#*cough* and my 68k fic *cough*

[motherfuckerunleashed]

ppl occasionally find my drizzt posts, and all my opinions lack nuance

given that entreri seems to be widely loved i'm so conscious that my entreri hate is wildly reductive

i just hope that the fact i'm this deep in the series is evidence enough that i do have more than one brain cell

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (20-26 Nov 2022)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😍👂‍A Restless Truth (Last Binding #2) (Freya Marske, author; Aysha Kala, narrator) - LOVE THIS WORLD, LOVE THIS SERIES! All the characters are a delight. The porn reading scene made me laugh so hard I had a coughing fit.

😊Boulangerie (orphan_account) - 74K, recovering WS omegaverse, chock full of delicious angst [side note: i just really love that ao3 has the 'orphan' option for fics]

😍cause in the back of my mind, i'm in the back of your car (greatunironic) - 68K, Stranger Things F1 racing AU - QUALITY FUCKING ANGST (but with that happy ending that makes it all worth it!) - grabbed me right from the jump, really great interactions with the kids

💖💖 +183K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

We Provide…Beverages (leveragehunters (Monkeygreen)) - MCU: Stucky, 6.7K - super cute no powers AU

Just About Half-Past Ten (rohkeutta) - MCU: Shrunkyclunks, 1.9K - reread; short-but-super-cute meet cute

Leave Those Umbrellas At Home (rohkeutta) - MCU: Shrunkyclunks, 2.4K - reread; sequel to above, equally cute

Introduction to Goncharov Studies (Dira Sudis (dsudis)) - The Sandman: Dreamling, 1.7K - LOVED this - of course the Library in the Dreaming would have every version of Goncharov PLUS physical manifestations of Tumblr posts - delightful

At The Eleventh Hour (Speranza, author; alby_mangroves, artist) - MCU: Stucky, 2.2K - I always forget a 4 Minute Window Thanksgiving story is a possibility so I'm always genuinely so excited for it. Speranza can write a 30 years of them just gathering to watch the parade and I'd read every single one. But of course, there's an emotional punch here too.

Murder, He Wrote (mklutz) - Teen Wolf: Sterek, 31K - I had a run of disappointing DNF's so I decided to reread something I knew would satisfy. Love this AU with novelist/amateur detective Stiles and Deputy Hale 💜

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

The Big Brunch - s1, e4-8

Leverage: Redemption - s2, e4

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Qatar World Cup

Mystery Menu - Can Sohla Make A Meal Out Of Oreos?

Mystery Menu - Can Sohla Make An Entire Meal Out of Potatoes?

Mystery Menu With Sohla and Ham - A Meal Out of Coffee Beans?

Mystery Menu With Sohla and Ham - 2 Chefs Try to Make A Meal Out of Bananas

Hot Ones - Guy Fieri Becomes the Mayor of Spicy Wings

Would I Lie To You? - s15, e11 (The Best Bits)

Mystery Menu With Sohla and Ham - Can 2 Chefs Make Dinner And Dessert With A Pickle?

Mystery Menu With Sohla and Ham - 2 Chefs Try To Make A Meal Out Of Jell-O

Hot Ones - Leslie Mann Gets Revenge While Eating Spicy Wings

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

Switched on Pop - The Art of Flow

Decoder Ring Plus - The Butt and the Bustle

Desert Island Discs - Rick Rubin, music producer

99% Invisible #515 - Super Citizens

Vibe Check - You Asked, We Answered!

One Year Plus - 1942: The Black-Japanese Axis

Twenty Thousand Hertz+ - We explore the rich sonic world of a North American bird

Off Menu - Ep 172: Stanley Tucci

Hit Parade Plus - Angry Young Men Edition

Into It - The Juiciest Celebrity Memoirs of 2022 (Plus: What's Chelsea Devantez Into?)

The Sporkful - A New Jersey Whiskey Mystery

Off Menu - Ep 40: Kumail Nanjiani

Off Menu - Ep 85: Jo Brand

It's Been a Minute - Sibling rivalry takes the stage on Broadway; plus Randall Park's latest 'Blockbuster'

The Sporkful - Sohla And Ham El-Waylly Settle A Pancake Dispute

Off Menu - Ep 43: Anthony Head

Off Menu - Ep 112: Simon Amstell

Off Menu - Menus To Be Buried With - The Resurrection!

Off Menu - Ep 160: Sir Lenny Henry

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Nick Lowe

Presenting Elvis Costello

00s One-Hit Wonders

Presenting The Notorious B.I.G.

Women of Rock

CREDITS: Holly Knight

Smash Mouth

Graham Parker: An Anthology

Steppin' Out (The Very Best Of Joe Jackson)

Presenting The Offspring

Irene Cara

[1dsource]

Ziam writers in this fandom need a lot of love, just like our larry writers, so here is our first Ziam fic rec! The theme of this fic rec is Friends to Lovers!

Please show these authors some extra love and leave a kudos, and even a comment if you have the time. It’s important we also give the newer, unknown authors a chance so they keep having motivation to write more amazing stories for us all to read <3

Fools, and Worthless Liars. by aliceninetyfive I 115K I Haunted hotel, winter

Louis and Liam decide to go work a winter season in a snow resort in the Alps during their gap year. They get placed in Austria, where they meet a bunch of familiar faces including Zayn, Harry, Niall and various others you're bound to recognise doing the same thing!

Featuring our old favourites angst, pining, self discovery, ot5, and a side helping of a haunted hotel & gorgeous alpine scenery.

Compartment 451 by ziamhaze I 88K I Harry Potter universe

Zayn’s a muggleborn wizard whose parents leave him to fend for himself once he’s made aware of his magical abilities. The Payne’s are an open minded wizarding family, who take him in and provide the boy with a loving home before he and their overly excited son Liam, go off to Hogwarts for the first time. Liam introduces Zayn to the wonderful world of magic, while Zayn teaches the pureblood about a way of life he’s never known. Somewhere between laser tag tutorials and petting Hebridean Black dragons, Zayn falls for the newly appointed Head Boy, but his three other nonconforming friends aren’t about to let the Ravenclaw go through his last year of school without letting Liam in on his feelings once and for all.

Money Moves by mmaree I 74K I Fake Relationship I Boss/Employee

“I’ll cut straight to the chase,” Liam announces. He leans forward, and Zayn is met with steely eyes and steepled fingers. “I’m willing to offer you fifty grand if you’ll enter into a small…partnership with me. This would be in addition to your salary at Payne Innovations, of course. Think of it as a bonus.”

Zayn narrows his eyes. “What kind of partnership?”

“A fake engagement.”

“Oh,” Zayn says, relieved it’s nothing illegal. “Wait—what?”

“A fake engagement,” his boss repeats slowly, as if he’s convinced Zayn’s comprehension skills are significantly lacking. “For six months. Maybe less if I can pull it off sooner but don’t worry—you’ll be paid the full sum regardless of how long it takes.”

Zayn’s suspicious, and he doesn’t even know why. There’s nothing to be suspicious of because, clearly, Liam’s lost the plot. Zayn’s having a conversation with a complete nutter. There’s no other reasonable explanation.

He clears his throat, searches Liam’s eyes for a sign he's taking the piss. “How long what takes?”

A smile plays at Liam’s lips. “For me to be hired as the CTO at Titan Technologies.”

Half A Heart by ginger_with_a_black_cat I 68K I Friends with Benefits

Zayn is an English student who doesn't want to fall in love because his biggest fear is to get hurt again. Liam is a resident bad boy and everyone's wet dream on the outside, but in the inside he's a secret even to himself. Harry's Liam's best friend with a secret of his own. Louis likes to party hard, get drunk and get everyone in trouble but everybody loves him nonetheless. And then, there's Niall, who's the youngest of them all, but still has the most brains and keeps them all in order all while being in love with an impossible girl.

Or where Zayn gets hit in the head by his own actions, Liam finds himself falling for an idiot, Harry gets dragged out of the closet by the love of his life, Louis wants Harry and only Harry and Niall just wants all of them to get their shit together, so he can get his own life back.

and you take me the way i am by orphan_account I 54K I Fake Relationship

It’s incredibly relaxing, even in this small space, the way they’ve always been. Such a distraction that he doesn’t think, not for once, about agreeing to lie to his family and Zayn pretending to be his date and how easy all of this might be.

(Liam needs a date to a wedding. His family loves to match him up with blind dates. He doesn't want that. He needs a date... and, well, why not Zayn. Pretending to be boyfriends for a weekend isn't the worst idea he supposes. Liam is horribly wrong.)

some moments are rare by orphan_account I 46K I Uni au

The city blinks awake outside but Zayn falls asleep with his nose pressed to Liam’s coffee-stain of a birthmark.

(or, alternatively: Zayn is spending a summer studying aboard; thirty days across Europe, with his best mate by his side. It's always been like this ― Zayn and Liam. And he's always been a bit daft about love, or the fact that Liam's always been in love with him. It's all a bit of a mess, actually.)

Just As Fast, Twice As Dangerous by lightswoodmagic I 45K I Superpowers

When he realised it was only him and Liam in the hallway, he felt safe enough to drop his shield. Oh. Lovely. Liam was emanating affection and fondness, his primary emotions filled with warmth and love. Zayn let himself bask in it, how it would feel to be loved by Liam. He knew Liam loved him, but he wasn’t in love with him; Zayn had felt that emotion too many times to count, and this just wasn’t it. He dug slightly deeper, could feel that Liam was excited and nervous, and when he hit a wall Liam had built himself, he dropped back. He wasn’t supposed to know everything.

Or, Zayn's a normal student by day, and a superhero by night. When a mysterious man seems to target him at the same time a natural disaster strikes, Zayn has to figure out a way to save the day, protect his heart, and convince the boys he's not a vigilante all at the same time.

down the vista of years by ohthathurt I 30K I Time Travel

Zayn whispered, “So where do we go from here?”

Liam shrugged, seemingly lost in thought. Then he smiled down at his boyfriend, “Forward?”

Zayn smiled serenely, eyes twinkling like gold in the sun seeping through the open windows.

He nodded, “Forward.”

Just the two of us and a cute little cup of cyanide by orphan_account I 17K I Accidental Marriage

“I definitely need something alcoholic if I’m going to watch my two best mates divorce,” Niall says, yanking a top over his head.

“We’re not actually married,” Liam says, with slightly more force than intended. “It was an accident. Obviously I wouldn’t ever get married to Zayn if I was sober, that’s fucking ridiculous.”

The bathroom door opens suddenly and Zayn stands there in nothing but a towel, bottom lip trapped between his teeth. Liam opens his mouth to say something but Zayn holds up his hand, shaking his head. “You don’t need to be a dick about it, Liam. This isn’t exactly how I envisioned my first marriage going either.”

Or an I-accidentally-married-my-best-mate-in-Vegas fic, where Liam's completely oblivious, Zayn's completely in love, Harry's had enough, Louis plays mediator and Niall just wants his best friends to be with each other.

i'm watching you run from the sidelines by thebeehive I 17K I 

“One week,” Zayn cajoled. “C’mon Leeyum. After one week if you hate it that much, you can go. But just stay one week.”

“In Pennsylvania. On your farm. In the middle of nowhere.”

Liam looked at his phone, but it held no answers. Zayn couldn’t be serious. Liam hadn’t stopped traveling the world after the band went on hiatus. He never stopped. Dubai one week, London the next, and then L.A. It didn’t really matter where, as long as he kept moving. But he missed Zayn, missed his former band mate. His former friend. He hadn’t seen him in person in years. And it couldn’t be that bad, on a farm, could it?

Liam sighed. “Fine. A week. But your wifi better be fucking spectacular, mate.”

{Or, Zayn invites Liam to his farm for a week to help him relax. Things don’t go as planned.}

fooled around and fell in love by tachycardia I 15K I Fake Relationship

“I have a proposal - a proposition,” Liam corrects quickly. “For you.”

Liam and Zayn pretend to be engaged.

a river flows so surely to the sea by kettering I 14K I Uni au

It’s August, not a cloud in the sky, and two boys who’ve been smitten with each other for going on a decade are tying the knot.

get a little bit nervous by louistomlinsons I 14K I 

Liam goes to say something, probably something dumb, but he chokes on his spit, coughing loudly. The man in front of him is one of the prettiest people he’s ever seen in his life; he’s got thick eyelashes that fan out and frame his dark eyes and tanned unblemished skin. Liam forgets all of his previous thoughts.

“You okay, mate?” he asks, concern filtering into his voice.

“Yeah, yeah,” Liam says, still choking and coughing. “Sorry.”

“We all reacted the same way we saw Zayn for the first time,” Niall says from next to him, laughter evident in his tone. “He’s a god, isn’t he?”

or, ziam farmer's market au where liam, louis, and niall work at the produce stand, harry and zayn work at the bakery stand, and nobody's straight

Tell me tomorrow (I'll wait by the window for you) by orphan_account I 13K

“You’re, like, beautiful,” Liam says, and it’s said so earnestly and with such conviction that Zayn can hardly believe that they don’t know each other in real life. “God, I’m cacking it now.”

“Don’t,” Zayn says shyly. “We’re both people, it… it will be what it will.”

“Can’t wait,” Liam says softly. “I’m nervous, yeah, but I really can’t fucking wait.”

“Me neither,” Zayn grins. “Less than seventeen hours to go now, babe.”

Or a Gavin and Stacey AU where Zayn pines, Liam's nervous, Louis's loud, Harry's a little odd and Niall just loves an omelette.

This Is Somethin' Real by lightswoodmagic I 5K I 

Zayn had felt it before, felt the hope and the possibility of something brewing, but where he usually pushed it down, he let it consume him now, let it take over everything until he was swinging his feet and grinning when Niall finally walked through the door.

“Lads!”

“Nialler!” Louis shouted, wrapping him up in a hug.

“How is everyo – woah, why are you so happy?” he asked Zayn, cackling when Zayn kicked out at him.

“He’s going to tell Payno he’s in love with him tonight, that’s why,” Louis explained, and Zayn saw Harry’s nose scrunch as he smiled.

Again, if you read, please remember to leave kudos and/or a comment so we keep motivating our lovely, talented writers and make them feel valued

[jlf23tumble]

Hei jen! How are you? I was wondering if you know of any hl fic where they meet as adults? (Like 30s but even older) and also if you have a rec for fics that are just mmm... warm? Idk how to explain it but just really nice and warm ? Because usually i find super fluffy fics a bit boring ( wjhfah sorry!) But i feel like you may have found some good ones!

Hello, and you bet I do! Sorry for the delay; too much work jumped up, and it’s about to jump again, but I can squeeze in a good old-fashioned rec or two! Let’s start with the older h/l fics...I actually did one on this topic a little while ago, but since then, OF COURSE, I found some more, so I’d add these to that list, too:

Took Me By Surprise, by QuickedWeen, louis/harry, 20k, M. Louis Tomlinson was on the brink of becoming the next MLS star. Until he blew out his knee. A decade later, he's the head anchor of the American version of Match of the Day and is raising the coolest nine-year-old on the planet. (I actually read this a while ago and only just realized that it fits this rec perfectly, derp)

taking tips and getting stoned, by alison, louis/harry, 24k, M. Louis drives a taxi. He hasn't seen Harry in eight years when they have a chance meeting. A lot has changed in that time. But not everything. (not a new fic, and not a first-time meeting, but it has album release vibes that had me thinking Things)

Not That Gone, by abrighteryellow, louis/harry, 61k, E. A few weeks after Louis and Harry, *ahem*, reconnect at their high school reunion, Harry temporarily moves back home. Louis isn't sure he has the emotional fortitude for a prolonged fling with the man of the dreams. (a sequel i never saw coming! you don’t need to read the first one, but still recommended all around)

Now for the warmth! This is a bit trickier because I read this ask as a soft, cozy, kind of comfy blanket of a fic, with a bit of spice...so that’s what I pulled for you! At least one of my faves is in the link to the earlier rec list, so I won’t repeat it here (cough, cough, Turning Page)...you’ll find I *do* repeat a lot of my faves below because I love that warmth:

Only Thing That Can Quench My Thirst, by eyesofshinigami, louis/harry, 6.5k, E.  Louis wouldn't exactly call it a thing, his newfound fascination with the curly trail that starts below Harry's bellybutton. (PUBE FIC THAT LAUNCHED A FEST, but it’s so sweet-n-hot, god, I love it so much)

So Much Left to Say, by myownspark, louis/harry, 7k, M. Harry and Louis play for rival high school football teams, and when they play against each other in the Homecoming game, someone has to lose. (like a warm blanket of snow)

call me anything you like, but my name is, by wishforwishes, harry/mitch, harry/clare, harry/mitch/sarah, 9k, E. Three mentors, two tea parties, one and a half recording studios, and a reference to Archie comics. (yes, it isn’t h/l, but JESUS this story sticks so hard right now, I’m obsessed with it on four levels)

Laundry Room, by beautlouis, louis/harry, 10k, E. Louis can't stop staring at Harry and he can't figure out why Harry consistently points out Louis’ inside-out shirts, and his untied shoes, and messy hair. (i space out and think about this fic anytime i see a laundry room picture)

Tan Lines and Some Memories, by twoshipstiedup, louis/harry, 11k, M. Harry Styles is the indie movie darling he’d been avoiding ever since Louis saw his movie at Cannes and harbored an unreasonable grudge against him. A unicorn t-shirt finally brings them together in person. (this one’s warmth comes from the dialog...so sparkly!)

Tuxedo Dress-Up, by blake, louis/harry, 11k, E. Louis is an aspiring song writer by day, a make up artist for drag queens by night, and masquerading as a full time real estate agent for his third most famous (and first most handsome) client Harry Styles. (I LIVE AND DIE BY THIS ONE, FRIENDS)

burn this flame, by rainbowninja167, louis/harry, 13k, E. When Harry gets invited to play in a celebrity charity match with Louis Tomlinson, Manchester United's star player, he's determined to impress him with brilliant football skills. (this is a great representative of my love for footie!louis)

Grenadine Sunshine, by objectlesson, louis/harry, 18k, E. He wants to show him everything he knows, even though he doesn’t know anything about this, about kissing boys or flirting with them or doing their makeup or even showing them it’s okay to want to wear makeup in the first place. (the response to wankerville’s call, GORGEOUS and dare I say it, totally canon)

Sing You Butterflies, by objectlesson, louis/harry, 22k, E. Harry’s a clumsy unicorn who accidentally stomps on a witch’s garden and is turned into a human as punishment; fairy-tale-fine Louis has to teach him how to live as a human and stop him from eating soap. (so HARD to choose between this and the mermaid fic, but I love allllll of phoenix’s canon and AUs so much)

If You Asked Me if I Loved Him (I’d Lie), by allyasavedtheday, louis/harry, 26k, M, needs ao3 account. Or the one where Harry and Louis eloped but neglected to mention it to anyone. (what is it with me loving part 2 of a story more than part 1??? both are amazing, but this is a nice spin on a familiar trope)

Nothing You Can Do (But You Can Learn How to Be You In Time), by Teumessian, louis/harry, 28k, E, needs ao3 account. Louis braids Harry’s hair. There are good times, bad times, fancy houses, supportive bandmates, secret boyfriends, small rebellions, bigger revolutions, some nail varnish, ribbons, cute clothing, and a Pinterest. ([lights up voice] do you know who you are????)

hush., by wankerville, louis/harry, 41k, T. “I don't like you like that, Harry.” “See,” Harry starts, Louis can hear the smile in his voice, “that's where I think you're lying.” an au where small towns suck, louis is losing it, and harry’s just too perfect. (goddddddddd, this story, it kills me, it’s so beautiful and cozy and warm)

Harry Styles Cooks..., by sunsetmog, louis/harry, 52k, E. Louis owns all of Harry Styles’ cookbooks, and he never intends to cook a single thing out of any of them. (I ascend every time i get the nota that this wip has updated)

To the Ends of the Earth, by stylinsoncity, louis/harry, 68k, M. During a yearlong hiatus, Louis visits Harry at his cabin in Idaho, where long-buried feelings ignite like the fire keeping them warm. (if you haven’t read it in a while, check out the updated epilogue!)

knock knock, i love you, by beautlouis, louis/harry, 86k, E. Harry and Louis get kicked out of a statistics exam for passing a knock knock joke note, and subsequently fall in love. Harry's a virgin, there's a cat, a hot cocoa date, a lot of sex, even more knock knock jokes, and everything is lovely and happy. (pure fluffy hot coziness, dreams really do come true--this was a wip for 2 YEARS)

Untangle Me, by suixcene, louis/harry, 100k, E. It’s not like Louis can pinpoint the exact moment in time when him and Harry fell out of sync. There wasn’t really one at all. It had been a gradual slip, like the tide wearing away at a sandstone cliff. Chipping the solid foundations until there was nothing left to stop the structure falling to the waves below. or the one where they finally get it right (listen, there’s a lot you have to sort of take with a grain of salt for the sake of the story, but this one owns my heart because it was the first big one i read in this fandom? yah, YAHHHHH)

[diminuel]

I was asked to recommend some creature!Destiel fics. Most of the fic I’ll rec are over 20k. That should leave you all with a lot of reading material! :D

Note: If the fic is marked as explicit or mature, then it’ll have bottom!Cas and top!Dean content. If it’s not bottom!Cas (only) there’ll be a note.

@unforth-ninawaters has kindly sent me a creature!Destiel rec list she put together, so if you have a more varied taste when it gets to top/ bottom preferences that’s a good place to start!

Rec list will be updated as I read more material. 

(Current version: 10th July 2017)

Enjoy! ♥

(Right now the fics are ordered alphabetically and by creature if I’ve got more than one fic with that type.)

Mermen/ Cecaelia:

Water bound characters with fins and tentacles!

A Fish Called Castiel by Bellacatbee (Explicit, 37k // mermaid!Cas)

Dean Winchester plans on proposing to his summer fling, Lisa Braeden. He buys a ring, against the advice of best friend Charlie Bradbury, and books a table at an expensive restaurant. Before he can propose however, Lisa breaks up with him. His pride wounded, Dean drives out to the coast, gets liquored up and throws the engagement ring into the ocean. When he goes in to retrieve it, he heads too deep and that should be the end of the story. He shouldn’t end up back on the shore, coughing up seawater with a beautiful young man tending to him. Dean doesn’t know where this man came from or who he is but he gives him the engagement ring as a thank you for saving his life. He never expects to see the guy again, but two days later he gets a call from the local Sheriff about a strange man she’s picked up wondering naked in town with Dean’s wallet and ring on him. The guy’s name is Castiel and, much to Dean’s surprise, he’s a mermaid.

Glory In The Water by Bellacatbee (Explicit, 20k // octo!Cas)

After the mysterious drowning deaths of three teens, Sam and Dean find themselves in a small town, investigating the possibility of a monster living in the local lake. Eventually, their search leads them to believe they’re dealing with some kind of tentacle monster. They attempt to take down the creature, but it overpowers them, dragging Dean down into the lake. Sam, distraught, believes his brother is dead, but Dean awakens in a cave under the lake, being cared for by one of the monsters, Castiel. Even as Sam vows revenge, Dean finds himself falling for the strange creature who believes Dean is his mate.

The Lonely Sea and The Sky by whelvenwings (23k // merman!Dean)

When Dean, a little lost and a little lonely, finds himself wishing on a star one night, he doesn’t expect anything to come of it, and certainly not for the star in question to fall right out of the sky. The very last thing that he could have possibly anticipated is Castiel - winged, angry and looking for the grace that he lost in the fall, so that he can get back to Heaven.

Dean’s a little fascinated by Castiel, and Castiel is intrigued by Dean and his seafaring life. But Castiel has to go back to Heaven, and finding the grace has to be his first priority, even though it often seems he would rather put Dean first. But Dean knows it’s foolish to hope. After all, a bird may fall in love with a fish - but where would they live?

Dragons:

Fire breathing creatures, sometimes like gold, mostly just like Dean/ Cas.

Castiel’s Dragon by Unforth (Explicit, 38k // dragon!Dean)

Note: Dean is an actual dragon, he has no human form

Born without legs, Castiel was destined to be a dragon rider. He’d always dreamed of how it would be, and when the day for his pairing came, he knew he’d met the perfect dragon.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Monster by firefly124 (11k, dragon!Dean)

Dean’s doing pretty well, he thinks. His diner is doing well enough to support him with money left over to send Sammy at college. He may not get the best sleep at night, but he’s used to it. He’s used to ignoring the memories that haunt him and the parts of himself he doesn’t like. What he’s not used to is dealing with the hot new owner of the business that just moved in at the other end of the building, and somehow the guy manages to shake things up without half trying.

Taming The Dragon by iDiru (Explicit, 57k // dragon!Cas)

Note: graphic depictions of violence

Dean, along with his brother Sam, is a dragon slayer; hunting dragons for sport and coin. Usually their life is pretty straight forward, but Dean comes to hunt a rare dragon that will change his view on the species forever. A dragon who's finally outsmarted the great Dean Winchester.

SPN canon inspired monsters:

Fics with a setting that is close to canon (hunting is a thing) and/ or present the creatures as we know them from the SPN canon. Angel!Dean is also featured here.

Basileus by SillyBlue (Explicit, 48k // creature!Cas)

A basilisk’s egg is said to be able to break any spell or curse and dissolve any claim on a human’s soul. With the ten years he had been given quickly coming to a close, Dean has no other option but to follow this one desperate lead. While Dean’d love to be able to escape the clutches of hell (and make sure that Sam doesn’t take the bait and follow him directly down into the fiery pits), he really, really doesn’t want to go hunt a probably extinct monster in Europe. But he needs a basilisk and apparently a town in Switzerland just happens to have one as its guardian beast.

It’s just Dean’s luck that this one wears a trench coat and is the hottest guy Dean’s ever seen.

Black Dove by SillyBlue (105k // leviathan!Cas)

With no recollection of how or why, Dean finds himself transported two years into the future.

The only chance Dean’s got to survive in a world where civilization is either gathered into Leviathan controlled cities or in small Settlements is someone he had believed dead. Joining Castiel on his travels through the Settlements and the toxic wastelands gives them both a chance to mend what’s been broken between them while Dean tries to find a way back home. It’s a little bit inconvenient though when the only clues as to why he’s been sent to the future are a very unstable connection back to Sam in 2012 and a number of seemingly random weapons and items, including an ominous gold thread and… a box of condoms.

Convenient Husbands by Annie D (scaramouche) (Explicit, 39k// phoenix!Cas)

Note: There’s switching in this story

"It's only temporary, right?" Dean says. "Just until you're healed up, and then we'll never have to see each other again. So what do you say, Castiel, do you want to marry me or not?"

Divine Justice (sucks) by consultingcas (13k // angel!Dean)

The archangels don't take kindly to those who break Heaven's laws. Dean and Castiel both get put on heavenly community service to pay for their "crimes". And they learn their lesson alright, just not the one Heaven had planned on teaching them.

Faerie Strange Circumstances by almaasi (30k // fairy!Cas)

Still-hunters AU. Driving home after getting his broken leg set into a cast, Dean finds a naked and rather disoriented faerie in a box beside the road. The little guy calls himself Castiel; he's seven inches tall, a self-proclaimed warrior, and comes complete with a pair of butterfly wings and a sword the size of a toothpick. (Note: if you value your fingernails, do not call him 'cute'.) Feeling generous, Dean takes Cas back to Bobby's place to offer him some food, a bath, and a place to sleep - oh, and Barbie clothes, but that one is strictly off the record. Sam and Charlie assist in finding a way to return Castiel to his home realm, but the problem is, the longer Cas stays, the more Dean doesn't want his fae buddy to leave. Going home seems to entail certain death, after all...

Like A Stain Upon My Skin by SillyBlue (explicit, 61k // amazon!Dean)

“Prudence and Clarity” was Mary Winchester’s credo for staying alive despite a curse flowing through the blood of all the women in her family. Learn how to lie, was the second rule she had to implement when she watched her son grow up within 3 days of being born. Being the only male amazon in the history of their messed up species meant that Dean’s life was dominated by lies, shame and loneliness. After unwittingly saving Castiel Novak from becoming the next human sacrifice to the amazons’ mating cycle, he allowed himself one night where he could pretend that he had a shot at a relationship. But breaking Mary’s first rule not only pulled Castiel back into a world he had escaped from years ago, but also drew the amazons' attention who would love to get their hands on Dean.

Man in the Wilderness by OneHundredSuns (explicit, 68k // creature!Dean)

Dean Winchester is fresh out of Purgatory along with every other Tom, Dick and Wendigo that called the cesspool home. As the monsters lay waste to the Earth and eat anything they can get their hands on, Dean sets out to find his only remaining family so that they can hunker down and fight the assholes head on. He doesn’t mean to stumble upon Castiel Novak and his adorable twins in the middle of the apocalypse and he sure as hell doesn’t mean to offer them a ride to wherever they are trying to get to. But the world is a dangerous place now and he’s always been a sucker for blue eyes and cute kids. So he’ll help them out and just hope it doesn’t get him or them killed in the process.

Tamed by Winglesss (explicit, 39k // angel!Cas)

In a world where supernatural creatures are coveted for their powers, and often kept as pets, Dean and Sam are infamous hunters. Known for capturing creatures too dangerous to own and selling the ones that aren't. When they hear about an Angel sighting, they know they have to find this rare and dangerous winged creature. With a help of an Enochian book with instructions on taming Angels, they manage to capture Castiel. When things take an interesting turn between Dean and the creature, Sam realizes he may have made a translation error that will change his brother's life forever.

Various creatures:

Land mermaids, pagan gods, plants come to life... it’s all here!

25¢ pocket guardian angels by hopelessheathen (ElspethMcGillicuddy) (13k// creature!Cas)

Dean walks into his local bank one day and notices that someone has filled the old gumball machine with these tiny, wiggling, sentient angels in individual plastic packaging. Deeply concerned about their air supply and the fact that they're trapped there in the sun, he starts pumping in quarters to rescue them. This is worse than leaving a dog in an overheating car.

Now he's got forty of the little guys running all over his house, and god knows how many others might be trapped and dying all over the city.

Beyond the Ether by Powerfulweak (Explicit, 52k // Pagan God!Dean)

Mythology fascinated Castiel. On a professional level, of course (a requirement when you teach world religions and philosophy), but very much on a personal one as well. When he accidentally summons an ancient pagan god and protector called Dean, he is thrust deeper into that world then he ever thought possible

Clipped and Unbound by garrisonbabe (explicit, 50k // angel!Cas)

Castiel is a slave widely regarded as unbreakable and unruly. Dean Winchester is a billionaire ending a five year long search to rescue him. They'll both learn that peace can be the hardest thing in the world to find.

Convergence by snarklyboojum (13k // creature!Dean)

Dean Winchester wasn't the sort of king Castiel had been expecting at all.

Cruel Winter by bellacatbee (15k // vampire!Cas)

Dean is surprised that anyone would rent the big house at the edge of the woods. It’s been empty for years.

He’s even more surprised to find it’s been taken by a man caring for his sickly ward. There must be hundreds of places better than a musty old house for someone to recuperate.

Dean finds employment at the house working as a gardener and begins to realize that things aren’t all they seem. The curtains are always drawn and he isn’t allowed inside, The house’s new owner is strangely jumpy and rude whenever Dean suggests bringing his ward outside to enjoy the sunshine.

It’s only when Dean sneaks inside the house that he discovers the reason - the man’s ward, Castiel, is a vampire.

King Frost by r2metoo (Mature, 34k // creature!Cas)

The Frost King will kiss the unwary at the first frost of winter and then take them to his palace and make them his slave. But it’s sooo way more fluffy than that. Just a Christmas fic from me to you. Base on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, with other fairy tale themes mixed in.

Living Right Is In the Trying by OneHundredSuns (explicit, 70k // angel!Cas)

Dean Winchester hadn’t lead an exciting life or a particularly good one but he’d always tried to do what was right, especially when it came to his little brother, even going so far as to take the blame for a crime he didn’t commit. Now with his brother a big shot at college and no prospects of his own, he takes a job from an eccentric man named Gabriel until he can get himself together. He meets and becomes fast friends with Castiel, a mysterious man with a dark troubling past.

But Dean and Castiel’s budding relationship is soon threatened by Dean’s commitments in California, and the arrival of a known gangster named Crowley, who’s determined to have Castiel as his own...as well as his wings.

Monsters On the Mountain by TheIttyBitty (41k // mutant!Cas)

In which Castiel lives quietly with his family in a post-apocalyptic world where humans occasionally mutate, and are promptly killed. When Castiel turns seventeen and begins to mutate, he assumes his life is over. He manages to escape execution, but is promptly exiled which, for him, might actually be worse.

Oadriax by Daksgirl (Explicit, 83k // creature!Cas)

After the death of their estranged mother Mary on a planet called Oadriax, Sam and Dean hop the first transport out to the edge of the civilized galaxy. After a tense run in with the base’s demonic security chief and his creepy second in command Alistair, Dean finds himself lost in the forest, and stumbles into an angel with black wings and blue eyes that calls himself Castiel.

Our Lady of Modesty by Unforth (Explicit, 97k // creature!Dean)

Note: there’s twincest in this story

The death of Jimmy and Castiel Shurley’s parents grants them a modest inheritance and, more importantly, freedom to make their own choices. After hunting for the perfect house, they find what they’re looking for in an old farmhouse in the mountains of upstate New York: nice neighbors not too close, the beauty of nature surrounding them, and solitude, save for each other. The isolation is both a blessing and a curse; Castiel has pined for his brother since puberty, but incest is forbidden and homosexuality is taboo, and he knows if he speaks about his feelings he’ll lose his brother as a best friend and destroy their careers as children’s book authors as well.

Fortunately, Castiel finds a new friend in Dean, the strange man who hangs around their property. Sure, it’s a weird, especially since Dean refuses to enter the house or even meet Jimmy, but Dean is gregarious, beautiful, kind, and brilliantly knowledgeable about the natural wonders surrounding them. Castiel isn’t the best at assessing people but he’s absolutely sure there’s no harm in Dean…

Smoke Jumper by Nikolaus_Chaser (Explicit, 47k // nymph!Cas)

Note: references to switching

When Dean Winchester's parachute fails to deploy in the middle of a raging forest fire, he prepares for death. What he never expects is for his life to be saved by a creature he didn't even know existed until now.

The Emptiness of His Chest by of_dreamdust (25k // zombie!Cas)

Note: there are references to past suicide

In The Flesh AU. Dean Winchester lost his best friend too early, but there was no time to grieve. The Rising happened; the Undead were roaming the streets, and the Living had to do everything they could to survive. But the cure was found and, as everything starts falling back into place, Dean has to deal not only with his brother leaving, but with his dead best friend coming back.

Through the Rain by SillyBlue (20k // naga!Dean)

Since the war between angels and the Naga had ended, very little happened at their shared border. Rains Landing, one of the major outposts that guarded the realm of the angels against the snake-like creatures hadn't seen a single Naga in 30 years. There were some monsters, but most of all there was rain, rain, rain.

Prince Castiel could hardly believe his ears when he was told that a small group of Naga soldiers have accidentally invaded the land of angels. Deciding to strike up a conversation instead of demanding retribution, Castiel learned that the leader of the group is none other than THE Dean of Winchester, the fabled warrior prince Metatron had been so afraid of.

Finding Dean to be an easy-going man, Castiel suggests that their two countries should at least try to entertain friendly relations. Unbeknownst to them, their parents seem to have reached the same conclusion. And what would bring two countries closer than an arranged marriage?

Together by TheAuthorGod (19k // dwarf!Dean, elf!Cas)

Dean doesn’t travel alone so he hires a man to travel with him. He hadn’t expected the elf to be quite as strange as he turned out to be; but, he found that he wouldn’t have had it any other way. It seemed that they worked pretty well together.