i have not, of course, read every single dcbb posted this year, but i’ve perused a lot of them and now that the dust is settled, i want to share my first round of favorites!!
relationships are hard and messy and complicated and i rly love how claire doesn’t shy away from that. she’s equally great at both cas and dean’s voices and at, without warning, dropping sentences that casually shatter your heart with their beauty.
Clean Air by anactoria [sci-fi AU, 121677 words]
THIS FIC IS SO GOOD! more people need to read it. ;u; the world it’s set in (based on hugh howey’s wool trilogy) is endlessly fascinating; every aspect of it is so lush and thoughtful, no character or relationship is taken for granted, and dean and cas will break your heart (and then put it back together!).
oh so domestic and aching and sweet, and with a fantastically whopping dose of claire novak. ;u; anna is so good at creating atmosphere between these two that’s desperately tender without being cloying.
one of those classic, incredibly satisfying aus where you really see the characters shine through, the plot is tight and gripping, and did i mention that seeing dean dote on a bunch of doggies is desperately satisfying and delightful?
THIS IS HARD TO GET THROUGH BECAUSE IT HURTS BUT IT IS WORTH IT, I PROMISE. you just root for them so much, and it’s so charged with their attraction and caring for each other.
this is semi-canon in that dean is still dean but cas is human and a writer, and the main thing is that the writing is gorgeous and their interactions feel completely genuine. plus it’s set partly in seattle by someone who obviously loves seattle and i appreciated that a lot. :’)
i know everyone has read this already but i would be remiss not to mention it!! it made me cry like a baby in a starbucks in downtown seattle!!!!
such unbelievably beautiful atmosphere, such shockingly gorgeous turns of phrase, such realistic fumbling awkward human pain and fuckups as these two idiots try to work themselves out.
this fic hurts sooooo good. it’s lovely and uplifting and painful and i read it all in one sitting and shed actual real tears.
