SPN: Roadhouse Ink by epicycles (Gabriel, Dean Gen R)
Title: Roadhouse Ink
Author: epicycles
Artist: cassiopeia7
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing/Characters: Gen
Rating: PG-13/R
Warnings: Set in a universe that goes AU in late Season 2, but contains spoilers up through Season 5. Content warnings only for brief violence, bad language and the occasional mild innuendo.
Word Count: 16,000
Summary: This is basically a 16000 word excuse to indulge my tattoo kink.
AU. After an injury, Dean retires from hunting to become a tattoo artist, slipping anti-possession symbols into all the art. One day two djinn -- the supposed Trickster and his younger brother -- turn up on Dean's doorstep, needing his help and offering a wish in return.
Link to masterpost: http://gabriel-bigbang.livejournal.com/28768.html
Download Report: Download Report: Two posts on LJ.
This is one of the best stories I've read so far on the Gabriel Big Bang. Although I should mention that Gabriel isn't the point of view central character (see paragraph two), he is the most important character aside from Dean and he does have a major and influencial role. The author has done a great job of both capturing his Trickster personality and giving him a new and interesting part to play outside the Heavenly Hierarchy. It's a nifty AU that, despite the author calling it an indulgence, works really well.
About Gabriel. My biggest complaint about this story has nothing to do with the actual story. It has to do with the fact that it was posted as a Gabriel Big Bang, and yet Dean was the central character. This is not a stories-I-would-like-in-general complaint, since Dean is part of my Trifecta of Adoration, but I was disappointed that one of the best stories I've read on the Gabriel Big Bang was not, in fact, entirely Gabriel-centric. So. That's my whining done. I will now talk about how awesome Djinn!Gabriel is.
As the summary says, Gabriel and Castiel are djinn, but they're a different species than the djinn Dean and Sam encountered in "What Is and Never Shall Be." The author says in her notes that she's smushed up several different djinn concepts, but the result is very cool. One thing that's emphasized is that Gabriel and Castiel were created by God himself, thankyouverymuch, and Gabriel is every bit as powerful as an archangel. (I very much enjoyed seeing beings from another mythos kick ass.) The author did a good job of showing this, describing how Gabriel seems to physically change when his djinn tattoos show, and how his anger is displayed in heat and fire. So many nice details.
The interpersonal relationships are a huge strength in the story. Dean works in a tattoo parlor owned by Ellen, while Sam and Jo have partnered up to hunt monsters. The tattoo shop, Roadhouse Ink, moves on once they've discouraged demonic activity in the area. Ash and Pamela work there as well, and Bobby, who's married to Ellen, runs his research and cover-story operation out of the upstairs. The author has a feel for the individual speech patterns of the characters, to the point that I could often hear the character's voice as I read their words. She also has a good grasp on their personalities, and how all of them would mesh as a unit.
Dean and Gabriel's interactions, not surprisingly, were the highlight of the story for me. The author showed Gabriel as the multi-faceted character he is, combining his canon Trickster persona with the obligations of what he ends up owing Dean, and also showing him as being connected to his family through Castiel. Gabriel and Dean's friendship grew naturally and believably from the events in the story.
Dean, too, was a great character. A sidelined Dean is not a happy Dean, but again the author manages to build up his backstory to make his acceptance of his life understandable and plausible. His response to being given a wish is so achingly Dean that I just want to frame it.
I haven't mentioned Sam and Cas yet, but rest assured they are present and accounted for. They're both important to their brothers and the author doesn't forget that.
The plot is an AU of the canon "Let's start the Apocalypse!" plot, shifted a bit because Dean stopped hunting and never went to Hell. The plot is sort of secondary to the characters, but the author doesn't skimp there, either. She folds Gabriel and Castiel into place as the awesomely kick-ass beings they are, and creates a new and believable AU out of her story.
Bottom line: It's good. Try it.
This review was originally posted to the spnanonhaven Fiction Discuss post
Author: epicycles
Artist: cassiopeia7
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing/Characters: Gen
Rating: PG-13/R
Warnings: Set in a universe that goes AU in late Season 2, but contains spoilers up through Season 5. Content warnings only for brief violence, bad language and the occasional mild innuendo.
Word Count: 16,000
Summary: This is basically a 16000 word excuse to indulge my tattoo kink.
AU. After an injury, Dean retires from hunting to become a tattoo artist, slipping anti-possession symbols into all the art. One day two djinn -- the supposed Trickster and his younger brother -- turn up on Dean's doorstep, needing his help and offering a wish in return.
Link to masterpost: http://gabriel-bigbang.livejournal.com/28768.html
Download Report: Download Report: Two posts on LJ.
This is one of the best stories I've read so far on the Gabriel Big Bang. Although I should mention that Gabriel isn't the point of view central character (see paragraph two), he is the most important character aside from Dean and he does have a major and influencial role. The author has done a great job of both capturing his Trickster personality and giving him a new and interesting part to play outside the Heavenly Hierarchy. It's a nifty AU that, despite the author calling it an indulgence, works really well.
About Gabriel. My biggest complaint about this story has nothing to do with the actual story. It has to do with the fact that it was posted as a Gabriel Big Bang, and yet Dean was the central character. This is not a stories-I-would-like-in-general complaint, since Dean is part of my Trifecta of Adoration, but I was disappointed that one of the best stories I've read on the Gabriel Big Bang was not, in fact, entirely Gabriel-centric. So. That's my whining done. I will now talk about how awesome Djinn!Gabriel is.
As the summary says, Gabriel and Castiel are djinn, but they're a different species than the djinn Dean and Sam encountered in "What Is and Never Shall Be." The author says in her notes that she's smushed up several different djinn concepts, but the result is very cool. One thing that's emphasized is that Gabriel and Castiel were created by God himself, thankyouverymuch, and Gabriel is every bit as powerful as an archangel. (I very much enjoyed seeing beings from another mythos kick ass.) The author did a good job of showing this, describing how Gabriel seems to physically change when his djinn tattoos show, and how his anger is displayed in heat and fire. So many nice details.
The interpersonal relationships are a huge strength in the story. Dean works in a tattoo parlor owned by Ellen, while Sam and Jo have partnered up to hunt monsters. The tattoo shop, Roadhouse Ink, moves on once they've discouraged demonic activity in the area. Ash and Pamela work there as well, and Bobby, who's married to Ellen, runs his research and cover-story operation out of the upstairs. The author has a feel for the individual speech patterns of the characters, to the point that I could often hear the character's voice as I read their words. She also has a good grasp on their personalities, and how all of them would mesh as a unit.
Dean and Gabriel's interactions, not surprisingly, were the highlight of the story for me. The author showed Gabriel as the multi-faceted character he is, combining his canon Trickster persona with the obligations of what he ends up owing Dean, and also showing him as being connected to his family through Castiel. Gabriel and Dean's friendship grew naturally and believably from the events in the story.
Dean, too, was a great character. A sidelined Dean is not a happy Dean, but again the author manages to build up his backstory to make his acceptance of his life understandable and plausible. His response to being given a wish is so achingly Dean that I just want to frame it.
I haven't mentioned Sam and Cas yet, but rest assured they are present and accounted for. They're both important to their brothers and the author doesn't forget that.
The plot is an AU of the canon "Let's start the Apocalypse!" plot, shifted a bit because Dean stopped hunting and never went to Hell. The plot is sort of secondary to the characters, but the author doesn't skimp there, either. She folds Gabriel and Castiel into place as the awesomely kick-ass beings they are, and creates a new and believable AU out of her story.
Bottom line: It's good. Try it.
This review was originally posted to the spnanonhaven Fiction Discuss post