layne67

The Way Back by rainylemons, SPN, gen rating R, 35971 words, post apocalyspe-that-never-happens, AU after season five.
Summary: Sam and Dean and Cas settling down together. Dean is injured and Sam is not all there after his time in the cage and Cas is no longer an angel. They make it work.

I don't have the words to adequately describe this story. Suffice to say that it has more Moments in it than all of season 6 put together and that I had to pull myself together several times while reading it.

Read omg read!

I'm not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons but I thoroughly enjoyed this Big Bang written for last year's challenge.

From the Ruined Tower to the Caves of Unknown Horror by annella, J2 Dungeons and Dragons AU, 30,500 words, rating R.

Summary : Jared's been adventuring for most of his life. He loves being out on the road with his friends—killing monsters and bad guys, finding treasure, and helping people out of sticky situations. It's all part of being a good-hearted barbarian. Then his carefree life is shaken up by the introduction of a scrawny half-elf wizard called Jensen, who joins them for a quest upon which they will encounter horror, true friendship, and a secret buried deep underground...

An exciting fantasy adventure starring Jared and Jensen and while I know nothing about D&D, there're plenty of Lord of the Ring referrals that thrilled me no end. It made me want to go see what D&D is all about, the characters and their adventures are so incredibly amazing! Not a single dull moment in this story and if this were a book, it'd be one of those unputdownable page-turners.

*

And so much flail for this excellent rewrite of On The Head Of A Pin.

Syncretic criminality by fleshflutter, Sam/Dean AU, PG-13, 3000 words.

Part of the author's crime-verse, it's an AU in which the Winchester family business was organized crime rather than hunting the supernatural. Lots and lots of squee for kickbadass!Sam and government-agent!Castiel and of course, Dean!

I'm all misty-eyed now. I started reading this story in April last year, it was at chapter 30 then and I stayed up all night reading it, followed by angst-filled days of waiting for the updates. Dark Emeralds never disappoint. Each subsequent chapter fulfills my expectations, and beyond.

And you know with the WIPs when you're dreading the day when the authors just give up on their stories? I never had any doubt that Dark Emeralds would finish this story, and finished it in a spectacular way too, if I may say so.

I just wish that more people would read this wonderful, amazing story, that it's not limited to just a certain group of readers. Non-J2 fans probably won't be reading this, or those who don't read slash, or those who're not into the Regency era.

But if you'd just see this as an original fiction, a fantastic love story that's written extraordinarily well by a truly amazing writer, trust me, you won't be disappointed. So yup, I'm urging you to read this if you hadn't already! And if you don't do wips and are waiting for this story to be completed, now is the time to start!

Now if only I had a smidgen of artistic talent, I'd have made vids and arts and banners for this story. I'm so envious of readers who're able to sing their praises in more ways than one, like this vid that someone created for the wonderful dragon!fic Queensguard. But alas, I would just have to settle for some inane gushings and not so articulate squees lol.

And lastly, many thanks to janissa11 for rec'ing Restraint in her journal in the first place. This story is totally going to be in my Top Eleven of the Most Perfect Stories in the three fandoms that I read, heheh wouldn't you like to know what they are? ;DD

ETA : Spoilers in the comments.

Restraint by DarkEmeralds, J2 Regency AU, Rating Mature ( R to NC-17 ), 150,000+ words.

Summary : The calling card said Tristan Jarrett, Viscount Penrith. Beneath that, in a lazy scrawl, was the addendum Mr Acklebury, be so good as to wait on me tomorrow, number 10, Half Moon Street. Yours, &c., Penrith. Mr Acklebury was not sure how he felt about being thus summarily commanded to paint his lordship's portrait.

I love love love this story so very much. Love it. It's one of those that's all consuming you just can't stop reading, one that you'll happily skip meals for, one that'll have you looking at the word count and saying only 150,000 words? I felt a bit disconnected with the real world while reading it, it felt so real to me!

Set in early 19th century England, Restraint reminded me a bit of Cassie's Houseparty. There's Jensen who's an artist in it, and there's a house party that's every bit as memorable and haunting as the one in Cassie's story.

The only thing is, the name John Acklebury initially put me off a little bit. Jared is Tristan Jarrett, Viscount Penrith while Jensen is John Acklebury and while I had no problem with Jared being Tristan Jarrett, Viscount Penrith, I had some trouble picturing John Acklebury looking like Jensen. I remember thinking, in my earlier attempts to read the story, that John Acklebury was Jensen's father in it!

But as I read on, there is no doubt whatsover that John Acklebury is the Jensen that we know of, just as the Viscount is very definitely Jared. And I swooned at the Viscount just like I used to swoon at the Viscounts in Barbara Cartland's historical romances!

I can't recommend this story highly enough. Do read it even if Jared/Jensen wasn't your thing and it's easy to read this as an original fiction, the love story between the quiet and reserved John Acklebury, artist and son of clergyman, and Viscount Penrith, whose reputation as a rake precedes him wherever he goes. It's a love story that's fraught with conflicts and uncertainties and conducted in secret in a society that frowns upon such relationship. A very riveting and engrossing read indeed!

And apparently there was a moment of silence in the auditorium during ( this )

This. This is why I fell in love with Jared and Jensen. You don't need to be a J2 shipper to get the love that is between them. And I would never, ever believe that their display of affection is for show only. You can't fake *that*, no matter how good an actor you are!

Go here to watch the vid!

Hmmm, should I continue with this? J2 snippet, word count 288, inspired by i_o_r_h_a_e_l's gorgeous art here.

Because I owe her an angsty!Jensen. Yes Shinta, I do remember. And because I have a newly-discovered kink - pissy!Jensen - brought about by tariana's lovely bitchy!Jensen fic here - (If You Tell Me You Want It) This Could Be Over.

And like Tari before she wrote that fic, I have no idea why Jensen would be pissed off at Jared. Again.

Any ideas?

Thank you i_o_r_h_a_e_l! You're so good to me ♥

ETA : And the icon is from ala_tariel. Thank you, sweetie!

Among the many pics that have been surfacing from this site lately, this one simply takes the cake. Because, seriously?

That's exactly how I stand holding on to hubby when I was pregnant. Hee!



( Cut for some J2 shipping )

So, to borrow from the good Professor.

One Look To Rule Them All.

( My Men )