KHROPNOS ART

[khropnos]

Art masterpost for DCRB 2026

I always love a good enemies to lovers, so I was lucky to have my art claimed by Michelle P for this year's DeanCas reverse bang! We were on the same page (ha, ha) about many ideas, and she came up with a fantastic story to go with the banner art.

Then, I went overboard with the art. I had so much fun in the world she (we) had created and I love drawing tattoos. I'm not really a believer in the notion that a tattoo always need a Deep Meaning (most of mine certainly don't), but I *do* think that the tattoos a person picks will say a lot about them, and their history; which makes them an interesting tool for storytelling.

I've drawn Cas with tattoos before, and to me, he'd have one depicting a Leviathan. This one is biting its own tail. I think this version of Cas would also have a tramp stamp. With bees, of course!

I couldn't resist making cleaner, more detailed versions of Dean's tattoos, too. I think if Dean had tattoos, they'd be american traditional, maybe neotrad. Classic motifs in any case!

Man's ruin is pie, of course

And the Zeppelin is made of lead, and going down. Pb for lead, but also, profound bond? It's on fire, anyway

Finally, a demon knife through his heart, because whichever Dean you pick – canon or AU – it seems like there's always a trail of broken hearts behind him.

I've had so much fun, and I hope it shows in the art.

Now, go read MichelleP's fic! It's really good!

[khropnos]

This is my art masterpost for Two sides of the same coin by NiksFics.

When claims opened for the Destiel All Sports AU Hybrid BangFest I knew there was one fic I had to claim, because HORSES! We ended up being two artists with the same thought, so Grimm and I was able to work together to illustrate NikFic's lovely work. We had so much fun nerding out about horses while figuring out who would do what.

Anyway, here's the art. Go read the fic!

[khropnos]

Here's a revisit of an image I made back in 2013. I wanted to see how, and if, I'd render the same idea differently. Without making any judgement on which version is better, there is definitely a difference! I think this version might be a little overworked, though, while the old version absolutely is underworked. I do remember I had trouble finding a finish point for the old one, which is something it had in common with the new version. Some things stay the same. In another 13 years, maybe I'll have learned to plan my art better.

Do you listen to Paris Paloma? If not, do. The lyrics on the new image is from the song hunter. I don't think I need to give a source for the lyrics on the old one.

[destiel-all-sports-au-fest]

Coming to you February 8, 2026

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Written by @niks-fics, with art by @sinistrare & @dean-w67

Rating: Explicit

Word count: ~26k

Characters: Dean Winchester, Castiel Novak, Charlie Bradbury, Sam Winchester

Ships: Dean/Castiel

Tags: horses, strangers to friends to lovers, fluff, no angst, top Castiel/bottom Dean Winchester, closeted Dean Winchester, cowboy Dean, dressage rider Castiel

Summary: Up-and-coming rodeo star Dean Winchester knows how to make a horse slide, spin, and sprint, but keeping his own heart in check? That’s another story. At the World Equestrian Games, he finds himself paired with Castiel Novak, the country’s top dressage rider, for a special exhibition routine. Their challenge: blend Dean’s bold, fast-paced reining with Cas’ elegant, precise dressage, creating a performance that’s equal parts power and poetry. The catch? They have to switch horses to do it.

Between shared laughs, careful corrections, and the occasional lingering glance, the two riders learn that partnership isn’t just about perfecting a routine, it’s about reading the subtle cues, trusting instincts, and letting someone in.

Excerpt: “With one final sprint down the middle, Dean and Impala slid to a stop. Dean was grinning as Impala got her balance back, standing quietly as Dean raised his hat to the thunderous applause from the crowd. 

Settling his hat back on his head, Dean reached down and patted Impala’s neck as they made their way out of the arena and towards the warm up ring. Charlie was already waiting at the rail, bouncing on the balls of her feet like she was the one who’d just been in the ring.

“Holy shit, Dean,” she exclaimed as he brought Impala to a stop. “That was amazing! I think I stopped breathing somewhere around the second rollback.”

Dean grinned, sliding out of the saddle. “You and me both. Think we pulled enough to make the team?”

Charlie scoffed. “If you don’t make the team with that run I’ll eat my hat!”

Dean laughed, leading Impala around the ring to cool off while they waited for their score to be announced. Dean tried to relax, but his pulse hadn’t slowed. Every muscle in his body felt wound tight as a lariat.

He had his back to the scoreboard when he heard Charlie’s gasp of surprise. “Oh my god. Oh my GOD!”

“What?” Dean asked, turning to look at the score. Before he could find it he had an armful of excited redhead.

Charlie looked up, eyes blazing with triumph. “Two. Nineteen. Nine!”

Dean blinked, dumbstruck. “Two nineteen - are you serious?” He peered over her shoulder, eyes finally landing on the scoreboard.

There, in bold red numbers, was his score: 219.9.

“Holy shit,” he whispered.

“You did it!” Charlie squealed, jumping up and down. “You’re number one, Dean! You’re going to the World Equestrian Games!””

[khropnos]

I've recently been reading this amazing fic called How to Keep a Happy Marital Home (While Sleeping With Your Husband's Brother) by @xev3n and @cheesecakekiss.

The title is pretty self explanatory. Dean is unhappily married to Jimmy, but keeping it together, when ex-con Cas shows up and starts being a menace. I have a weakness for Evil Cas, especially if tattooed (let's not analyze this further, please).

There's a scene where Cas creeps on Dean and Jimmy in bed that stood out to me as Something I Have To Draw. So I did, and here is the result! I had so much fun with the tattoos – they're not described in detail in the text (yet, perhaps, it's on chapter 4 of 9), so I took some liberties in interpreting how they'd look. Doesn't Cas look very trustworthy and not the slightest bit manipulative? It even says so on the chest!

Anyway, go read the fic, bask in dark!Cas goodness, it'll be worth it.

[khropnos]

Like the rest of the internet, I've been obsessed with Heated Rivalry lately. Also, very happy about the smoking, which is unironically the coolest thing one can do (I miss my habit, why does it have to have consequences, give me back my cigarettes).

[khropnos]

I can draw a little punk!destiel, as a treat.

[khropnos]

His. FACE.

No further comment.

[khropnos]

Mandatory Castiel tree topper

[khropnos]

Sometimes I have an idea that is so clear that I'm not sure if it's my idea or a memory of something I've seen.

Anyway, here's Cas yoinking Dean out of hell.

[khropnos]

The French Mistake is the best episode of Supernatural.

[khropnos]

I found this https://www.malemodelscene.net/editorial/mmscene-portraits-christian-rios/ on Pinterest and decided it needed to be Destiel.