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(x) (x) (x) and the link in Misha's last tweet was leading to this video from 2013

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pages 217-220: Of course, the people most often starring in fanfiction, both in character form and “real person” fiction, are Jared and Jensen. Fans spend a significant amount of time worrying about what the actors think of this particular fannish practice, as we’ve seen. Padalecki was surprised by how many fans liked to think about him and his costar together in a more than friendship way, but more amused than scandalized. Padalecki: I was not expecting that. It’s so abundantly clear that we are not homosexual, that there’s anything wrong with those who are, but it’s so strange to me. … Platonically, I know they enjoy that we are great friends, because we ARE great friends, and that comes across, and that I can understand. I think you can tell when someone’s having fun on camera. That’s why Oceans 11 did so well, because it just looked like they were having such a fun time. They’re goofing around and it’s fun to watch and see people really laughing and having a good time. The other part, I don’t really understand so I have no theory other than, I don’t know, maybe boredom?

What about the analogous stereotype that guys find the idea of two good looking women together hot? Padalecki: Sure, oh sure. I see. I can see that, but I think the reason it’s so funny is that it’s so far from reality. I’m just like what? But sure, you know, of course, yeah – to me it might be bizarre, but whatever floats their boat. I’m glad y’all asked me about that, because it’s one thing I don’t really understand, and not having any experience with the human mind, or the ins and outs, it’s bizarre, it’s one of the things you go “alright…”. I guess I will choose to take it as flattery.

It seems to be just that. After all, a significant number of SPN fans are bisexual or lesbian women, and they refer to Jared and Jensen as their 5% exception, which is a certainly a compliment. Padalecki: I’ll take it (grinning). It makes a lot of sense if there are a lot of bisexual or gay or lesbian fans that they would sort of turn it into their world.

There followed a discussion of the difference between believing something is factual versus a nice fantasy, which is how most fans enjoy their version of J-Squared – a distinction that Padalecki understood completely. For example, the fans loved that Jared and Jensen were, at the time, living together. Padalecki: (laughing) I guess I figured they would. And it’s great, we’re pretty similar guys. After a long day it’s like hey man, you want to go like grab a beer, or go to sleep? He’s a good buddy. When times are hard for me, or I’ve got something I’m going through, it’s nice to be like hey man, can I just rattle with you for a little bit, rap about some stuff, and he’s like sure, and vice versa.

Ackles was also amused and slightly mystified about why some fans love to imagine him and Jared as a couple. Like Padalecki, he recognized the “subtext” present in their real life friendship, and talked about the genuine affection the two have for each other. Ackles: (laughing) It’s strange, because you know, being who I am and being who he is, it’s like, it’s just hard to kinda wrap our minds around. I mean, I’ve had, I need two hands to count the number of roommates I’ve had. Guys I’ve spent a lot of time with, like my best friends. I may not work with them, but we’re together at home and we’ll go out together, all the time and share each other’s problems. It’s affection, it’s a friendship that, for Jared and I – God, it’s a good friendship. I think with Jared and I, we knew right away it wasn’t going to work if we didn’t get along. The first season, I forget what episode it was, but we got heated on set and got in each other’s face and I mean, we went toe to toe. There were no fists thrown or anything like that, and he ended up taking a walk down the street and cooler heads prevailed, and when we got back to our trailers, I knocked on his door and sat down and I was like listen man, that can never happen again because if that’s the road we choose to go down, we are going to be living a different life. And it wasn’t just me, he was like actually on the same wavelength, like I’m glad you came by, I need to get this off my chest, we need to come together if we are going to make this show work, because we’re gonna be spending way too much time together to not have a friendship. And that’s the last fight we’ve ever had. We’ve got each other’s backs and I support him in the decisions he makes and will give him advice when he needs it, and he does the same for me. He went through a rocky thing this summer with his fiancee, and I was there for him for that. It almost turns into art imitating life, or life imitating art, we play brothers on screen but we’re kinda brothers off screen as well. It’s a brotherly love that he and I have.

page 220: Misha: The scenes we’ve [Jensen and I] had together, there’s something that clicks, and they’re easy, the way we interact with each other. I don’t know why, but there’s always a certain intensity, a quiet intensity that organically comes out when we’re doing scenes. Interviewer: Castiel is a complicated character. Is he good? Is he not good? Does he like Dean, does he hate Dean, does he want to take Dean apart? Misha: (deadpans) Does he want to take Dean to bed?

pages 220-222: Ackles too is well aware that fans can distinguish between fanfiction and reality, and don’t necessarily believe the costars share a sexual kind of love as well as a brotherly one. Like Kripke, he understands the existence of Wincest as a consequence of the passionate investment fans have in Sam and Dean’s relationship, and extends that to fans’ investment in the relationship he has with Jared in real life. Ackles: I know they don’t (think it’s real) – it’s a hot fantasy. But I think, and you can probably help me out with this, that it might stem from their love of the two characters and how much they have invested in Sam and Dean, and there are really no other characters that they want coming into that realm. I think it’s their love for these two characters, they don’t want anyone to interfere. They want it to be just the two of them, all the time, and I think that’s where it stems from. I don’t think they really think we’re gay. So I really think it’s just the fact they are left with no other option when thinking of these two characters, and of course these guys are together. Though I wish that two guys can just be heterosexual males and still have a brotherly love. But that’s why it’s called fiction!

We asked Misha Collins about the other popular slash pairing in the fandom – the first Dean/Cas slash community was created 42 minutes after the character appeared. Collins: (deadpans) Why do you think it took so long? Maybe the servers were down or something. Collins is fine with the homoerotic vibe of parts of the fandom. Collins: I certainly try not to be too homophobic in my real life and this is fiction on top of that, so it’s one degree further removed, so it’s easier. Like the other actors who negotiate the boundaries between fiction and real life on a daily basis, Collins had no trouble understanding fan fiction as fiction. He would, however, like to turn the tables and incorporate fans, as he and his fellow actors have been incorporated. Collins: I’ve been thinking about writing a story of my own about Dean and the fans and then I could post it out in the community.

pages225-226: Padalecki: I think the big thing that has drawn fans to the world of Supernatural is that each has turned it into their world. It’s no longer about guys on the road or hunting demons, it’s connected to some part of them that they might not even know exists. They’re like oh, it’s kinda like this! That’s one of the great things about mythology - the point is to reflect some part of your own life. So you start going Oh, Luke Skywalker kind of doesn’t know what he’s supposed to be, he’s kind of struggling, kind of like me, I’m having my own struggles.

The reading and writing of fanfiction as therapeutic resonated with Jared. Padalecki: That makes plenty of sense. There’s no other logical reason. I don’t think any movie or show is that good to be so committed to it unless it’s sparked something in you.

In fact, Padalecki identifies the same desire for some healthy escape on the part of cast and crew as within the fandom watching and participating in the Show. That’s why so much laughing goes on between takes on the SPN set. Padalecki: It’s almost like the same escapism that our fans are enjoying when they are watching, we are enjoying when we are filming. So it’s nice for them to call action and you just lose yourself for a minute.

from 'Fandom at the Crossroads: Celebration, Shame and Fan/Producer Relationships' by Lynn Zubernis and Katherine Larsen

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