MASTERPOST: Thermodynamics and the Modern Male

[snick_backup]

Title: Thermodynamics and the Modern Male
Author: snickfic
Artist: ladyofthelog / verity
Fandom: Supernatural RPF
Characters/Pairings: Jared-Jensen friendship, some Jared/Matt Cohen, Jared/OFC, but the story is basically non-shippy
Genre: high school alpha/beta/omega AU, coming-of-age story
Word Count: 23,000
Rating: R
Contents / Warnings: alpha/beta/omega dynamics, references to knotting and mpreg, masturbation, sex talk ranging from clinical to juvenile, crude and insensitive language, sexual harassment, bullying, extended discussion of intersex genitalia
Note: Takes place in the same universe as (but does not depend on) my other SPN RPF knottingverse fics.

Summary: When Jared goes into heat for the first time, his comfortable high school slacker existence comes to an abrupt halt. Now he’s an omega, which means alphas smell like heaven (exhibit A: Matt Cohen), terrifying senior Katie Cassidy is saving his damsel ass, and the beta girl he’s been crushing on for months suddenly looks more like a sister. Meanwhile Jensen, beta and best friend extraordinaire, is maybe not dealing well with never having been told that Jared was omega.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Fic and pdf download at AO3
Art/Fanmix Masterpost



Special Notes: There are a few people without whom this fic would not be what it is:
* ghostyouknow27, who first poked me into signing up with her and then read my drafts, talked me through worldbuilding details, and regularly provided me with much-needed encouragement. Before that, she was the one who talked me into writing a/b/o in the first place; the fact that this universe exists at all is 95% her fault.
* ladyofthelog, who not only made me an adorable banner and fanmix available at the art masterpost linked above, but provided invaluable feedback and cheerleading throughout the editing process.
* bobthemole, who listened to much venting in the early stages, made helpful suggestions, and helped me coin a word. She knows which it is.
* next_to_normal, who saved me from many very bad titles and inspired the one I finally used.
* wendy and thehighwaywoman who make this challenge possible every year.
To all of you: thank you so much.

Original entry posted at Dreamwidth. Feel free to reply here or there. ( DW replies)

Comments

[goldenboat.livejournal.com]

Hi!!! What a nice storyline. I got the pdf and am dying to read it. Am sure it would be great. Will get back to you after I finish:) *HUGS*

[snickfic]

Hurrah, thanks for downloading! I hope you enjoy it, and I'll look forward to your thoughts. :)

[ghostyouknow27.livejournal.com]

It is up! And the art is pretty! And I totally remember a time when we were young and innocent and went, "a/b/o is awesome, but could we really write it?" And then you did, and it was lovely. Yay for your first bb! :D

[snickfic]

YAY. \o/

And I totally remember a time when we were young and innocent and went, "a/b/o is awesome, but could we really write it?"

Yep. Yep. It's even sweeter that Verity was right there along with us, being innocent (and grossed out). :D

Entry 527

[jalixx3.livejournal.com]

Today the subject was found to have named a character "Sassy Ass." My fellow researchers and I indulged in a long debate over the origins of this curious phrasing. Richards held that the character was both "sassy" i.e., "had sass, or was insolent and saucy" and was "an ass" in the modern sense, "hostile" or "anti-social," stating repeatedly that the most literal reading was always the best. The rest of us practically booed him down, with the exception of Dawkin, of course, who never does anything that can be construed as constructive. Childers offered that the "ass" as in "the posterior" was literally "sassy," and brought up that vulgar class of metaphor wherein one "talks out of one's ass" or "pulls [a thing] out of one's ass." I pointed out, quite correctly, that this would not promote instinctive trust in the readership, and wondered aloud whether the word was chosen merely to promote a raucous sense of mischief and appeal to l'adolescent émo. Here Dawkin tried to deconstruct the whole discussion, asking us to return to "the main point" whatever his addled mind may think that is, and Richards pitched in with some outmoded Jungian nonsense that droned on until far past lunch time. I swear, no matter the weight of the name, certain people are not going to be listed on the grant renewal.

Re: Entry 527

[snickfic]

wondered aloud whether the word was chosen merely to promote a raucous sense of mischief and appeal to l'adolescent émo.

Have read the latest entry by one Thomas, which contains the above suggestion. Authorial intent being the corpse it is widely considered to be by the academy, it would no doubt be pointless to affirm or deny any conjectures made by its members. However, were that not the case, it is highly likely that the above hypothesis would be selected as being of particular note. Additionally, under the same condition it would perhaps be fruitful to question whether an "ass" itself might possibly be considered "sassy" due not to its speech (of which the academy, that august body, would surely prefer at all costs avoid discussion) but its motion.

In any event, greatest sympathies are felt re: obtuse co-writers.

Re: Entry 527

[jalixx3.livejournal.com]

*wink*

[scarletscarlet.livejournal.com]

Rec'd you here at rocksalt_recs. Man, I loved this story. I think I read on Ao3, commenting as Scarletbee. I know I'll be rereading at some point, too :).

[snickfic]

Wow, thank you so much! I'm thrilled that you liked it so well. (Also, I'm glad to connect your LJ ID with your AO3 ID. I thought that might be you, but wasn't sure.)

Really enjoyed this!

[luzita2.livejournal.com]

Love how Jared are Jensen are such familiar and recognizable male adolescents even in the midst of weird AU anatomy. Love the weird AU anatomy and the world building.

Re: Really enjoyed this!

[snickfic]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the fic! One of the things I love about the a/b/o verse is getting to mix the familiar with the very unfamiliar.