In general, I think it's mostly the latter.

In this specific instance, I think it could have been fine (the scene in question where we learn they are already in a relationship is actually quite funny, and brief) if any sort of vague hints had paved the way. As it stands, there was no indication that there was any attraction leading up to that scene, not even in a repressed Victorian way. And so far, the story(s) being told in this particular fic aren't served by the pairing, and could have worked just fine without.

So, I liked it. I liked how the myths of the sword in the stone and the round table and the green knight were woven with elements of demons and the apocalypse and crossroads deals and Dean trading his life for Sam's, and am just tickled at the word-play with whom Guinevere is representative of in the SPN verse.

I think the "tacked on romance" would be a non-issue if there had been a little more optical coitus going on (that's still the best summary of a fic I've read).

Also, the art is gorgeous [link]

Hmm. I ended up not liking the Weechester story. I was willing to accept the level of monomaniacal John, but the emotional disconnect between absolutely everyone ended up irritating me. Also, I have no idea what the logistics were with the demon-killing, especially why Dean ended up killing Rita. That's a really big deal for a nine-year old, but as far as we know completely unnecessary, and that seemed to have been totally glossed over.

I didn't like If you ever get close to a human as much as you did, Julie. Little of the characterisation worked for me. Castiel especially. I don't really like seeing him written that way. Too read from the hall for me. And, I'm not a particular fan of Adam, but I felt worse for him than I thought I should have. Like I felt bad for him at the hands of the writer, not due to his narrative circumstances. I did like, however, that she wrote about Dean at Lisa's and included the fact that we'd seen Sam watching him. Why do so few people include that in their stories?

Now to read Post Ergo Propter. Fuck, that art is out of this world. Looks nothing like the characters, but still insane.

I don't think I'd call it "liking" the fic, as I have very many levels between loving and loathing. And yes, the way Adam was treated by the writer, Dean, and Castiel was horrible. I kept waiting for the after scene where they admitted that they didn't really mean it, but knew it was the only way to sever the connection, and they felt horrible.

Yeah, it felt too much like the author was willing to write the character off, and he's done nothing to deserve that, from the author, or the characters.

I'm reading Post Ergo Propter, and man that's totally grafted on D/C. People, why? It doesn't make the story any better. I think this has enough Castiel to pass muster as a relationship story, that it doesn't need to have sex referred to. If we're not getting an ongoing emotional payoff, and there's no smut, why the hell do I care? It's just distracting.

If I ran the world (which I should),

Anne, you have far too much on your plate as it is, dear.

Okay, Julie, you know how I said to avoid sansday? Just avoid her Fallout verse. She's just written Winchester mafia D/C piece that's completely sans her brutal angst. And she has a D/C sleep frottage piece that she wrote recently too that's kinda cute. I'd hate to have you ignore all her stuff.

or do you think it's more often a case of "people won't read it without the pr0n!"

I think people tend to slot themselves as "I read x and y, but not z." Which is limiting. Which is sad because good gen and Bob has been some of the best stuff I've read. Honestly, some of the most adult in theme too.

And, really? If I want to read something hot? I am not going to read a whole long tome just for one half-assed smut scene.

There's just no way of organizing newsletter and such by categories like: Good, 'My head iz pastede on yay' AU, pre-series that ignores canon and OMGJustReadThisAndThankMeLater. Unfortunately.

oh dear. Mom walked by while I was looking at Misha/Leeloo pics and said, "that looks like one of your people." erm, yeah?

OMGJustReadThisAndThankMeLater

From certain people, I will absolutely do this, though. And from crack_impala, usually. It's actually my favorite thing, because it makes me read things I haven't.