-I think it’s impolite to invite someone over without giving them food.”

“You are not one of them,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. “You are afraid of me, yet here you are.”

“Being afraid doesn't mean you should hide,” Jada replied.

The demon plucked a chocolate chip cookie from the tin, sniffed it, and popped it in his mouth. “Mmm! This is almost as good as a blood sacrifice. Did you use real butter?”

“Of course!”

“Would you like to sit down,” she asked, gesturing to one of the salon chairs.

“Jada, remember? We put him in a trap,” Sam whispered in her ear. “He can’t leave that circle.”

“Why would you invite him over only to put him in a trap?” she asked, not bothering to keep her voice down. “You told me it was a bad idea to make him angry.”

“Because they’re morons,” D’Hoffryn said, a smear of chocolate on his lip.

“Told you!” Willow said.

Buffy sighed and pulled a folding knife from her leather jacket.

“Are you people crazy?” Dean asked. “Last time we saw this guy, he set someone on fire and choked me.”

“They’re still right,” Buffy said as she scraped paint from the floor with her knife.

D’Hoffryn stepped out of the circle and loomed over Jada. Grabbing the cookie tin, he plopped into one of the salon chairs and slowly spun around. “What are your questions?”

Dottie Johnson fished a long can out of her underwear drawer and quietly opened her bedroom window. Her niece -- sweet and innocent to a fault -- thought this was Dottie’s daily nap time. The girl wouldn’t dream her aunt regularly sneaked onto the fire escape to enjoy a cigar.

After pulling her chunky cardigan tightly around her shoulders, the old woman cupped her hand around the match, and puffed.

“Sneaking out again?” asked a rich, familiar voice.

“Me? Sneaking? How’d you get out of Heaven, handsome?” Dottie grinned at her husband, still as young as the day he died, leaning against the fire escape railing.

“Didn't need to sneak. Got booted.”

“That's my Jim,” she said proudly. “Would give the devil himself a run for his money.”

Jim smiled, making her tingle all over.

Pushing her sweater to the side,  Dottie unbuttoned her blouse, the lace of her bra peeking out. She held her breath in anticipation.

As he’d done often since first appearing to her, Jim spread his fingers over her breastbone, his ghostly fingers pressing through her as a hot spark. It hurt like a shock from an outlet, but Dottie missed his touch too much to whimper. His fingers dipped in and out of her chest.

And then nothing but the cold winter air.

“Why’d you stop?” Dottie asked.

“This won’t work,” he said, exasperated.

Dottie tugged her cardigan tightly around her again. “Sugar, we can make it work. Just tell me what I need to do.”

Jim glared at her with disgust. “For starters, don’t be old and shriveled and closed up.”

The old woman recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “Did you forget your manners since you died? I didn’t ask for your ass to come haunting me!”

“My manners? Woman, I could get inside that crack in you, fill you up, make you warm and tingling until you pop. Dottie Johnson all over the walls. You want that? What I need is a much younger woman.”

Dottie didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t her Jim, and if it was, it wasn’t how she wanted to remember him. She slid her window open and stepped back inside.

As Jada watched a purple, horned demon eat her cookies, she felt like her heart would break her ribs. No one spoke, yet they all seemed disturbingly calm, as if the presence of a demon -- a loose demon -- was as mundane as driving to work. Fearing he’d be less amiable once the treats were gone, she cleared her throat. “Do you know anything about a spell over Sunnydale?”

D’Hoffryn licked some chocolate from his claws and sighed. “You’ll have to be more specific. This is a Hellmouth, after all.”

“Something that keeps people from seeing the monsters, from holding them in their minds,” Sam added.

He flashed a fangy grin. “Oh, that spell. Big fan.”

“You causing it?” Dean asked. His voice was clipped and pushy, like a cop badgering a suspect.

“Miss Rosenberg and I combined couldn’t create a spell this all-encompassing.” The demon popped another cookie in his mouth, moaning slightly as he chewed. “You see, it’s not just Sunnydale, it’s the whole planet. It’s only occasionally broken when idiot vampires or one of the lower beings get villagers in a pitchfork-and-torch tizzy. Otherwise, it’s a perfect shroud for all sorts of unsavory supernatural activities.”

“So whoever is behind this isn’t team human,” Buffy hopped up on one of the salon counters and started twirling a comb in her fingers. “Doesn’t exactly narrow things down. Mr. Big Stuff got a name?”

D’Hoffryn shrugged. “There are rumors of God and gods, but I’ve never concerned myself with who.”

“You said the spell was over the whole earth,” Willow said. “But you’ve traveled to all sorts of dimensions. Have you seen this spell anywhere else?”

“Proving yourself the smart one once again.” The demon looked at Willow with some degree of affection, an idea that made Jada’s stomach lurch. “No, I’ve only seen it here.”

“But you’ve traveled other places?” Dean asked. “Like where we’re from?”

“No, I’ve not been to the Angelverse. Those three-faced bastards keep their dimension on lockdown. Would love a key.” D’Hoffryn poked around in the tin before eating a broken cookie.

Where we’re from? Angelverse? Dimensions? Jada wanted to throw up.

“But angels can come here?” Sam asked.

The demon looked up as if he was looking through the ceiling and into the apartments above. “I think you know it’s not impossible. But there are, of course, consequences.”

“Consequences? What kind? For who?” Sam asked eagerly.

D’Hoffryn dropped the tin with a clang. “Hmm, no cookies, no questions.”

“Please, Mr. Demon, just one more question,” Jada pleaded. “You said you’ve never worried about who is behind all of this, but do you have an idea? A top three? Having a name to attach to this craziness would make me feel safer.”

To her surprise, the demon doubled over laughing. Every time he looked at her, his giggles started anew until black tears streamed from his eyes. Eventually, he composed himself, and snickering through his hand said, “I like you. Deep rage under that skin. Startling control. But how much is that question worth to you?”

“Jada, don’t!” Dean barked as Sam moved between her and D’Hoffryn.

Master of the Vengeance Demons. That’s what he’d called himself. Jada swallowed her fear as she moved around Sam. Her safety wasn’t a laughing matter, but maybe it was negotiable. “I’ll make you more cookies, if that’s what you’d like.”

He pointed a clawed finger at her. “Every week.”

“Jada, no! You’re safe, okay?” Buffy shouted.

She’s so tiny. Jada marveled that Buffy was involved in this monster mess, that she’d survived so long on patrols with Dean. She smiled at Buffy and shook her head.

Sam grabbed Jada’s wrist and whispered in her ear. “Hey, you don’t need to make a deal. I’ll protect you.”

Jada shook her head and turned to face Sam. “You summoned a demon. You started by making him angry. And what information have you gotten? I’m scared Sam. I’m scared of what I know and what I don’t know, but I think it’s time I learn more.”

She faced the demon who was lounging cross-legged in the salon chair.

“This pact is binding,” he explained. “Which means if you miss a week -- you’re in the hospital, you go on vacation, you simply forget -- I own you.”

Jada swallowed. “Will you answer a new question for me every week?”

He stroked his long beard before asking, “Do you do frosting?”

“In my sleep.”

“Why not? I’ll be a chatty Kathy for sweets.”

“Then it’s a deal. Mr. Demon, I, or someone under my roof, will make you cookies every week. Where should I deliver them?”

D’Hoffryn grinned. “Smart girl. I will find you every Thursday. Be ready when I call.

“As to your question, the name is not important if safety is your goal. The Devil is practically on your doorstep, and you’ve left the door unlocked. As long as you associate yourself with The Slayer and the chosen vessels of the archangels Michael and Lucifer, you will never be safe.

“I don’t really have a top three, but if you want a name, my best guess is…” He paused. “Willow.” D’Hoffryn snapped his fingers and disappeared in a flash of light.

Willow looked at the group wide-eyed. “I-I couldn’t even get all the classes I wanted. I’m not--”

Buffy grabbed her friend’s hand. “We know, Will. He’s just messing with us.”

“Can’t trust demons.” Dean looked at Jada pityingly. “Shouldn’t have let her come, Sam.”

Jada scooped her empty cookie tin off the floor. “I’ve found food is the best social lubricant if you want information. So you’re welcome.”

“Look, I’ve been doing this --”

Jada raised her hand, cutting him off. She didn’t want to hear about their life on the road. Their hunts. Their kills. And she didn’t want to be reassured that she was safe. This room full of experts had sought help from a demon only with a plan of rudeness and intimidation -- so no plan at all.

“I have cookies to plan for, and you have information to sort through,” she said firmly before dashing back up to her apartment.

Sam followed her, of course. Knocked a few times. Tried calling her cell. But Jada had dived into research the moment she she got upstairs. With the cat pawing at her legs, Jada sat at her computer and typed in the search: vessel of Lucifer.

The final chapter of Girl Next Door!

[seenashwrite]

The Nail: July 2017

The Nail isn't about perfection. It isn't about award-level contenders. It's about seeing focus and effort and hard work radiate off of the screen.

The Nail's purpose isn't to highlight genres of fics or specific ships written during a certain time frame - the sole focus is quality.

Character dimension. Writing with clever readers in mind. Solid world-building. Tension through boundaries. Crazy crisp dialogue. Incredibly tight plotting. Big emotion.

And though yours truly - nice to meet you, new folks, I’m Nash! - is editor of the list, the goal is for YOU to curate the content.

Read more about how all this came to be, find past editions, see what factors are considered when constructing the list, and how to get your recommendations in/be a curator HERE.

Hey, ramblers? Let’s get ramblin’.

For your reblogging convenience, here’s The Nail Master Post of Editions!

Quickie Nash Note:

I've not had opportunity this month [June] to give individual three-point reviews. So, something a little different here for July's reads - and it just might be the way The Nail rolls from here on out [and yes - I still will review on my "own time", as it were, once I... y'know... have more time].

Aside from the typical short blip of a summary that reviewers provide for their readers, you'll see a handful of reasons these pieces made the list below that, labelled "Q". In other words, the "Q"s  are a handful of elements we [curators & I] look for when it comes to an author nailing it.

Quite wonderfully, the curator submissions are increasing in number with every edition! So much so, many stories have been shifted to upcoming months. If you enjoy curator selections & found them to be of quality, please consider not only giving the authors feedback, but also thanking the curator(s) for bringing the story/series to your attention. I suspect they'll dig it.

XO - Nash.

* ~ * ALL FROM THE WORLD OF "SUPERNATURAL" UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED * ~ *

SPEED READS [from scene do-overs to gif-inspired one-shots to dripping drabbles, all 500 words or less]  

These won’t be reviewed separately in Nash’s usual three-point manner à la #Nash Gives [Feed]back due to their length, excepting those cases where the author pulled off a fleshed-out plot/character or had a unique take that was well-covered in the short amount of space. If there is no title provided by the author, Nash/the curator will pick one for them.

THE YEAR IS 2050  -  @mishasaurus

Years on the job, and still the occasional surprise. 

Q: crisp, quick, no more words/detail than necessary; executed a call-back and wisely eschewed any [uneccessary] explanations; wonderfully delightful, spot-on humor

.

FIFTEEN  -  @teamfreewill-imagine  

Time always has moved differently for Dean.

Q: Concise while still giving character dimension; exploratory without explaining every finite detail; subtle and realistic tipping point in character arc

.

RESERVED SPACE  -  @supernaturalfreewill 

Rather than take action, Dean observes and wonders.

Q: pitch-perfection descriptions that gave just enough vs. too dense; took a prompt that inferred a certain direction/instead chose a thoughtful path to show a different side of a well-known character; pleasant change of pace/atypical use of reader inclusion/insert

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STEP-BY-STEP  -  @veneredirimmel

A short character study, considering what exactly is behind this hunter's smile.

Q: careful and considerate exploration of a characteristic that often bends shallow and sappy; flow is pitch-perfect, each section adding a bit more gravity, growing more personal as it goes on; kept in line with the portrayal we know while adding believable layers; leaves the reader with a feeling of "I want to go back and read this again"  

---> Unable to tag author, if someone would kindly let them know <---

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THE LONG, FULL YEARS  -  @ariannnawinchester 

What happens in the life story of the Winchesters after "The End" has been written.

Q: fantastic example of a heavy topic in the hands of a sharp author who can make it feel "light" & not depressive; written with clever readers in mind, painting a picture fluid enough to allow for interpretation; absolutely knocked it out of the park regarding the "main event", in that those details weren't important as the aftermath is the point; fleshed-out OCs whose personalities were clear & enjoyable despite only a few lines between them

.

THERE IT WAS  -  @deathtonormalcy56

There's every reason to believe he'll be back - after all, he's always come back before - and now begins the time in between.

Q: good contrasts between objectives & subjectives/how "dulls" can be "sharps", etc.; took the risk of going with little/no dialogue that can often go awry for many/go sluggish; strong protag in the face of sorrow/doesn't fall apart/introspection without broodiness; 2nd person almost fading into 3rd omniscient

ON THE SHORT SIDE [500-ish to 1.5K]

Works via curators will not necessarily receive Nash's typical 3-point review

URBAN LEGENDS  -  @sasquatchandleatherjacket

Seems that some legends are more than the stories we use to contain them - and just how frightening they are depends on your perspective.

Q: creative take on the subject which made absolute perfect sense; nice, slow burn - despite the crisp pace & length - to the ultimate reveal, nicely camouflaged by the initial, more intuitive reveal; atypical choice regarding perspective, one not often utilized; leaves reader with the feeling of "I'd definitely read this again"

---> Unable to tag author, if someone would kindly let them know <---

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SHEETS  -  @klaineaholic

The basic skills for hunting include weapons and the lore, but when it comes to hunting with the Winchesters, one must also master snark, sarcasm, sass - and those skills may just be the most important of all.

Q: well-done characterization; nice, quick pace; awkward moment handled realistically; fleshed-out protag in a very short amount of time/showed a sharp wit with a softer side that didn't bend sappy

.

TEA TIME WITH MILDRED  [on AO3] -  @grey2510 

Crowley has help this time around with his critique of Dean and Castiel.

Q: in medias res with steady pace; excellent characterizations, including fleshed-out & highly enjoyable minor/here-and-gone character from a past ep; doesn't waste time on things superfluous to plot, nice flow

.

TRANSPLANT  -  @zepppie 

Dean takes a moment to give thanks for a gift, one that's given him a very different perspective on life.

Q: very unique/original plot that fits within the universe of the show; excellent characterization [minor OCs & protag alike]; written with clever readers in mind; big emotion while calmly introspective

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THE BEST OF FOOLS  -  @fanforfanatic

In which Castiel learns that a gift he's received holds more than simply music.

Q: in medias res; scene exploration with unique/original concept; tangible descriptions of the object in question, paints picture of sound extremely well; multiple fantastic turns-of-phrase/keeps a steady flow/prevents a bogged-down information relay

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STICK 'EM UP  -  @seljepw

Dean finds himself in a slightly atypical situation, though he also finds the family mantra still applies.  

Q: Solid beginning/cap-off; very believable characterization/verbiage/behavior of protag; tight plotting with crisp dialogue; little-to-no extraneous detail

MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD [around 1.5K - 2.5K]

Works via curators will not necessarily receive Nash's typical 3-point review

LET'S SWAYZE THIS MOTHER  -  @emilywritesaboutdean

They thought Gabriel had been taken out of the equation. They were wrong. Oh wow, were they ever wrong.

Q: in medias res; incredibly creative plot [bonus points for perfect title choice]; both the overall story/structure and characterizations left the feeling of having watched an episode of the show; seemingly effortless humor

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THERE YOU'LL ALWAYS BE  -  @deansdirtylittlesecretsblog

It was a different relationship for Sam, this woman who understood his lifestyle and his secrets completely, though the feelings of contrition seem to find him all the same.  

Q: beautifully fleshed-out, introspective view of the stoic main character that rings true to canon/believable interaction with secondary canon character;  moderate borrowing from source material used appropriately; killer last line to cap off

Curated by @klaineaholic, who said:   "This is so so sad and beautiful! The [pieces of dialogue were] such Eileen things to say, I’m so glad you wrote this!”

LONGER [around 2.5K to  3K-ish]

Works via curators will not necessarily receive Nash's typical 3-point review

  CRAPULOUS  -  @butiaintgonnaloveem 

A tale of a hangover, a vampire stake-out that went awry, and mysterious underwear await.

Q: well-plotted story with just enough detail/purposefully does not reveal every facet/encourages readers' imaginations; quick, witty, crisp dialogue beyond prompt(s); phenomenal featured OC; believable take on canon character; seemingly effortless humor

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THE REST  -  @mrswhozeewhatsis

Deferring to author's pitch-perfect summary - “It’s all about what you give away and what you keep for yourself.”

Q: excellent weaving together of a fleshed-out OC's story in a very plausible behind-the-scenes-canon vignette; limited/no laborious describing of situations/surroundings/appearances; well-done choices of breaks/flipping to next scene/kept flow; bonus points for utilizing a seldom-seen character 

Curated by @klaineaholic, who said: "I'm falling more and more in love with these fics that explore what's behind the canon. [This story is] like following this thread and going until you think you know how it's going to play into the canon and then the end just tugs your heart unexpectedly. Michelle clearly put so much thought and creativity into her pre-canon story on [a] beloved, oft-written about part of the Supernatural universe."

DEEP DIVES [3K and beyond, including completed multi-parters with 2 to (roughly) 5 parts of modestly sized chapters totaling at minimum 3K words]

This does *not* include series, which have their own section. Works via curators will not necessarily receive Nash's typical 3-point review.

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS   -  @hannahindie

On a much-needed night of relaxation for the crew, Dean’s picked a happy hour - with the hope of a happy ending - that doesn’t quite go as expected.

Q: rarely seen use of a narrator to help tell the story - and it is pulled it off seamlessly/does not detract or add a cumbersome nature - this is one of those few exceptions to the likely-never-to-fail-you in medias res kickoff; crisp, witty dialogue/interactions; solid all-around characterization  

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SCAR TISSUE  -  @fanforfanatic

It's nothing new when Dean meets a woman in a bar - only this time, as the author puts it, "their damaged parts seem to match."

Q:  took an oft-seen locale/situation and went deeper/introspective without being depressive; lovely, subtle touches sprinkled throughout for adding character depth - particularly O.C. - that add up by the end (bonus points for inventive "naming"); multiple well-crafted turns-of-phrase

SERIES SPOTLIGHT : SUPERNATURAL & SPN CROSS-OVERS [works that are completed series, as well as ongoing series with at least 3 parts published as of/prior to the edition of The Nail in question]

Due to time constraints, series are not read in full. They are given a cursory once-over for the quality basics, most importantly that the author has put maximum effort into world-building.

The first chapter / first handful of chapters / first third of the first chapter - depending on length - are read to ensure there are no gross grammar / spelling errors, as well as ensuring the story’s premise is made clear.

Summation line(s) below are taken from the author/the story, edited/shortened only for length/clarity if needed. Same applies to series from other fandoms featured on this list.

LIKE A ROLLING STONE  -  @stori-teller

"Cas Novak stumbles across a dead body - enter the Winchesters." 

Q: in medias res; character dimension; descriptions of people/places/things unfold organically; plot unfolds organically/no long expositions/etc.; bonus points for mini-summaries/appropriate warnings for each chapter  

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SENSATION  -  @littlegreenplasticsoldier

"Sam is cursed to live without his senses and you are left to look after him at the bunker."

Q: [Deferring to our curators this go, seems they covered it, yes? ;)  -N.] 

Curated by @butiaintgonnaloveem, who said: "It's one of those fics that is heavy, while maintaining humor which is tricky. And the way she manages to describe the senses and the lack thereof just boggles my mind."

Curated by @klaineaholic, who said: "Being inside Sam's head as he loses all of his senses, following along as you (the character) try to keep him sane and make him feel not-so-alone when he can't help BUT feel alone [...] Sam's internal voice is captured perfectly, his characterization is so true, and the plot is just phenomenal."

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BLOOD & PERFUME  -  @helvonasche  +  @madamelibrarian

"A pair of sisters must learn to navigate a life they're not used to, without a family, and with a power that should not exist."

Q: in medias res - and with a kick/thrown right into the action; unique ability/power/skill not seen/rare to see in this fandom; inventive name choices for original characters that fit the tone without being cumbersome or distracting; lets plot unfold organically

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YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS  -  @winchester-family-business

[SUPERNATURAL + INCEPTION]

"Dreamsharing: digging through the secrets that should stay locked up tight -  and no secret is safe from the Winchesters."

Q: see my review for more detail on how this author essentially gave a master class on how to start a story, particularly in the action/adventure genre; takes inspiration without carbon-copy; characterization on-point; tension through boundaries; writing for clever readers

Nash Note: The link on the right - the second part of the title - is to the first chapter. The one on the left - the first part of the title - is to the brief primer on the “Inception” universe  

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RISE FOR YOUR KING  -  @thran-duils

“You were betrothed to a prince, but when a neighboring king - a mage - decides to dole out justice to your future father in law, he destroys the royal family... and takes an immediate liking to you.”

Q: well-styled fantasy/pseudo-historical AU with solid world-building; in medias res; tension/drama/action that ebbs/flows; gift/power/skill for protag which is atypical/rarely seen

Curated by @klaineaholic, who said: "JaNae is the queen of AU!Cas and she throws this character into new positions and life experiences and draws from the various Castiels that we see on the show in order to play with her AU!Cas' personality. This fic reminds me of Godstiel in a way, and how power-hungry that Cas was. Definitely imaginative, truly unique, and sexy to boot."

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THUNDER ROAD  -  @tankcupcakes

“Sent back in time to stop the murder of their parents, Sam and Dean are met with unforeseen circumstances that strand them in the past.”

Q: in medias res; crisp dialogue; tight plotting; spot-on/fleshed-out characterization [familiar + OCs]; evident critical eye regarding appropriate detail for time period; nice formatting/flow

POEMS & POETICAL PROSE [mostly quick reads, these are actual poems of any structure/length, as well as short prose that sings like a songbird]

These will not be reviewed separately in Nash’s usual three-point manner à la #Nash Gives [Feed]back due to the typically short lengths & structure. For poems: an excerpted line is used in lieu of summary. If there is no title provided by the author, Nash/the curator will pick one for them.

WHAT ANGELS NEED  -  @justrandomspnstuff

"...counting freckles like they’re flecks of gold."

Q: stanzas arranged with common strokes vs. carbon-copy repetition; sweet/thoughtful without bending saccharine/broody; kept clever readers in mind/lets the reader fill in the finer details    

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HIS CREATION  -  @vintagesam

"...enough tiny stars to make you believe in infinity."

Q: impeccable structure; steady through-line with nice break in form for ending; imagery without using over-the-top vocab/kept it simple & sharp yet expressive

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HE KNEW  -  @trexrambling

“The hunting continued while a different dream was born from the ashes.”

Q: nice change of pace with pseudo-”insert” approach in 3rd person/engaging readers with choice of 2nd protag; good formatting to help flow/segments of their time together separated; no "real" dialogue but without loss of pace

[ETA: Caught it on a subsequent glance - I have no idea why only Rex’s got copied from draft when I had it in another category initially, but it’s fixed now! -N.]

RANDOM FANDOMS  [all types, all lengths, all the things that aren’t SPN but are still pretty dang super]

Works via curators will not necessarily receive Nash's typical 3-point review, same standards apply per genre as noted above

TWO BIRDS [series]  -  @whotheeffisbucky

[MARVEL]

“Set in the roaring 1920s, Bucky Barnes runs Manhattan like a kid with a toy set. There’s perhaps only one person who should be more feared than him - and she’s asking for his protection.”

Q: phenomenal/well-researched world-building; tone, verbiage, descriptions that read like they're somewhere in the Gatsby family tree; appropriate to this time period/genre - winding and packed with rich - not laborious - detail

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WHAT'S A LITTLE TRAUMA BETWEEN FRIENDS  -  @withstarryeyes 

[STAR TREK]

An injury proves traumatic to more than just the person on the receiving end.

Q: wonderful characterization/explored side of a protag only seen glimpses of; nice cadence/flow; appropriate use of "breaks" in formatting that didn't disturb the flow; refreshing style to see regarding a distinct lack of laborious descriptions [setting/characters/etc.] in lieu of shots of tiny details sprinkled along paragraphs

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LOGIC AND ANGELS  -  @oneshot-twoshot-redshot-blueshot

[SHERLOCK + pseudo-SPN]

The great Mr. Holmes adds to his vast amount of knowledge.

Q: in medias res; excellent characterization of protag; kept air of mystery/no explicit explanations/ambiguity - written with clever readers in mind; multiple well-crafted lines, both internal and verbal 

---> Unable to tag author, if someone would kindly let them know <---

ORIGINAL WORKS [anything from haiku to novella]

Works via curators will not necessarily receive Nash's typical 3-point review, same standards apply per genre as noted above

I DIDN'T GIVE YOU THE FRUIT  -  @medeae

"I forget that ichor is gold."

Q: imaginative/original; vivid but not overbearing/atypical imagery; crisp, tight structure/verbiage

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LIKE THE SUN  -  @louisamayanniecat

"He looked at her like she was the sun, in that he never looked at her except in frustration."

Q: subverted the concept and made it infinitely better; not a space/word/letter wasted; conveyed a multitude of thoughts and incited as many feelings in a crisp, quick, organized manner

---> Unable to tag author, if someone would kindly let them know <---

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THE JUDGMENT  -  @impala-dreamer

One person's journey through.

Q: good use of imagery; platitude pulled from the facile & given framework;  contrast of easy nature with intensity of setting

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BOOKS ABOUT BETTER GIRLS  -  @inkskinned

Not every princess spends her days alone in the tower.

Q: above and beyond, fantastic, exceptional execution of a trope twist; fleshed-out characters; plot unfolds organically; written for clever readers; lovely world-building/character depth as compared to the length of text [read: many authors would take more words and likely accomplish less]

Shameless Self-Promotion:

See Nash Write : Master  || See Nash Write : Mobile 

Now get out there & read, read, read!

[unadulteratedartisanwolf-blog]

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