#author: sidewinder

[deancaspinefest]

Take The Long Way Home

Author: sidewinder | Artist: caught-a-dragonfly (Sarah)

Posting on Monday April 15

Two months ago, the world didn’t end. But for Dean Winchester, who fully expected to sacrifice not just his life but his very soul in order to stop Amara? The celebration has been clouded by the disappearance of his best friend, Cas—the friend he’d started to realize meant more to him than he’d been willing to accept until now. The last anyone’s seen of Castiel was when he was banished from the bunker by Toni Bevell. The Brits swear they don’t have him. Neither Heaven nor Hell claim to know of his whereabouts. All of Dean’s calls, texts and prayers to the angel have gone unanswered, and Dean can’t help but worry that a "Winchester win" has once again come at a terrible price. One day hope finally arrives in a lead from an unexpected if not always trustworthy ally. However finding Cas might end up being only the first step in saving him—not simply from the forces holding him captive, but from the prison of his own mind.

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

As Dean approached the galley, he saw the light on there already, meaning he wasn’t the only early bird up and about today. His mood brightened with a momentary spark of hope—Cas rarely slept, and when he was around the bunker, he usually enjoyed hanging around in the kitchen to read or watch cat videos and shit all night on one of their laptops. But Dean’s bubble of hope burst when he saw it was just his brother, sitting there in his sweatpants and a ratty old t-shirt, chugging a disgusting-looking green smoothie. Sam was no doubt ready to head out on his morning self-imposed torture session—that is, a five-mile run looping around the bunker to Lebanon and back.

Kid seriously had to be the devil’s vessel if he found that kind of physical torment enjoyable.

“Hey,” Dean grunted at his brother.

Sam looked up from his laptop at Dean and nodded. “Hey. You’re up early.”

“You too. Couldn’t sleep?”

“Rarely do.”

Yeah, that was something they had in common. “Anything up?” Dean asked on his way to fill the coffeepot with water. 

“Not really. Just restless, I guess. I found a case, maybe. Not that I was looking for one,” Sam added quickly. “But while I was searching for any signs of Cas, or Lucifer, I came across a news story about some strange deaths in Wichita. It’s not far from here, and—”

“If you wanna go hunt whatever it is, go for it,” Dean cut him off. “Take mom. I know she’s itching to get out of here and do somethin’ other than stare at our ugly mugs all day.” 

“Dean—”

“No, Sam. I mean it. Until I know where Cas is, I just can’t. My head’s not in the game.” A distracted hunter was a dead hunter. That was the rule their father had drilled into them as soon as they each could carry a weapon, and learn about the things that went bump in the night being real. A week ago, Dean had let Sam talk him into going on a “milk run” hunt to clear out a small vampire nest near Toledo and he’d nearly lost his neck thanks to not fully concentrating on the job at hand.

“Okay, I get it.”

“Do you?” Dean snapped. “Cas has been missing for two months, Sam! We have no idea where he is, if he even—”

Dean cut himself off. He couldn’t say it. Not out loud.

If he even survived.

(continue reading on Ao3 on Monday April 15)

[spnangelbang]

doors unlocked and open

Author: sidewinder (@hawkland) Artist: fluffsnake (@fluffsnake) Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Featured characters: Castiel, Dean Winchester, The Empty, Jack Kline, Benjamin, Meg Masters, Chuck Shurley, Death Featured relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Castiel & Jack Kline, Castiel & Meg Masters, Dean Winchester & Death Length: 12,000 words Tags:  Post-Episode: s01e13 Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye, Episode Fix-It: s15e20 Carry On, Post-Canon Fix-It, First Kiss, Jack Kline as God, The Empty just wants a nap, Non-Linear Narrative

Summary:  While Jack is now God, revamping Heaven for the human souls under his care, Cas has become the new ruler and embodiment of the Empty. He is content with this fate until Jack brings upsetting news: Dean has passed away unexpectedly.

And Dean is not finding peace, not even in Jack’s improved afterlife.

Instead, Dean has discovered a way to traverse the Axis Mundi to visit other universes, alternative Earths, and has been meddling in their fates. Dean tells Jack that it’s because he’s looking for his “family,” but Jack feels he’s really just looking for one individual: Castiel.

Castiel must confront Dean and the consequences of his confession, or else Jack may need to take corrective actions. But will their reunion be enough to bring Dean peace? Or is there still some greater destiny the hunter must fulfill, even in death…

Or perhaps, through death itself.

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[hawkland]

Art Masterpost: I'll Follow You Into the Dark Story by: FriendofCarlotta (@friendofcarlotta) Art by: sidewinder (@hawkland) It's exciting to get to post on the opening day of the @deancasreversebang this year, and collaborating with @friendofcarlotta, no less! I've been so eager to share this work; the main art piece is one that I did in an absolute frenzy of inspiration, and I was really pleased with how it came out. It's one of my favorites that I've done in a while and the story FriendofCarlotta wrote to go with it is *chef's kiss* all that I could have asked for!

The genesis of the original art piece was in thinking about how only angels and demons can (supposedly) go to the Empty. If that's the case, then what if Dean chose to "go demon" again in order to rescue Cas?

This is one of my really large pieces (20"x16") so I had a lot of room to play with the details and color - and thankfully I kept good notes so I could match colors when working on the title art piece as well. I feel like I was channeling some of my love for the Venetian masters, especially Tintoretto, with this one in the way I tried to use color and lighting and active poses to make it all very dramatic. Dean's demon wings, too, were done all in one very fortuitous wet-on-wet wash with then just a little highlighting for the spikes.

Now go read the story and give it lots of love and kudos!

[spnangelsanddemons-rb]

Title: Sunflowers & Pussy Willows Author: MBQ (@mbqnoyolo) Artist: sidewinder (@hawkland) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: None Tags: Castiel is Jack's Parent, Dean Winchester is Jack's Parent, Dean Winchester saves Mary Winchester, post 15x20, the winchesters adjacent Word count: 4,109 Featured characters: Castiel, Jack Kline Featured relationships: Castiel & Jack Kline, Castiel/Dean Winchester, John Winchester/Mary Winchester, Dean Winchester & Mary Winchester

Summary: Jack and Castiel do a little terraforming in Heaven while biding their time for the long-awaited arrival of a certain infuriating hunter.

Link to fic | Link to art

[deancasswitchbang]

Here We May Be Free

TITLE: Here We May Be Free AUTHOR: FriendofCarlotta  ARTIST: sidewinder

LINK TO FIC || LINK TO ART

PAIRINGS: Castiel/Dean Winchester MAJOR ARCHIVE WARNINGS: N/A TAGS: Alternate Canon, Mermaid Castiel, Hunter Dean Winchester, Fluff and Angst, Amnesia, Magic, Falling in Love, Wild Horses Being Dicks. SUMMARY: When Dean was eleven, he saw something in the ocean: a boy with blue eyes and iridescent scales.

Almost twenty years later, a spontaneous detour after a hunt brings Dean and Sam back to the town where that encounter took place. And Dean can’t shake the feeling that Castiel, the owner of the local Mermaid Museum, looks familiar…

[destielomegaversebigbang]

Ligaments

Author: tea_or_die Artist: sidewinder Rating: Explicit Summary: Ligament - Definition: lig·a·ment /ˈliɡəm(ə)nt/ noun ANATOMY

a short band of tough, flexible fibrous connective tissue which connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.

a membranous fold that supports an organ and keeps it in position.

ARCHAIC

a thing which unites people or things; a bond.

Warnings/Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, POV Alternating, Omega Castiel/Alpha Dean Winchester, Trans Character, Alpha Dean Winchester, Omega Castiel (Supernatural), Serial Killers, Murder Husbands, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics. Idiots in Love, Mutual Pining, Dismemberment, Torture, Knives, Blood and Violence, Smut, fluff too, Sexual Tension, Self-Worth Issues, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Scenting, True Mates, Mating Bites, Frottage, Anal Sex, Consent is Sexy, Unsafe Sex, Happy Ending

Link to Fic

Link to Art

[spn-mediabigbang]

The Heart of a Legend || Mature || 20,200 words

Author: sitruunavohveli (Tossukka)

Artist: hawkland (sidewinder)

Summary:

In academic circles Dean is known as just another Winchester consumed by the idea of the legend of Atlantis. After losing both of his parents and his academic reputation to the obsession, Dean is ready to give up, when one night he and his brother are invited to meet an old friend, Bobby. Bobby gives Dean an old journal with instructions on how to find the lost continent and tells them about an expedition arranged to look for Atlantis and an ancient, long-lost source of energy contained there.

Dean and Sam agree to join the adventure. The journey ahead is long and dangerous, and no one can predict what they will find at their destination or if they ever even manage to get there alive.

Source Material: Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Link to fic || Link to art

Pairings: Dean Winchester/Castiel, background Eileen Leahy/Sam Winchester

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, minor character deaths, non-graphic violence, people going missing, a civilization nearly gets destroyed, corporate greed

Tags: Alternate Universe - Atlantis: The Lost Empire Fusion, Alternate Universe - Disney Fusion, Academic Dean Winchester, Action/Adventure, Strangers to Friends to Lovers

[dadstielminibang]

All These New Beginnings

Author: LadyKnightSkye (@ladyknightskye) Artist:  sidewinder (@hawkland) Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Featured characters: Castiel, Becky Rosen, Michael, Lucifer, Gabriel, Raphael Featured relationships: Castiel/Becky Rosen; Castiel & Michael & Lucifer & Raphael & Gabriel Length: 10,684 words Tags:  God!Castiel; Canon Divergence; Referenced/Implied Relationships; Referenced/Implied Mind Control; References to Non-Consensual Dating; Chuck Shurley is not God; Sibling Bonding; Good Dad Castiel

Summary:  "Cas, are you God?"

Turns out, yes, yes he is. And now Castiel has to figure out how to undo the damage that's been done to his beloved family and accept this world that he didn't actually build. First, though, he has to find the Usurper who caused all the problems in the first place. That's where Becky Rosen comes in. Turns out, this is the easy part.

Because once everything's back in place . . . what do you do with eternity?

Link to Fic | Link to Art

[foone]

Re: the Fagot anti-tank rocket, it reminds me of my favorite story of Soviet weapon design.

So, the Nazis were working in infrared homing missiles during WW2 but never completed any by the time the war ended (though they got close).

The Americans collected a lot of information on these systems, through spies and Operation Paperclip, and started work on their own guided air-to-air missile: the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

They worked on it from 1946 to 1955, when it was operationally complete and authorized for mass production.

The first time they got used was the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, in 1958. The Taiwanese air force was flying American F-86 Sabres, vs China's MiG-17s. The MiG-17 outclassed the F-86s, flying over them so high the Sabres couldn't hope to hit them, and then they could swoop down and attack when they had the advantage.

So the US decided to help out: they secretly helped Taiwan modify their F-86s with the new heat seeking missile, and provided something like a dozen of the missiles to use again the MiG-17s.

On the 24th of September, the F-86s engaged the MiG-17s with the new missiles, surprising them with the ability to attack when the MiG-17s were supposedly outside the operational range of the F-86s, shooting some planes down. This was the first use of guided air to air missiles in combat.

Four days later, there was another skirmish, and an F-86 shot an AIM-9 Sidewinder into a MiG-17... And it didn't explode.

The MiG-17 made it back to base, with the groundbreaking new missile type never before seen in the history of warfare, and it was mostly intact. The Soviets convinced the Chinese to send them the missile, and within two years they had developed the Vympel K-13: a clone of the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

The US took the best of Nazi scientists weapon development, then spent over a decade developing a never before seen super-weapon that would change air combat forever... And one of the first DOZEN fired ended up embedded in plane, unexplored, and then delivered to their greatest enemy.

They might as well just have mailed the schematics to the Kremlin. And I think that's hilarious.

[deancasbigbang]

It's time!

The Dean/Cas Big Bang is thrilled to announce the opening of our 2024 round.

Author, artist, or beta reader? Read the rules, check the schedule, and sign up today!

Lover of all things Dean/Cas? Start preparing for a barrage of fantastic fic and art to come your way in October and November!

This year’s stunning banner art is by Sidewinder/@hawkland

[deancaspinefest]

Take the Long Way Home  |  Mature  |  42,436 words

Author: sidewinder

Artist: caught-a-dragonfly

Two months ago, the world didn’t end.

But for Dean Winchester, who fully expected to sacrifice not just his life but his very soul in order to stop Amara? The celebration has been clouded by the disappearance of his best friend, Cas—the friend he’d started to realize meant more to him than he’d been willing to accept until now.

The last anyone’s seen of Castiel was when he was banished from the bunker by Toni Bevell. The Brits swear they don’t have him. Neither Heaven nor Hell claim to know of his whereabouts. All of Dean’s calls, texts and prayers to the angel have gone unanswered, and Dean can’t help but worry that a “Winchester win” has once again come at a terrible price.

One day hope finally arrives in a lead from an unexpected if not always trustworthy ally. However finding Cas might end up being only the first step in saving him—not simply from the forces holding him captive, but from the prison of his own mind.

Link to fic  |  Link to art 

Pairings: Dean/Cas, (minor Sam/Rowena)

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Tags: Alternative Season 12, hurt!Cas, rescue mission

[spnangelbang]

“doors unlocked and open” - Saturday, July 8  Reschedule date: Monday, July 31!

Author: sidewinder ( @hawkland​​ ) Artist:  fluffsnake ( @fluffsnake​​​ ) Rating: Teen and Up Featured characters: Castiel, Dean, The Empty, Jack, Death Featured relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester Length: 9,500 words Tags: The Winchesters 1.13 “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye”; canon compliant; post-series fixit; Castiel as the Empty; Heaven-fic Warnings: Canonical character death

Summary:  While Jack is now God, revamping Heaven for the human souls under his care, Cas has become the new ruler and embodiment of the Empty. He is content with this fate until Jack brings upsetting news: Dean has passed away unexpectedly.

And Dean is not finding peace, not even in Jack’s improved afterlife. 

Instead, Dean has discovered a way to traverse the Axis Mundi to visit other universes, alternative Earths, and has been meddling in their fates. Dean tells Jack that it’s because he’s looking for his “family,” but Jack feels he’s really just looking for one individual: Castiel.

Castiel must confront Dean and the consequences of his confession, or else Jack may need to take corrective actions. But will their reunion be enough to bring Dean peace? Or is there still some greater destiny the hunter must fulfill, even in death…

Or perhaps, through death itself.

Excerpt:

Once upon a time, there was nothing.

Nothing but Empty.

The Empty liked it that way.

Why and how that all changed was unclear. 

One moment there was nothing, exactly as it should be. 

But in the next, there was God. God and Amara. A two-for-one deal that was anything but a welcome surprise as far as the Empty was concerned.

Maybe God had always been there, but had left the Empty alone. The Empty did not know. The Empty only knew that It didn’t like God being all up in Its business—or simply being around, period.

So the Empty asked God to kindly get the fuck out, and go find his own place to annoyingly be.

(God’s sister could stay, if she wanted. Because she seemed to understand, to appreciate the simple beauty of nothingness. But no, wherever dear brother went, so did sister. That was very irritating.)

Eventually they both departed, and all was quiet again—for a time. A nice and long, long time, during which the Empty slept and enjoyed Its state of near non-existence, of being forgotten. Alone.

Then God unceremoniously dumped the first dead angel upon Its realm, and everything went straight to shit.

[spnbangbang]

2023 SPN Bang Bang Masterlist

On behalf of the mods, thank you to all the writers, artists and betas who helped make this bang possible. We had Twenty-Two fics this year and there's something for everyone.

Thank you as well to everyone who boosted, read, kudos'ed and commented.

Here's the masterlist of all of the fics. You can also click here for the 2023 SPN Bang Bang collection on A03.

Trick Shot Author:  tiamatv Artist: keziahrain Masterpost | Fic | Art

Roses are my favorite flower Author:  DimitriEvans Artist: BlackKityy Masterpost | Fic | Art

Dared You To Kiss Me Author:  angelshotgun Artist: Kinetic-Passion Masterpost | Fic | Art

Talk Dirty to Me Author:  ElsaSigyn Artist: bluewolven Masterpost | Fic | Art

Wolves Rush In Author:  anyrei and queerwerewolf Artist: Hectatess Masterpost | Fic | Art

The Last Night Author:  FriendofCarlotta Artist: xfancyfranart Masterpost | Fic | Art

Invasive Species Author:  Tossukka Artist: hexentaenzerin Masterpost | Fic | Art

In a Flash Author:  Redamber79 Artist: PetraAmia Masterpost | Fic | Art

Prayer to a False God Author:  K_A_Mindin Artist: Sketch gaytedlasso Masterpost | Fic | Art

Under Lock & Key Author:  Trenchcoat_Paradigm Artist: szlez Masterpost | Fic | Art

No Vacancy Author:  AmberXBoone Artist: DimitriEvans Masterpost | Fic | Art

A Funny Thing Called Fate Author:  S1nging_Y0u_S0ftly (@king4aday) Artist: PetraAmia Masterpost | Fic | Art

Last Night on Earth Author:  butterflyslinky Artist: sidewinder Masterpost | Fic | Art

The Main Attraction Author:  SakuraKitty Artist: hexentaenzerin Masterpost | Fic | Art

Feast Author:  themauvesoul Artist: BasketcaseBetty Masterpost | Fic | Art

Take Me Down Author:  GhoulsnHalos Artist: keziahrain Masterpost | Fic | Art

Just the Right One Author:  Hectatess Artist: acaademicqueer Masterpost | Fic | Art

Nativity in Black Author:  LadyKnightSkye Artist: demonicsoulmates-art Masterpost | Fic | Art

Uncaged Heat Author:  Eyes_of_a_Tragedy & tfw_cas Artist: ariasune Masterpost | Fic | Art

A bed of thorny flowers Author:  michaelmilligan Artist: PetraAmia Masterpost | Fic | Art

Boy Leave Your Boots by the Bed Author:  an_ardent_rain Artist: DimitriEvans Masterpost | Fic | Art

you are not your own (1 corinthians 6:19) Author:  howldean Artist: SoloArcana Masterpost | Fic | Art

[hawkland]

I got to work with @butterflyslinky for this year's @spnbangbang, doing art for their story Last Night on Earth!

I couldn't resist claiming this truly rare pair, Cas/Jo—and the chance to do a little trueform sexy times art :) I sometimes get nervous doing one of my more abstract pieces for bang art, but the amazing scene in the story really called out for it—plus doing a more "in the flesh" Cas/Jo scene for the title banner.

Thank you @butterflyslinky for being such a great partner and to the mods of the bang for such a smoothly run event! Now go read the story, it's a lot of fun!

[spnangelsanddemons-rb]

Title: The Mortal Angel and The Devil's Prisoner Author: AvalonSilver (@avalonsilver) Artist: sidewinder (@hawkland) Rating: Teen Warnings: n/a Tags: Angst, Tragedy, Imprisoned Castiel, Hallucinations, Rescue Word count: 7,736 Featured characters: Endverse Castiel, Endverse Sam Winchester, Endverse Lucifer Featured relationships: Castiel/Sam Winchester, Castiel & Sam Winchester

Summary: In the apocalyptic version of 2014 that Zachariah once sent Dean to, Lucifer has resurrected an angel. Following his return from the dead, Castiel now lives as Lucifer’s prisoner.

Fortunately, hope grows within Castiel despite his captivity. He decides to save Sam following a worrying message from the younger Winchester.

Dean is dead, but Castiel can't let go of the chance to free Sam from the suffocating chains of possession.

It’s a wild plan to challenge an all-powerful Archangel. Cas is comparatively weaker in power, but he believes it's a risk worth taking.

Link to fic | Link to art

[deancasswitchbang]

Here We May Be Free

Author: FriendOfCarlotta (@friendofcarlotta​) Artist: sidewinder (@hawkland​) No Major Archive Warnings Tags:  Canon-adjacent AU, Mermaid Cas, Hunter Dean, Magic, Falling in Love, Misunderstandings, John Winchester’s A+ Parenting, Amnesia, Canon-Typical Suicidal Ideation (Dean), Creature Sex/Monsterfucking Summary: When Dean was eleven, he saw something in the ocean: a boy with blue eyes and iridescent scales. Twenty-five years later, a spontaneous detour after a hunt brings Dean and Sam back to the town where that encounter took place. And Dean can’t shake the feeling that Castiel, the owner of the local Mermaid Museum, looks familiar… Preview: “Thank goodness,” the man says, in that deep, dark voice. “You’re alive.” The world is no longer spinning, but Dean’s brain is still sluggish from whiskey and shock. It’s firing indistinct impulses at him, trying to get him to catch up to something about the person in front of him. Finally, a thought breaks through the fog: “I know you.” The man’s lips part in surprise. Quietly, he says, “I didn’t think you would remember. Our first meeting was a long time ago.” More slowly than it usually would, Dean’s mind slots the pieces into place. A flash of blue under the water when he was eleven. A flash of blue earlier tonight as he was sinking, begging for someone, anyone, to save him. Except if the two things he saw were the same, then… Dean’s eyes flick away from the man’s face, down his body. This time, it’s shock knocking the breath from his lungs. Where the man’s legs should be, his midsection tapers instead into a single, powerful tail coated in pearlescent scales that gleam blue-green in the moonlight. On his chest, just below his pectorals, there’s a pair of long, thin openings on each side. They flutter with every movement of the man’s rib cage, almost like… like gills. “Holy shit,” Dean rasps, his voice still shredded by saltwater. “You’re a—” He looks up to find one of the man’s — merman’s? — hands raised towards him. Two of his fingers are outstretched, and he’s reaching for Dean’s forehead. In a split-second of absolute clarity, Dean realizes that if he lets the touch connect, his savior is going to disappear, maybe never to be seen again. He can’t let that happen.

POSTING BETWEEN APRIL 23rd AND MAY 6th, 2023!