On reflection (not rereading yet), I appreciate that bauble's fic dealt with the Dean/Cas relationship after the initial whirlwind of passion and apocalypse passed. That this thing could have been intense, and intensely physical, with not a lot of thought or talking, and a lot of assumptions, until it gets to the point where their in a relationship without the non-physical foundations that involved talking. That there can be sexual compatibility and "I love you" and "I would die for you", but not the rest of the meat that makes up a solid relationship and provides a basis to expel the insecurities.

Milkshake: the comments in an interview with architeuthis led me to this unique fic: [link] "Of All Possible Futures". Interesting take on Castiel's gender and place in time.

Coffee flavoured sugar: Because I am still trying to convince ita to read Aurora Borealis, my man architeuthis backs me up (fangrrrls at him so hard). From his interview:

Bauble: let's segue into the recs then. what are your top five d/c fics?

Architeuthis: unoshot's Aurora Borealis is, I think, the absolute pinnacle of the art of the fusion. I have the impression she has kind of mixed feelings about it because it's not in her voice and it's not her story, but god, it's so good, and so insightful about both of the sources, and funny and surprising and heartwrenching.

But I don't know the other source! I hate that feeling.

I got my sister to read scaramouche's HS fic, and despite not paying any attention to SPN (she won't even watch Misha's minion stimulus video) she liked it, and liked her Castiel especially.

Two SPN fics I've gotten her to read so far, this and Architeuthis's epic D/C whumpage, and I'm two for two. I still don't think I can get her to watch the show, though. Still, it makes me proud of the fandom, that it can generate fic good enough to make her happy, even if she doesn't care for the show.

Is that the Hunger Games one?

Peter S. Beagle. The Last Unicorn. Local library. IJS.

I really don't think you'll regret it. I don't think you'd regret it if you watched the also excellent animated movie. This is one of my childhood loves that didn't change a jot in my heart when watching it as an adult (with the judicious usage of the fast-forward button).

Movie before book is my rec, because the movie is still one of my favorites, and the book just expands on the richness. Schmendrick is extra tragic in the book. Just fast-forward through Mia Farrow and Jeff Bridges singing and you'll be golden. Both movie and novel are funny, terrifying, romantic, tragic, whimsical. And the animation of the movie is pretty great and has some fantastic music by America.

No, Hunger Games is the DCBB fusion trinityofone has coming up.

ita, that maybe came across as pushy, and admittedly perhaps inspired a creepy desire to hunt down your mailing address and mail you a copy of the book. Just ignore me.

Ring of salt - barrier to demons and ghosts.

The very best of fanfic can transcend unfamiliarity with the source material. (Yahtzee's "Goodnight Moon" remains the most moving crossover story I've read despite my knowing nothing about Joan of Arcadia that couldn't be gleaned from the promos back when it was airing and holding The Day After Tomorrow in bemused contempt.) If it's really good, it should stand on its own merit without requiring background homework.