SPN Rec: Serpent and Staff

[out_there]

Serpent and Staff by trinityofone. SPN. Dean/Castiel. 10,000 words.

So far, this is my favourite SPN story (second place is rageprufrock's Asunder, complete AU but very happy-making), because it left me feeling gleefully, giddily happy and able to believe in the possibility of a happy future.

SPN is many cool things, but it's really not about the upbeat, happy endings. It's a show where pain and angst is heaped onto the characters, and then for a little extra fun, they'll add a little more. Sure, it's funny and full of banter and awesomeness and cool fights, but watching this series, I can't imagine a canonical ending that will save the world without causing Sam and/or Dean (and/or Cas) a huge amount of hurt.

So occasionally I need stories like this. Stories that give me a possibility of hope, the idea of an ending that would leave the world whole and the characters capable of living without nightmares and burdens. And, y'know, I'm a sucker for Cas/Dean.

Comments

[ariadne83]

Ooh yay thanks for the rec! Happy endings in SPN are rare indeed.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

They are rare and deserved!

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't think I've ever read a SPN fic. I just kinda listened to podfics in this fandom for some strange reason.

I tried actually reading the fics a couple of times, I just gave up 2 or 3 paragraphs into it and ended up downloading podfics.

It's weird.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

The Cas/Dean Audiofics (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/category/12/2164) is how I came across Asunder, and it's how I've beenstructuring my reading. Downloading long fics in audio form, reading the short ones.

These days, I don't seem to have the concentration level to read a long fic (anything that takes over an hour in audio form is something I just won't finish if I'm reading it) but the audiofic version is awesome to go to sleep on. Maybe it's that the style and language used in SPN fics in general work well in audiofics... or maybe there's just some really good readers.

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

See, I can read long fics just fine. I just went through a few 80k+ words fic over the last couple of weeks in the ST:Reboot fandom, just not SPN. It's just weird.

[tevere.livejournal.com]

Yay! I don't think I told you, but I found 'Asunder' via your rec, and it immediately plunged me into a weeklong binge of Dean/Castiel reading-- and I hadn't even been into the pairing before!

On second thoughts, I don't know if I should be thanking you or cursing you. I have essays to write-- this is no time to be obsessively reading fanfic! *shakes tiny fist*

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! Study first! As someone doing the last minute cram for an exam this week, I think study first is my motto right now. (Study first, Dean/Cas will be there waiting when you're done.)

I don't think I told you, but I found 'Asunder' via your rec, and it immediately plunged me into a weeklong binge of Dean/Castiel reading-- and I hadn't even been into the pairing before!

Fannish types: bringing new obsessions to your doorstep!

To be honest, I'm a Johnny-come-lately to the fandom. I never caught it on TV, so I tended to watch the seasons on DVD and never felt too fannish about it. But then there was Cas. And Cas/Dean just *works* for me.

Best place I can point you is the Cas/Dean Audiofics (http://audiofic.jinjurly.com/category/12/2164) which is how I came across Asunder. There's plenty there to work my way through.

[tevere.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, oh, trust me, I'm working my way through pretty much every Dean/Cas in existence (turns out I'd read Serpent & Staff already, just forgotten the title!). But like I think you commented before, it's a pretty hard pairing to get right-- the Castiel characterisation in particular. Especially for AUs. Which is why Asunder really knocked my socks off: it was Castiel there, despite the fact he was human, and a doctor, and had a terrible taste in interior decoration... *g*

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Which is why Asunder really knocked my socks off: it was Castiel there, despite the fact he was human, and a doctor, and had a terrible taste in interior decoration... *g*

Exactly. It was Castiel: a bit isolated from "normal" people, both disconnected from most people but intensely caring for those he heals/protects, and absolutely on Dean's side. And despite all the good qualities, it was also a Cas who's a little impatient -- going ahead and changing shifts and organising flights without really discussing the idea with Dean -- and a touch emotionally manipulative if it gets Dean doing what's clearly best for everyone. And pretty damn awesome because anyone who can come into the family unit of Sam, Bobby, Ellen and Jo and stand up to the questioning and threatening without breaking a sweat? That's impressive.