The Journal of Cryptids and Critters

Pictsie Dust by kototyph (AO3)

Length: 2,331 words

Ship: Sastiel

Summary: For the Great Blind Sassy Exchange, and ineffablevegetable! Prompt: “Cas gets hit with the supernatural equivalent of taking ecstasy, and Sam has to keep him contained and all in one piece while Dean hunts down the antidote. Cas can’t help but want to touch everything, including but not limited to Sam’s shiny, shiny hair.”

My thoughts: Cas is stoned on pictsie dust and it is beyond adorable.

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Getting To Yes by rivkat (AO3)

Length: 4,721 words

Ship: Sastiel

Summary: Prompt: Castiel is covetous of Sam, but thinks his feelings are purely possessive and asexual. He’s an angel and therefore above all that earthly desire shenanigans (or so he assumes). Despite that, he wants Sam’s fidelity which Sam would be okay with… if sex were part of the agreement. Sam suggests they experiment with what kind of sexy times Cas might be okay to compromise with. It turns out that Castiel is not as immune from those kinds of things as he originally thought. I’m not looking for any kind of d/s scene, but I would like Cas being toppy and Sam being pliant.

My thoughts: Possessive Cas, which was more than enough for me, but Sam being so receptive to it is also really interesting. Plus, it’s fun to watch Cas go oh, shit, maybe I am into this sex thing.

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How To Fall by alas_horatio (AO3)

Length: 41,425 words

Ship: Samifer

Summary: ‘“I’ve been falling for some time, through darkness, and pain, and fire. And then I saw you, shining through the shadows, and I knew you would catch me one day. But you didn’t, I fell right past you, further than I ever imagined I could, and now I wonder if I’ve finally hit the ground.”’

When a spell goes wrong Sam ends up stranded in the north Canadian wilderness with nothing to do but bunker down and wait for rescue, which wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the broken angel he’s accidentally brought along for the ride.

My thoughts: I really like how Lucifer is written here (and it’s season 5 Lucifer, which is my favorite Lucifer). It’s kind of a quiet fic, which makes sense with the isolation, but with bursts of intensity and some really interesting imagery.

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Devour by anactoria (AO3)

Length: 12,303 words

Ship: Samifer

Summary: AU from 5x14 (“My Bloody Valentine”). It isn’t just some two-bit demons who find Sam chained up in the motel room, Jonesing for demon blood. It’s Lucifer – and he’s here with an offer Sam can’t refuse.

My thoughts: This is everything I ever wanted in a samifer fic. The whole thing is a slow, glorious seduction.

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Black Swans by omphalos, Wolfing (AO3)

Length: 66,455 words

Ship: Sabriel (with background destiel)

Summary: A post-apocalyptic road trip with a still recovering archangel wasn’t how Sam had envisioned the aftermath of their big plan, but it sure beat a lot of the alternatives.

My thoughts: This is by the same authors who wrote Absolution, which pretty much automatically means it’s awesome. I have a thing for the desolate feel of apocalypse and post apocalypse stories, especially when there’s a romance set against them.

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Be Careful What You Think Of by thirtyspells (weatherveyn) (AO3)

Length: 3,056 words

Ship: Sabriel

Summary: In which Sam is inadvertently a cocktease and the “The Most Sexually Frustrated Angel in the Garrison” award goes to Gabriel.

My thoughts: Sam has hardcore fantasies about Gabriel, having no clue that Gabriel can hear him. Gabriel’s pissed, but not for the reasons you might think. It’s funny and very hot :D.

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Cash Out, Get The Hell Out Of Town by twentysomething (AO3)

Length: 5,614 words

Ship: Sabriel (+ pre-destiel)

Summary: “He tries to asses the situation, but he is completely incapable of figuring out a situation where Gabriel should be wearing an Elvis suit on top of him and he feels like someone is trying to rape his skull, but- oh. There’s a feather boa wrapped around his calf. Well, at least he’s not entirely naked.”

My thoughts: If twentysomething wrote it, you should read it because it will make you laugh your ass off. This one in particular is SO DAMN FUNNY.

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This Gentle Chaos, This Quiet Madness by breakaway71 (AO3)

Length: 18,486 words

Ship: Dean/Gabriel, Sastiel

Summary: Sam has his soul back, but the brothers aren’t quite as home free as they’d hoped. Dean doesn’t realize that there’s still an outstanding contract on his own soul, meaning that unless they come up with a plan before the demons can figure out who gets to collect on it, he’s still bound for Hell and all his worst memories.

The answer comes in the form of an old adversary who can provide Dean with the protection he needs. All he has to do is offer everything he is to Gabriel’s alternate persona. To Loki.

But even when the ritual is complete and his soul firmly bound to a being he’s not even entirely sure he trusts, he’s still left fighting enemies on all sides. The armies of Heaven will stop at nothing to get to Castiel. The wall keeping Sam’s sanity intact is not as structurally sound as it should be. Demons are itching to come after Dean. And the archangel-turned-pagan-god at his side is annoyingly persistent in trying to win his affections.

Dean figures they’re all pretty much screwed.

My thoughts: I adore the Dean/Gabriel relationship in this, especially once Dean is bound to him, and the sastiel is incredibly sweet.

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Dear John by kototyph (AO3)

Length: 3,497 words

Ship: Dean/Benny

Summary: “Wait a minute,” Benny says slowly, looking harder at the display. “You’re— holy Christ, you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton?”

“I’ve got three years of danger pay, I’m fucking sick of those barrack bunks and Sam won’t let me space-freight his kids a pony,” Dean says. “Fuck yes, I’m staying at the Ritz-Carlton. And so are you.”

My thoughts: This is just an incredibly sweet and silly fic.

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Oscillation by nekosmuse (AO3)

Length: 7,060 words

Ship: Dean/Aaron Bass

Summary: Sexual identity crisis aside, Dean’s man enough to admit he’s in love with Castiel. Has been for years. Which would be fine, really, if he could get past the whole unrequited, unworthy business, because maybe then he could move on with his life, get back to having sex on a semi-regular basis. Aaron’s the first person to pique his interest in far, far too long.

Aka the one where Dean’s pining for an angel, starting to accept that he maybe wants to fuck men, and he’s got Aaron Bass’ phone number burning a hole in his wallet.

My thoughts: Dean is so nervous but determined in this, and Aaron is awesome, and it’s sexy as hell.

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Caught Between (Four Things Benny Teaches Dean, and One He Doesn’t) by kickflaw (AO3)

Length: 6,904 words

Ship: Dean/Cas/Benny

Summary: Dean gets whumped by sex pollen in Purgatory. Benny and Cas help him out.

My thoughts: Ridiculously hot smut, BUT there’s also some really cool Purgatory details and speculation mixed in there.

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Revenge is Sweeter (or Five Times Crowley Does It For Revenge, and One Time He Doesn’t) by kickflaw (AO3)

Length: 8,465 words

Ship: Dean/Crowley, background destiel

Summary: Crowley is, above all else, a petty creature.

He will tell you differently. He will tell you that, above all else, he is a survivor. He is mistaken.

Crowley believes he is simple. That he wants what he wants and that, as far as he’s concerned, the why doesn’t matter, so long as he gets it. And, typically, he does get it. (At least for a little while.) And one can’t have anything else one might want if one is not alive in the first place, after all. Therefore he should want to survive more than anything else. Obviously. Right?

My thoughts: So the ships in this aren’t the focus, but I wasn’t sure where else to put this. The story is very much Crowley-focused and it is SO GOOD. Seriously, kickflaw NAILS Crowley’s voice, and it made me laugh so many times. Here is my favorite line: He’d believed he was getting a Commander of Legions as an ally, not the lemon of Heaven’s used car lot. 

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Take Me Home by littlehollyleaf (AO3)

Length: 3,940 words

Ship: Castiel/Balthazar/Gabriel

Summary: Written for theinsaneeraser for the Balthazar Comment Fic Meme.

The Lion’s Den by bewaretheides15 (AO3)

Length: 6,607 words

Summary: There have always been these rumors too, but Castiel had assumed they were along the same lines as the taunts of ‘cocksucker’ and ‘fag’, more the failing of creativity on the part of their harassers than a legitimate accusation. He never thought that they were actually involved, much less that he would ever be afforded the opportunity to see it for himself.

My thoughts: So, I don’t usually like high school AUs, but wincestiel is hard enough to find that I tried this one and guuuuuh. Even if you’re like me and not really a fan of that particular AU, give this one a shot. They aren’t anywhere near a school, it starts at a party and ends in the Impala and is stupidly hot.

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Safest Place To Hide by bree_black (LJ)

Length: 30,000 words

Summary: Sam gets his soul back, but it’s working on overdrive to make up for lost time, and both his own emotions and those of people around him cause him physical pain. With Castiel’s help, Dean takes Sam to an abandoned farmhouse in the-middle-of-nowhere Maine to recuperate. Together, they manage to carve out something that looks almost like happiness by isolating themselves from civilization. Sam grows their food in an increasingly elaborate vegetable garden, Castiel learns to cook, and Dean holds back the outside world, desperate to preserve the complicated new life – and relationship - they’ve built. But is lying low a long-term solution?

My thoughts: the dynamics in this fic are fascinating, particularly how Cas fits into their threesome. It’s told in a series of scenes over a period of years and is at times very intense, but it’s also really sweet (and there are ducks!)

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Fulcrum by Annie D (scaramouche) (AO3)

Length: 3,278 words

Summary: This is how Sam bonds with an angel.

My thoughts: This is a rare one in that Sam and Castiel happen first. It’s adorable and hot (especially toward the end). The companion piece, “Calling Dibs,” and the follow up, “Not Normal (So What Else Is New)” are linked in the fic notes and are also well worth reading.

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The Mender by De_Nugis (AO3)

Length: 5,879 words

Summary: Castiel has learned a great deal about putting pieces together.

My thoughts: For something so short, there is an insane amount of world building in this. I don’t even want to describe it in any detail because it might ruin it, just know it’s seriously awesome.

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Run So Far (That I Am Standing Still) by DickBaggins (AO3)

Length: 99,805 words

Summary: Sam Winchester’s been in love with his big brother Dean for as long as he can remember, and he’s never told anyone but Dr. Cas Novak. From their first session together, Cas finds himself fully entrenched in Sam’s sad story with a fervor that’s not entirely professional. Under his overly intimate and fairly unorthodox methods, even Dean notices the change in his usually gloomy brother and decides maybe therapy’s not so bad.

Sam definitely shouldn’t refer his brother to Cas. Cas definitely shouldn’t take him on but his curiosity wins out, and he soon finds himself trying to wave the white flag in the middle of a very fucked up battleground.

My thoughts: This is a gloriously fucked up story. Aside from Sam’s initial decision to talk to Cas, no one is making good choices and it’s awesome.

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Dream On (you got to lose to know how to win) by HaniTrash, kickflaw (AO3)

Length: 13,710 words

Summary: Dean Winchester, coffee shop owner, would really like to know why these two weird dudes keep showing up every day, both in his place of business and in his goddamn dreams.

“Hot stuff for the Hot Stuff, coming right up.” Dean grabs the correct cup sizes and Sharpie. “Names?” Trenchcoat and Flannel, who’ve fallen into a heated—if low and whispered—conversation, both turn their heads and blink at him with the most complicated expressions Dean’s ever seen. “Castiel,” Trenchcoat grunts. Dean scoffs and writes CAS in all-caps on the side of his venti. Flannel turns out to be a SAM. No surprise there. “And, uh,” Sam starts hesitantly, as if testing each word, “what’s- your name?” “Dean,” says Dean. “And if ya want my number too, just let me know.” He winks, and Sam gulps, eyes wide as a deer in a pair of headlights. Cute.

My thoughts: The first chapter is so damn funny, and the second? You will need a fire extinguisher, or an entire bathtub of ice.

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the avalanche (this wanton version) by kickflaw (AO3)

Length: currently 86,847 words, but there’s still one more part to go.

Summary: It’s all Charlie’s fault. (Or: Charlie buys Dean panties for his birthday and everything becomes unhinged from then on.)

No, Charlie isn’t willing to let Dean get away birthday-free like everyone else (ie: Sam and Cas) does. Rather, she gets that steely, determined look about her and declares that she will ensure he gets a big, gross, gooey party with speeches and presents and 'making him feel special’ or she will die trying. The irony is Dean needs no help feeling special. He feels special pretty much all the time. Especially fucked.

OR (for real this time): the One Wherein Sam and Cas Trap Dean with Kinky Sex.

My thoughts: I love, love, L O V E this fic. It is mostly smut but holy shit, it is insanely hot smut. It’s also about self-acceptance (through kink!), and Sam and Cas seriously do trap Dean with kinky sex. There’s a lot of humor, and a few super intense scenes, and Dean in (super pretty) panties!

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The Three Body Problem by kisahawklin (AO3)

Length: 36,843 words

Summary: Cas asks the Winchesters on a date. Yes, both of them.

My thoughts: This is so cute, and silly, and just a bit angsty but it doesn’t end that way.

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The Lights Are Turned Way Down Low by kototyph (AO3)

Length: 6,403 words

Summary: Far below their usual levels of deductive reasoning, it takes until Christmas Eve for Team Free Will to solve the case of the mysteriously mutual sex dreams.

My thoughts: This is very cute, partly because Dean panics because oh no, love! But also Cas falls in love with a Christmas tree. Not literally, it’s not that cracky, but it is very cute.

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Tentacle Tested, Winchester Approved by breakaway71 (AO3)

Length: 3,445

Summary: This isn’t what the anime Dean pretended not to watch in high school promised him.

My thoughts: Dean has tentacles. Much sexy fun is had.

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kick off your shoes and lay down by mournthewicked (LJ)

Length: 6,500 words

Summary: The only people allowed to touch Sam after he gets his soul back are his brother and an angel, and when they are touching him is the only time that he really feels whole.

My thoughts: Drunk Team Free Will turns into awesome smut with a sweet ending.

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like a slow fire burn, we crash and we roll, and run right into you by mournthewicked, obstinatrix (LJ)

Length: about 34,000 words total

Summary (for the first fic): So maybe, when they’re both under the influence, the Winchesters like to mess around. It’s no big deal, except for the part where they’re afraid to mention it in the cold light of day. And then there’s weed, and Cas’s insane angel logic, and somehow Dean ends the night with all the shame plowed right out of him.

My thoughts: Bone-meltingly hot, stoned, smutty goodness, and that’s just the first fic. No plot whatsoever in all three of these, it’s just glorious smut (and a few feels) :D.

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Enfleurage by saltandbyrne (AO3)

Length: 29,155

Summary: Castiel is a struggling perfumer with a rare gift. When a handsome new customer orders a custom scent for his husband, Castiel is drawn into a world he never imagined. Dean and Sam have secrets, and Castiel might be the only person who can share them.

My thoughts: Cas is really interesting in this fic. His sense of smell is crazy strong and he can pull a just as crazy amount of information from people and objects because of it. It even affects his imagination. The interactions between the three are a lot of fun, especially since Cas has an almost instant crush on Dean, but develops an obsession with Sam before he ever meets him due to his sense of smell.

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Share Each Other Like An Island by thegeminisage (AO3)

Length: 27,576 words

Summary: Dean never expected to see his amulet again, much less with Sam’s soul inside. But after a century in Hell, Sam’s soul is broken so badly that Castiel says it’ll take a lifetime to heal, and that’s a lifetime they don’t have, not with Sam’s body still hellbent on killing Bobby. Together, Dean and Castiel set themselves the task of learning the amulet’s complicated history, and just what Sam did on his last night on earth.