Fanart: Thyme of My Life, for the 2020 J2BB (J2, PG)
Title: Thyme of My Life
Author: dugindeep
Artist: cassiopeia7
Pairing: J2
Rating: PG (art only)
Warnings: None
Summary:
Jared knows he’s better than what everyone tells him - his parents, his boss, and everyone at Morgan’s Restaurant. He finally gets the chance to prove it to them all when he nails a spot on Masterchef, the biggest home cook competition on TV. This is the one big shot he’ll ever get and he has to do it on his own as he leaves behind the only person who believes in him, his best friend Jensen.
With Jared gone in LA and cooking for his life, Jensen is stuck back on the East Coast with more distance between them than ever. It’s also the first time Jensen really acknowledges why he has such a soft spot for the kid and finally realizes what they could mean to one another.
Link to fic: LJ AO3
Link to art: LJ Dreamwidth
“It’s Roché’s recipe, but I added a few extra things.”
“What’s wrong with the bacon?” Mom asks from the doorway, arms crossed.
“Gonna tell us how we can’t cook anything here?”
“This should be on the menu.”
Jensen drags Jared into the backdoor of the restaurant, a bandana covering the kid’s eyes. Still, there’s a growing smile on Jared’s face, so Jensen’s sure it’s obvious exactly how they’re stepping up and turning left and then another right, the exact path to the kitchen Jared takes every shift.
“And your chance to win it, starts right now. We want to see your signature dish. Show us your personality on a plate. We want to taste what drives you to be the next Master Chef.”
Finally, he looks up as he pours the wine and the pan sizzles. There’s the solid glug glug glug of the wine before it splashes up the sides and he realizes he’s frozen in place, knows he’s over-pouring, and yet he can’t believe his eyes.
Jensen settles in next to him ... His voice gets soft as his eyes roam Jared’s face, and Jared’s stomach twists with the warmth in that look. “I really wish I could’ve tasted it. It looked amazing.”
There’s a sudden pang in Jensen’s chest and he sets his hand to it before he realizes it. Even more delayed of a realization is the feeling that he misses Jared and wishes the kid was back here in this apartment, in Jensen’s kitchen, cooking that burger for him. He wishes he could witness Jared’s skills up close and poke and prod at the kid to get a smile or a blush out of him.
“Hey,” Jared says with a meager wave, even as he fumbles with the straps of one of his bags.
“You were one of my prep cooks and you left to go chase a dream out in California. And now you’re back and want to just get right back to the prep table? I just can’t stand for that.”
Morgan pulls something off end of the prep station and flaps out a white piece of fabric, straightening it until Jared makes out the shape of a chef’s jacket and there on the breast, in a maroon that matches the Morgan’s logo, five elegant letters.
Jared.
Artist notes: Between my brother passing away in April and the COVID quarantine mess, it's been a crappy time at the House of Deb. Honestly, I had considered letting this year's J2BB pass without my participation, then figured it might be better to spend time drawing pretty boys than it was to spend time straing at walls and crying. And then I saw the prompts. Nope, wasn't gonna let THOSE prompts slip past, oh no.
I submitted my claims, and snagged dugindeep. For the second time. :D We'd worked on a J2BB waaaay back in 2013 ( Your Signal in the Distance), and not only did our first collaboration go like gangbusters, we became friends in real life. And when you're in mourning, depressed, and uncertain of your artistic abilities, it's always better to partner up with a familiar face, with someone you know has your back. So thanks, Amy. Thanks for writing such a wonderful story with such magnificent arting opportunities, thanks for your eternal patience with your emotional, slow-moving artist, and most of all, thanks for being a friend. You, my dear, are awesomesauce squared! Many thanks also to our lovely Mod, wendy for once again giving us reprobates a place to play!
[Dividers, miscellaneous art, rough drafts and such]
Pencil roughs:
ROUGH rough draft.
... not much better.
Anatomy, how does it work? This pose was drawn at Amy's request.
Amy is lucky I like her. ;)
