#dcpf previews

[deancaspinefest]

2023 Pinefest Posting Schedule

Under the cut, you’ll find the full posting schedule for this seventh round of the Dean/Cas Pinefest, along with links to each preview.

Happy pining, everyone!

Tuesday February 14 | Everywhere Wednesday February 15 | The Devil You Know (Who Also Knows You) Thursday February 16 | Other Worlds Than These Friday February 17 | The barista and the bookshop Saturday February 18 | Hunter's Throne Sunday February 19 | Marigold Monday February 20 | won't you stay with me, my darling, when the war starts in my heart? Tuesday February 21 | Depth of Field Wednesday February 22 | Dear Western Red Cedar #2409 Thursday February 23 | You Could Save Me (from the way I tend to be) Friday February 24 | straw house, straw dog Saturday February 25 | Life After Loss Sunday February 26 | Don't forget me when I'm gone Monday February 27 | On Wayward Tracks Tuesday February 28 | The Fool, Fish and Rocks Wednesday March 1 | Something in the Air Thursday March 2 | stay in my arms (if you dare) Friday March 3 | Everything's Fine Saturday March 4 | Djinn & Tonic Sunday March 5 | Buzz Monday March 6 | My Turning Page Tuesday March 7 | Breaking Bonds Wednesday March 8 | The Emoji Guy Thursday March 9 | When I Knew You Friday March 10 | Faith and Magic Saturday March 11 | Fall A Little Further Sunday March 12 | The Waiting (is the hardest part) Monday March 13 | Unbeknownst Soul Mate Tuesday March 14 | Lucky Mud Wednesday March 15 | Lavender Pines Thursday March 16 | Devil on the Dirt Friday March 17 | Maybe Next Time Saturday March 18 | r/Relationships Sunday March 19 | West Monday March 20 | carving deep blue ripples Tuesday March 21 | the long hill home Wednesday March 22 | when the stars align Thursday March 23 | My Body is a Cage Friday March 24 | Whisper My Name

Previous Rounds on Ao3:

2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

[deancaspinefest]

2022 Pinefest Posting Schedule

Under the cut, you’ll find the full posting schedule for this sixth round of the Dean/Cas Pinefest, along with links to each preview.

Happy pining, everyone!

Monday February 14 | Chance Encounter Tuesday February 15 | Summer Camp Chitaqua Wednesday February 16 | No team today :( Thursday February 17 | Sequitur Friday February 18 | Time of the Season Saturday February 19 | Against The World Sunday February 20 | No team today :( Monday February 21 | Rock & Roll and Feathers  Tuesday February 22 | An Angel's Tale Wednesday February 23 | Rosa Damascena, or, A Rose by Any Other Name Thursday February 24 | Mr. Fix It Friday February 25 | life was a willow Saturday February 26 | Sunflower Sunday February 27 | many the miles Monday February 28 | It's only teenage wasteland Tuesday March 1 | The Laundromat Wednesday March 2 | Dancing in the Moonlight Thursday March 3 | No team today :( Friday March 4 | Baby Steps Saturday March 5 | Sincerely Yours Sunday March 6 | Dare You To Move Monday March 7 | The Legend of the White Light Tuesday March 8 | take me home Wednesday March 9 | time will bring him back to you Thursday March 10 | Another Life Friday March 11 | Don't Have a Harp (Found Something Better) Saturday March 12 | time on our side, take me there Sunday March 13 | a certain slant of light Monday March 14 | No team today :( Tuesday March 15 | Maledictus Hereditas Wednesday March 16 | Maybe It's Our Turn Thursday March 17 | With the closing of one door Friday March 18 | Fire and the Flood Saturday March 19 | A Rainforest Of Pine Sunday March 20 | Long Haul Monday March 21 | The Prince and the Guardian Tuesday March 22 | Fallen Wednesday March 23 | Myosotis Sylvatica Thursday March 24 | A Five Step Guide

Previous Rounds on Ao3:

2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

[deancaspinefest]

The Laundromat

Author: one_more_offbeat_anthem | Artist: kireadraws Posting on Tuesday March 1

Cas Milton is really good at managing things. He managed being abandoned as a child and then placed in an abusive home. He managed his adoptive father going to prison when his aunt and godmother finally surfaced. And now, at twenty-five, he's managing going to college and while working the graveyard shift at Chaney's 24-Hour Laundromat in the icy town of Leadville, Colorado. Life is manageable until one night a man covered in blood shows up at the laundromat, and instead of calling the police, Cas decides to handle it himself. Except this guy, one Dean Winchester, can't exactly be handled. Against all odds, he and Cas form an unsteady friendship, and for once, Cas has someone to talk to about everything he's managing. The only problem? Cas doesn't really know who Dean is. And as it turns out, he doesn't really know himself, either.

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

Between Rowena’s early wake-up phone call (and her version of “good news,” which really means “news that will make you want to hit something”) and spending an hour trying to conjugate in Spanish with Meg, Cas is flat-out exhausted by the time he gets to Chaney’s. The attendant before him, Sylvia, is already gone, not even exhaust fumes left behind, so Cas checks everything in a zombie-like state, emptying the trash and almost spilling it all over his feet before giving up after sweeping half the building. He does get out his books and try to do homework, working through that dreaded language credit and the current unit of his child psychology class (The Impacts of an Unstable Household. Cas can tell you all about that, no vocabulary flashcards required), but before long he’s nodding off at the desk. “You really shouldn’t sleep on the job.” Cas’s eyes snap open to see another face inches from him and he tries to push backwards but ends up spilling himself out of the chair. Once he’s sprawled on the floor, no longer cross-eyed, he sees that it’s Dean. Dean Winchester. Cas still has Dean’s wallet in his backpack. “I think I left something here last night,” Dean continues. “But I could take whatever I want, huh? Are you going to punch me in the face again?” Cas glares at him. He hopes it’s murderous. “I’m just messing with you.” Dean offers out a hand to help Cas up, and Cas reluctantly takes it. Standing up, Cas realizes that he and Dean are almost exactly the same height--Dean’s just got a couple of extra inches on him. The other man seems to relish in that, though, drawing himself up so he can just barely look down at Cas. “Can I have my wallet back?” “Your wallet?” Dean smirks. “I know it’s here, and I know you found it. Seeing as I definitely dripped blood on the floor last night, and it’s all gone. You  cleaned it up. You’re thorough like that.” “You don’t know me.” “I could get to know you.” “Why?” “Why not?” “You’re not going to get your wallet back like this.” Cas crosses his arms. Dean definitely figured out that his wallet was in the front pocket of Cas’s backpack as soon as he walked into the room, but he’s still fronting, acting like he needs Cas to give it back. “I didn’t just come back for the wallet.” Dean smirks. “Let’s talk.” “Fine.” 

 [continue reading on Ao3 on Tuesday March 1]

[deancaspinefest]

time on our side, take me there

Author: s7jacket | Artist: Aubrey Berkholtz/LilBatti Posting on Saturday March 12

There’s an ex-angel shaped like a human in the hallways of the bunker, and Dean doesn’t have a clue what to say to him. Because the thing is. The thing is. Dean is in love with him. Dean has been in love with him for a long goddamn time, in fact, and dealt with it about as well as he’s dealt with everything else in his life. But sorting out all of that is one of many items on a long, long list that Dean has been putting off.  Like, Dean has to come out to Sam. And Dean has to deal with the fact that he’s been a hunter first, person second for the entirety of his adult life, which hasn’t really left a lot of time for soul searching. And Dean has to make peace with a father who wanted revenge more than he wanted his sons, and yet still found the time to mess them both up. All of those tasks seem insurmountable, so Dean focuses on what he can do. He drives, he hunts, he watches cowboy movies with Cas. He figures it out, bit by bit.

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

There’s an ex-angel shaped like a human in the hallways of the Bunker, and Dean has no clue what to say to him. It’s been a funny couple of months—funny weird, not funny ‘ha ha’, no matter how hard Sam tries to get Dean to see the bright side of things. Four months ago, almost to the day, Cas fell from Grace again, for good this time, and his reaction to being human has been… mixed. Dean, for all that he is trying to be empathetic to Cas’s situation, is at a loss—how do you comfort a being who, once, could move mountains, and now struggles getting the lid off the peanut butter jar if Sam’s the one who closed it last.

There’s also the not-inconsequential awkwardness of Dean’s unflinching gladness at having Cas around, because Dean has finally got what he’s always wanted—a Castiel who stays. But John always used to tell Dean to be careful what he wished for, and Jagger said you can’t always get what you want, and Dean is learning that. Learning that there’s a Cas who exists outside of being Dean’s best friend, and he isn’t always easy to be around.

So Dean buys him jeans that fit and makes his favourite meals, just to prove to him that being human (that Dean is worth sticking around for. Gives him a bedroom; takes him to Target; buys him books upon books about anything he wants. Listens to him talk into the early hours of the morning, tracing the candlelit lines of his face with hungry eyes, trying to convince himself that Cas won’t disappear at any moment. Teaches him to play Snap, entire body jolting when Cas’s hand burns on top of his. Lets Cas choose the movie, sometimes.

Purely so Cas doesn’t get bored, of course.

Dean isn’t good enough at lying to himself to convince himself that’s true because, see, the things tripping him up are threefold. One: Dean has wanted to keep Cas since the moment he met him, and loved him nearly as long. Two: since Cas fell from grace, he’s close enough to brush with his flame-hot fingertips but still just out of reach. Because of the third thing, Dean muses, which is that there is no possible world in all of creation where Cas wants Dean and Dean deserves him.

Not that Dean would bring any of this up, of course. These are musings to be kept hidden, deep down inside, and never shown the light of day. The place he keeps the pain of missing Charlie, a wound that’s still raw and weeping; where he shoves down the perfect family home and white picket fence he’s always wanted, back before his Dad stole that fantasy; where the memory of that first time Cas disappeared into black sludge in the reservoir stays, only to be brought out in dreams long past midnight.

No, Dean can’t share any of this with Castiel. He can share his company and his interests, and does so gladly. He can share his home with wide open doors, and beg Cas in actions if not in words to stay.

And time. He can gift Cas his time.

 [continue reading on Ao3 on Saturday March 12]

[deancaspinefest]

Fire and the Flood

Author: Desirae | Artist: lotrspnfangirl Posting on Friday March 18

Family duty sent Castiel Novak home for his estranged uncle’s funeral. While helping clean out the home office, Castiel comes across an old contract, between his uncle and Castiel’s high school sweetheart, Dean Winchester.  A contract stating that unless Dean leaves town, Castiel would have to forfeit his inheritance. Castiel and Dean had plans. To travel, write, get married, and have a family. Instead, Dean had inexplicably disappeared without a word, leaving Castiel behind, brokenhearted.  And now he knew why. When Castiel’s Aunt Amara reveals that she knows where Dean is, the successful Sci-fi writer is determined to seek him out and to hear his side of the story. Even if it’s fifteen years too late. To say Dean is shellshocked when his one true love walks back into his life is an understatement.  Leaving Castiel was the hardest thing Dean ever had to do, even if it had been for his own good, and he couldn’t be sorry for it.  The only question was, would Castiel forgive him anyway, for a second chance at love?  

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

“Dean-”

“Nope.” Dean didn’t give Charlie a chance, picking up a stray coffee cup and plate from a window seat table. He brought it back into the kitchen area, wordlessly handing it over to Krissy. Krissy was seventeen and worked a few afternoons a week after school as a dishwasher and busgirl. She was also Dean’s adopted daughter. Sort of.

“We have to talk about this,” Charlie’s voice was excited, and Krissy looked up from the drying rack, coming to join them at the kitchen island. “No, we don’t, Charlie, so back off.” “What’s going on?” “Nothing,” Dean said sharply even as Charlie shouted, ”Castiel Novak was just here!” “Wait, what, are you serious? Yikes, Pops, what did you do? Did you fangirl? Oh, my God, did you faint?” Krissy asked, looking torn between concern and amusement. “No, I didn’t faint,” Dean said, irritated. “Did you get his number, at least?” Krissy demanded. “Yeah, Dean, did you get his number?” Charlie piggybacked obnoxiously, and Dean felt a low-grade craving for a cigarette that pissed him off. Instead, he made himself a large coffee with cream and two shots of caramel. It wasn’t the same as nicotine, but it took the edge off. Dean had developed a lot of vices over the years, ones he’d worked hard to give up, but they were gonna have to pry coffee, pie, and bacon from his cold dead hands. Dean took a deep sip of the rich, sweet brew and sighed, feeling the gaze of his best friend and his kid resting on him. “He asked me to dinner. So. We're going out to dinner. Just to talk, calm down, you magpies,” Dean said when a chorus of chatter erupted between the pair of them. Charlie sighed. “ Isn’t it romantic that after all these years, your childhood crush is here to woo you?” “He’s not here to woo me, Charlie,” Dean said, and Krissy snorted. “Good, cause if he sees that shrine you have of him in your den, he’d be filing a restraining order,” the teenager smirked. “Shaddup,” Dean said, standing up to poke his head out onto the floor, noting that Jesse seemed to have everything covered for now. “Trust me. I’m sure he’s not here to woo me. “ “How are you so sure, Dean?” Charlie asked. “Why else would he go out of his way to track you down and ask you out?” “For one, he’s engaged to some doctor,” It was bittersweet but so fitting. “For two, he’s pretty much a celebrity. And for three,” Dean continued before either one of them could chime in again, “because I lied to you.” Twin gazes of confusion stared back at him. “Castiel wasn’t just my childhood crush,” Dean sighed. “ He was my first love, and I ran out on him.”

 [continue reading on Ao3 on Friday March 18]

[deancaspinefest]

Fallen

Author: Chi Yagami | Artist: bihuntersandgayangels Posting on Tuesday March 22

Once upon a time during the days of old, an angel with dark feathers cursed a human child, and ever since, black wings have become a symbol of the Fallen - angels who curse newborns instead of blessing them.

Burdened with ebony feathers, Castiel has never tried to bless a child. He knows humans will fear him. But with a push from Gabriel, Castiel attends his first Blessing, and everything goes exactly as he suspected - the humans believe he is there to curse the child. But brave little Dean Winchester begs to have Castiel curse him instead of his baby brother. Although well-intended, Castiel bestows Dean with a forbidden gift.

In doing this, he forever alters Dean's timeline.

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

Once upon a time during the days of old, in a faraway land, there lived a king and queen. For years, they had wished for a child, and, finally, a daughter was born. A holiday was proclaimed in her honor across the kingdom, and everyone was invited to attend in honor of the princess's birth. Everyone, high and low, came from far and wide. From the country... and the skies, as was tradition.  Being a royal celebration, twelve angels were invited, each with a different blessing to bestow upon the child. However, a thirteenth angel, uninvited and spurned, arrived at the castle with ill intent. His name was Lucifer, and he wore dark robes and bore giant, black wings. As revenge, the angel had not come bearing a gift... but a curse. The princess fell into a permanent sleep upon her sixteenth birthday... and she never awoke.

Despite thousands of years having past, with Lucifer having fallen from Heaven as a result of his actions, the story is well-known among angels and humans alike. Angels with black wings are feared and detested. Even birds with dark plumage are said to bring bad luck on the day of a child's birth. “You know the story as well as I do, Brother,” Castiel argues for fifth time.  “How can you still insist upon this ill-advised arrangement?” His brother, one of hundreds, is to attend the birth celebration of a child in two days. Gabriel, the social creature, has other plans made and now holds conflicting obligations. “Cassie, I fail to see the problem here,” the other angel responds, uncaring. “You have always wanted to bestow a gift upon a human, and here I am, offering you the chance on a silver platter.  How are you still arguing?” “I have said it before, and now I say it again – quit calling me 'Cassie'. It's Castiel,” he replies, frustration growing.  “And you know as well as I that I will be removed from the premises as soon as I arrive. I can't exactly hide the color of my wings!” Gabriel rolls his eyes. “Look, these people...” He grabs the invitation scroll from where it has been sitting innocently on the table between the two. “The Winchesters, they aren't exactly royalty, all right?  Not even Joneses.  John Winchester is war veteran who works as a mechanic.  His wife comes from a more prominent family – if you're counting peace officers.” “Which means the gift should be special, a Blessing from a true angel,” Castiel argues grumpily, but his brother expectantly ignores him. “And what are you then, Twix in a Snickers wrapper?  These are nobodies from nowhere – in Kansas of all places. You're not Blessing the Queen of England.”   “What is your point, Gabriel?” “My point, Cassie,” he contends, throwing an arm around his younger brother, “is that these parents are lucky to have you. They should feel grateful an angel even bothered to accept. It's not like the old days, when invitations were rare.  Now, it's as if every human has enough wealth to call upon us. We're busy as it is.” Castiel shrugs away from Gabriel.   “I still think you should go, considering it was you who officially accepted.” Gabriel winks. “Sorry baby bro, but Queen Kali of India invited me to the ceremony for her sixth child. There's no way I'm missing that!  She knows how to throw a party.” “Exactly, you were present for her first five children. I think you can spare a day for the celebration you already committed to beforehand.” “Castiel.” Gabriel rarely uses his full name unless he is completely serious. He claps the younger angel on the shoulder. “We've been brothers for ages, and we've been close for decades. I've noticed you, Castiel.” Gabriel's eyes stare into his with affection, and a little pity. “You have watched many of our brothers and sisters receive assignments for Blessings. You've seen others, like me, be specifically requested.  You have watched and yearned for years... since the practice began, probably. No one here is stopping you from accepting an assignment. But you've never even tried.” Castiel lowers his eyes to the floor, knowing his brother speaks the truth.  He had accepted his dark-colored wings and their unfavorable perceptions on principle.  He knew, from the beginning, that humans would not welcome him into their homes.  Castiel never received an assigned invitation... but he never requested one, either.  He has merely watched – and wanted – in silence. “That fairytale is ancient,” Gabriel continues. “Do some humans still fear dark wings? Yes, they probably do. But you know what?” Glancing back up, Castiel meets his brother's kind smile. “A lot of humans don't follow religion these days, but they still join in on the festivities. Events like Christmas and Blessings are celebrated by a variety of believers and non-believers alike. I bet there are some humans who would love to be Blessed by an angel, any angel, even one with black wings. Once they meet you, and you explain things, I'm sure everything will run smoothly.” But of course, things do not run smoothly, contrary to Gabriel's prediction.

[continue reading on Ao3 on Tuesday March 22]

[deancaspinefest]

take me home

Author: stayawake | Artist: mybelovedcas Posting on Tuesday March 8

The thing is, Dean has known for a long time that he's in love with Cas. Now that Michael is dead and things have settled, Dean is slowly realizing that maybe he can have the things he wants. Not only that, but maybe he deserves them too. Post 14x14 Ouroboros. Dean rents a lake house for him, Cas, and Jack.

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

Dean pulls him into another hug. “Sam just needs time alone. But he’ll come back. Family always comes back.” “Okay,” Jack says again. He holds onto Dean just as tightly. “Can we still go fishing?” “Of course.” Dean smiles, letting go and taking a step back. “Actually, what if we made a little vacation out of it?” “Vacation?” Jack asks, perking up. “Yeah,” Dean says, feeling just as bright. Cas is smiling softly at him and Dean thinks he could live off that smile for a hundred years. “Rent a little lake house. Teach you a thing or two about chopping firewood.” “I would like that, Dean,” Jack smiles. “Good. Go start packing.” Jack gives both of them one last smile before darting out of the kitchen. Dean chuckles as he watches him go and then turns back to Cas. “Dean, if this is too much of an inconvenience-” “It’s not like we have much else going on,” Dean says, cutting off Cas immediately. “Besides, I want to do this. I want good things for him.” And you, Dean thinks. I want you to have good things. I want you to have the things you deserve, the things you want. You sacrificed everything and I wish I had more to offer you. But Dean doesn’t say any of that. Maybe one day he’ll find the courage. Cas smiles. “So do I.” “Then it’s settled.” Dean walks over to the doorway of the kitchen. He taps his fingers against the wall and hesitates before looking back at Cas. Maybe this is the first step toward repairing things. Maybe this is the first step toward something new. Nothing’s broken, but things are definitely not where they’re supposed to be. Dean can feel it, deep in his gut and pulling at his chest. Things are supposed to be different. He can feel the tectonic plates of his whole world shifting around and he knows. He knows he knows he knows. He looks at Cas and thinks we’re supposed to be something more to each other. Maybe one day they will be.

 [continue reading on Ao3 on Tuesday March 8]

[deancaspinefest]

many the miles

Author: dothraki_shieldmaiden | Artist: cheelow Posting on Sunday February 27

After Dean's little brother moves to Stanford, leaving him behind in their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, Dean feels a little untethered. The obvious solution is to go on semi-regular trips to Stanford to see Sam. The problem is that the drive to Stanford is long, and Dean's not quite as young as he used to be. Pushing through the twenty-five hour drive isn't really an option. Enter The Carriage House, an AirBnB located halfway between Lawrence and Palo Alto. The price is right and the location is perfect. There's just one snag, and that comes in the form of Castiel Novak, the owner of The Carriage House. Castiel is smart, funny, and one of the hottest guys Dean's ever seen. Unfortunately, he's taken. Nevertheless, Dean and Castiel embark on a friendship that spans the miles between them. As their friendship deepens, Dean realizes that Cas is everything he wants, but the persistent question nags him: what if he's not everything Cas wants? 

Keep reading for a sneak preview!

As the jogger draws even closer, however, Dean is mortified to realize that he's  turning into the driveway. Shit. Shit. He’s not sure of the rules of AirBNB hosts meeting their guests, but he’s almost certain that being caught perving on someone is rude in any circumstance. Dean tries to quickly duck inside the Impala, but luck is never on his side. The jogger raises a hand towards him, and Dean is forced to wait as he closes the space between them. Don’t look at his chest, don’t look at his chest, Dean chants, but he can’t help darting his eyes at the naked skin in front of him. The jogger is still catching his breath, and his chest heaves as he pants. Sparse, dark hair dusts over golden skin. As Dean watches, a single drop of sweat slides from the man’s collarbone and past a dusky nipple. “You must be Dean,” the jogger says, either ignorant of or ignoring Dean's internal crisis. “I’m Castiel. I would shake your hand, but.” He gestures towards himself with a self-deprecating twist of his mouth. “That’s fine,” Dean blurts out, shoving his hand forward without a second thought. He immediately winces at his eagerness, but it’s not like he can yank his hand back now that it’s out there. One of Castiel’s eyebrows climbs up his forehead, but he doesn’t hesitate to shake Dean’s hand. His skin is slightly clammy with sweat, but his grip is strong, and his fingers curl easily around the back of Dean’s hand. It’s just a fucking handshake, Dean scolds himself. Get a grip. But he’s tongue-tied in a way that he hasn’t been since he was sixteen, and that doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon. Focus, Dean warns himself, wrenching his brain back to the task of listening to Castiel instead of focusing on the chapped skin of his lower lip. “I hope everything was all right for your stay,” Castiel says. He gestures carelessly towards the garage. "Hope you found everything to your liking." “No, it’s great,” Dean hurries to say. “It looks just like the pictures.” “Oh. Well, that’s good.” Castiel’s smile is small and polite, like something given to passing strangers on the street. “What made you decide to become a host?” Dean blurts out the question before he can stop himself. This time, Castiel’s other eyebrow joins its brother in the creep up his forehead, but he doesn’t look irritated. If anything, his expression is intrigued. Dean tries not to pay attention to the small purse of his lips. “The apartment above the garage was there when I bought the house, but I didn’t know what to do with it. It was Luke’s idea to finish it and turn it into an AirBNB as a way of earning some extra money. My boyfriend,” Castiel says, answering Dean’s unasked question. Castiel’s chin lifts slightly in mild defiance. His eyes flash, challenging Dean to have a problem with what he just said. Dean’s brain is too caught on the word boyfriend to worry about his supposed homophobia. Euphoria and despair war within him. Euphoria: Castiel has a boyfriend, which means he’s open to the idea of dating a man. Despair: Castiel has a boyfriend, which means he’s taken.

 [continue reading on Ao3 on Sunday February 27]