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!

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The Natalie verse by longsufferingly, J2, AU, a collection of stories, rating ranging from PG-13 to NC-17.
Summary: After their mother dies, Kyle and Natalie move in with their father, whom they haven't seen since their parents divorced six years ago, and his boyfriend, whom they've never seen.

This is such a sweet story, one I enjoyed reading very much. It reminded me a bit of phaballa's Last Stop: Chicagoland, a story which even after all these years, I still consider one of the best J2s around. And like Chicagoland, Natalie is realistic and down-to-earth, the story of Jensen and Jared, mostly told from the POV of Jensen's daughter from a previous marriage. It was written 3 years ago and I'm guessing that it has been read by most but do go read if you haven't!

A Bizarre Love Triangle by riyku. J2 AU, PG-13, 7500 words.
Summary : In which Jensen hates his nickname and Jared looks very good in pink. Jensen's also carrying a torch for his best friend, but that's another thing entirely.

I've always had a soft spot for J2 stories in which one of them is secretly in love with the other. Two best friends growing up together, Jared aiming for the stars with his artistic talent leaving Jensen feeling that he's holding back his friend and on top of that trying to hide his love for Jared. Enters an Ivy-League type, old school friend who used to be on Jensen's case which made the story even better. Heh, I'm such a sucker for jealous, insecure Jensen lol.

Lovely story, this made my heart ache in all the right ways.


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Bobby's story by verucasalt123. Sam/Dean, R, 1004 words.
Summary : Bobby’s take on the relationship between the Winchester brothers.

A short but poignant take on the brothers over the years through the eyes of Bobby. I love outside POVs and this one doesn't disappoint.

Losing Your Appeal by pavonine. J2 AU, R, 9000 words.
Summary : What happens to a dream deferred? A road trip, a kidney thief, a little too much glamour, and the realization that being brave isn't easy.

I have so much love for this charming, quirky little story. Jared and Jensen in an established relationship, so in tune with each other and so secure in their relationship that they can casually exchange insults and bodily injuries - real insults, real injuries! There really is no specific storyline here, it's just them being them, written in such a way that it fills me with much happiness.

The Men Who Stare at Croats by twoskeletons, supernatural. Zachariah, Michael. Gen. 1400 words.
Summary Set between 5x03 and 5x04. How the zombie apocalypse was born.

A rib-cracking hilarious look at how the events in The End came about. It had me laughing and laughing from start to finish. That Micheal was a devious angel indeed!

And lastly, a totally delightful, 679 words of Dean/Cas PG-15 which immediately had me going back to watch Free To Be You And Me.

Off The Menu by cupidsbow. Now wouldn't you like to know what the title is all about? *g*

Four J2 fics that I've read, and thoroughly enjoyed, over the last couple of weeks, three of them from last year's spn_j2_bigbang challenge. I'm still working my way through them and the only reason that I'm so late ( this year's Big Bangs are already around the corner! ) is that I"m not familiar with the authors hence the delay. But oh my, these are all so good, the Big Bangs plus the non-BB one written just recently. Atmospheric, engaging writings, lyrical and dream-like, they all made me smile and laugh and cry and weep.

Thespis by nicslash. J2 AU, NC-17, 36,414 words.
Summary : Jared is a makeup artist and is hired for a new movie based in Vancouver. Jensen plays the part of a hardcore, punk-rock star, but he has a real-life attitude problem. Unfortunately, Jared can’t figure out why and still finds Jensen attractive. They have to work alone together; long hours and long days, in small quarters of the makeup trailer. During that time, Jared discovers the actor’s secret and wants nothing more than to break away the protective mask Jensen hides behind.

Here Burns A Candle Out by erufic. J2 AU, R, 24,600 words.
Summary : WWI steampunk AU. Aeronaut and part-time spy Jensen Ackles has every intention of leaving the spy service after his last job in Europe during the Great War ends poorly. Instead, he finds himself sent to a resort outside the city to recuperate, where he meets Jared, an eccentric ghost hunter who is determined to unlock the secrets of a nearby haunted house. Unfortunately for Jensen, things at the resort aren't quite what they seem, and when matters take a sinister turn, Jensen discovers just how impossible it is for anyone to truly ever leave the world of espionage.

On the long and weary road by pigeongirl99. Jensen-centric with Jensen/Jared, Jensen/Kane, Jensen/Jeff, rating 18.
Summary : Set between circa 1919 - 1924. Takes place in Texas, Arkansas, New Orleans, New York, and Chicago. It's the jazz era, and Jensen is traveling the road from place to place, discovering the music of the era as he travels.

Olive Tree Bay by arabia764. J2 CWRPS, NC-17, 16,325 words.
Summary : They met on the set of Supernatural, everyone knows that. This is the story of the rest of their lives.

On another note, I'm absolutely dreading this. The End Of All Ends. Someone hold my hand, please.

Screw You, We're From Texas by makeit_takeit. J2, NC-17, 75002 words, spn_j2_bigbang 2010.

Summary : Everyone knows the story - Jensen had plans to enroll at Texas Tech and become a Physical Therapist, Jared was heading for the University of Texas to become an Engineer. Instead, they both got against-all-odds breaks in Hollywood and ended up on a totally different path. This is the story of what could have happened if fate twisted differently, if they never got those big Hollywood breaks, and instead ended up living the lives they grew up expecting to lead.

I love this story. Love it so much that I couldn't do much, LJ-wise, until I've finished reading it. Jared and Jensen do not make it as actors. Jensen does not get the part of Eric Brady and Jared does not win the teen magazine contest. They go on to become a PT and an engineer, and this is them meeting, not as Hollywood actors, but as them, and the story unfolds with parallels from their "actor-lives" written in, their families, their friends, Jensen's religious background, how they deal with the real prejudice againts gay couples in Texas, their fear of coming out to family and friends.

It feels real, gritty and painful most of the time, but not without its fluffy, feel-good moments. A wonderful, lovely read!

The Ramblers by mijmeraar. J2 AU, R, 36,566 words.

Summary : Jensen Ackles - part time photographer and part time shit kicker - is waist deep in his best friends’ break downs and drug dealings; in dyslexic musicians and disabusing ex-boyfriends. If that’s not enough, he meets Jared Padalecki –a young, breakthrough actor with a bestselling movie to his name – who, awkward but earnest, strives for Jensen’s affections. The safe and sheltered life behind his camera isn’t enough, now, and Jensen’s set to become the star of his own show – whether he’s ready or not.

This is just. Wow.

*takes deep breath*

I started on the first chapter yesterday evening, couldn't stop thinking about it last night, finished the whole thing this morning. And I've been staring at the screen for a good 10 minutes, trying to think of the right words to properly do this story justice and I can't think beyond fantastic and splendid and amazing.

Think 'Notting Hill' and you'll get the idea. Jared is no Julia Roberts though ( more like Zac Effron, only taller and bigger ), and Jensen's no Hugh Grant. Like, at all. Jensen's as far from adorably bumbling ( bumblingly adorable? ) as you can get. He's flawed, as are his dysfunctional but well-meaning friends, but realistically so. And his stubborness at holding on to his principles is as irritating as it's endearing, and that's what make this Jensen unique and special to me.

The secondary characters are well fleshed-out, and I found myself rooting for Matt and the rest as much as I did Jared and Jensen, and I don't usually do that, identify with the other characters I mean. Their stories are intriguing but not so much that they take your mind off the main story. It's just enough that you want Matt to make up with Jillian, that you want Wayne to be safe, that Chris and Steve will make it with their music. Heck, I even like the Jungle Gym guys!

A truly enjoyable read, this one is a keeper.

And now I just can't get this image out of my mind.

( *clicks* )

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!

Dark Rose by i_o_r_h_a_e_l. J2, 16300 words, rating PG-13 overall, mild NC17 in parts, completed 12/12.

Summary : Jensen receives a black rose from a secret admirer.

Every celebrity's nightmare - being stalked by an obsessed fan. Unfortunately for Jensen, the fan did not stop at stalking. Kidnapped!hurt!Jensen, hurty!angry!protective!Jared.

i_o_r_h_a_e_l has generously credited me as co-writer but the story is all hers, I'm quite incapable of writing a proper story like that.

And kudos to ala_tariel for the absolutely gorgeous banners, there's a different one for every chapter. Hee, what I wouldn't give to have an artist in the family at your mercy beck and call ;P Thank you, Dian! And thank you Shinta for letting me along for the ride. It has been fun ♥

Do go read!

Queensguard by aramuin, J2 rps.

Summary : It's been nearly three years since the war against the alien race known as the Others changed the world and nearly four months since they were beaten back by Earth's natural superweapons, the dragons. Jared's looking forward to reconnecting with his best friend and picking up life where he left off. It doesn't seem much to ask but after three years, how much has really changed? And are the secrets Jensen's hiding better left alone?

Dragon!fic. I gave this one a try because katikat said it shouldn't be missed. Didn't think that I would enjoy this but man, it was awesome! The story really picked up for me after the third chapter when the mystery surrounding the dragons and the Volunteers was cleared up and from then on I pretty much couldn't stop reading it. In a way, this fic is slightly reminiscent of Veterans of the Psychicwar, there's the war with the other beings, psychic abilities and Jensen taking Jared under his wing! A must-read.

And now I must go read that other dragon!fic which I've been bookmarking for quite some time. Yup, I'm on a dragon-roll now!

So, I watched Bones the other day for the first time, mainly because of Gunshy by setissma. And I watched Dollhouse because of Stained Glass Masquerade by splashpink. I am so going to watch those two shows again. Yeah, I'm so easily influenced. Just write Jared and Jensen in your favourite show and I'll watch it in a shot.

And also, I'm so going to think of Jared and Jensen in Topspin by lazy_daze the next time I watch Wimbledon. And I cannot not think of arabia764's epic With You Under A Cold Bright Sky
when it comes to gymnastics and circus and earthquakes in Kashmir and underprivileged people.

Go read all four fics - all J2AUs - they're super, super WONDERFUL!!