PBR 'Verse

Fanfiction
Title:	PBR 'Verse (or 'Professional Bull Riding 'Verse')
Author(s):	drvsilla
Date(s):	June 2008-2010
Length:	~120,000 words (written) - 12 hrs (podfic)
Genre(s):	RPS, AU
Fandom(s):	J2
Relationship(s):
External Links:	PBR 'Verse; PBR 'Verse (Audiofic Archive)
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The PBR 'Verse (or 'Professional Bull Riding 'Verse') is a series of Supernatural J2 AU stories written by drvsilla. The stories were written in 2008, 2009, and 2010 as part of the Supernatural and J-Squared Big Bang Challenge!.

The series was included on the sawedoff recs LJ community's final recommendation post. The 12-hour podfic by chemm80 was posted on the Audiofic Archive in June 2011.

Story List

• Into His Hand (2008)
• Seeing Daylight (2009)
• Gathered Up (2010)

Into His Hand

Author's Summary: "JR Ackles is a professional bullrider at the top of his game. He's got one thing on his mind: winning the championship belt buckle and the right to call himself the best in the world. His unwavering dedication and focus is finally put to the test in the form of JT Padalecki, an up-and-coming rider new to the professional ranks, who has his sights set on winning the PBR finals - and Jensen. Cowboys ride and get by on grit and tough determination - the question facing Jensen is if they have to do it alone."

About the title, the author writes: " Term to describe when the bull is spinning in the same direction of a rider's riding hand. This is an advantage for the rider: makes it easier to hold on, puts less pressure on the riding arm, and allows him to start spurring and dress up the ride. Means the rider has been given the opportunity to build a great ride on less effort."

To help orient her readers, the author included a "Bullriding 101" primer.

• 

  movie poster for Into His Hand, artwork by cathybites. A common theme in J2 fiction is to 'recast' the actors as if they were in a movie. In this AU story, Jared and Jensen are professional bullriders.

• 

  Soundtrack CD cover, artwork by cathybites. Click to read the song titles.

Fandom Reactions

"If bullriders are considered cowboys then this is by far the best cowboy book I've read so far. I love the way this story is told, with its slow, slow unfolding of the relationship between the two men, punctuated by the occasional frantic 8 second bull ride. Or not quite 8 seconds. It's a book in which every casual touch is noted, every ((failed) attempt at) communication is significant, where a kiss is more intimate than getting each other off."

"I do have some issues with the writing style. A bit confusing and too much use of commas for me, but otherwise it's awesome. What I love about this fic is that the author seems to know what she's talking about so it adds to the credibility of the story. The lack of evil to defeat, villains to complicate their life or mystery to solve might not interest a lot of people, but I think it's perfect for this story since it just focuses on the bullriding competition, the main characters and their developing relationship. Besides the main characters and their lives just seems so believable and realistic and it's actually quiet fascinating to read about bullriding."

"Oh holy crap, I never thought I'd be reading a PBR (Professional Bull Riding) fic. However like the other sports fics I quickly found myself drawn in and loving it. Read the prequel first, it's worth the ride, if you'll pardon the pun."

"In the world of RPS AUs, this story stands out for me for many reasons. The author made the world of bullriding vibrant and alive, encasing in it hopes and dreams and personal stories of various interesting characters. With a gorgeous style and a sparse prose, this fanfiction gives us one of the most beautiful and honest portraits of a character I've had the pleasure to read."

"Wow, this is magical so far!

Amazing use of language, it's so natural to the characters, and has rhythms and diction that are clearly specific to the rodeo/bullriding world. The romance is also incredibly satisfying--they are so in love! And hot as hell, 'course. Mostly because the main character is so clueless and they are both so innocent together.

Anyway, love it! Can't wait to read the rest."

[Art]: "The poster looks fucking gorgeous -- I love the colors and the paint effect. Eeeeee. It looks amazing! and the intimacy... n'aww!"

Seeing Daylight

Author's Summary: "Jensen Ackles retired from bullriding with everything he'd set his mind to, somehow managed to get even more along the way; he won the buckle, the million, and Jared Padalecki's heart. Now he's ready to get started on something more, something better with even bigger dreams, figures them to be right within his reach. So why is he putting everything at risk and leaving it all behind to start over again?"

About the title the author writes: " Term to describe when a cowboy comes loose from a bucking animal far enough for the spectators to see between the cowboy and the animal. This is a disadvantage for the rider: makes a buck-off more likely, strains the riding arm and increases the chances of a touch foul. Means the rider is in trouble, but they can still grit and bear down enough to earn a qualified ride."

• 

  artwork by cathybites who writes: "Background was painted in ArtRage and futzed in Photoshop; the 'scrap' was created in Photoshop. It was originally supposed to be all painting, but I couldn't get the detail I wanted with ArtRage. But I liked the background too much to scrap it, so. I thought I'd make a book cover in the vein of those old paperbacks you sometimes see, the ones that are beat up and old but obviously well-loved."

• 

  soundtrack cover, artwork by cathybites, click to read list of songs

Fandom Reactions

"...a deliciously aaaaaaaaangsty follow-up to her brilliant bullriding AU."

"This sequel is just as moving and beautiful as the original. The author’s prose is lush, gorgeous and evocative. Jensen’s journey is wonderfully written, and the universe is absolutely engrossing. You'll sink into this atmospheric tale like you would into a feather bed."

"The voice, both character and narrative, is what strikes you first in this fic. I think it's very, very well done. The cadence of the cowboy speech comes through subtly, and there are real differences between the speech of Jensen, Jared and the other characters that are driven by who they are in the story.

The pace of the story is slowed down to suit the theme, too. I don't mean it drags, not at all, I mean the pacing, the way it's written sets the right mood.

The Jensen in this story is really a quintessential American fictional hero, laconic, honourable, stoic, physically aggressive, intensely honest--he is the mythical cowboy of all eras. Here, of course, he is gay, and that does not need to be a tragedy, and no unrealistic fantasy world needs to be written around him to keep it from being a tragedy. That's why I really love these stories."

[Art]: "Coloring/ The landscape is so rich and vivid and almost surreal--definitely abstracted--and I'm completely taken with the sky, in particular. There's a real sense of 'true light' as well, which makes for a great push/pull. I also really like how that all being so saturated and lush makes the Js seem the otherworldly element, even tho they're the ones with a more naturalistic treatment.

Js/ I love that what I get from how they are, here, is that they've experienced something of a reversal in their dynamics; this time, Jared is the more vulnerable one, in his somewhat passive stance and Jensen keeping him in place. But there's a new equality too, since Jared's lean makes him same height as Jensen, and that Jensen is clearly being nicely hemmed in with Jared's legs&hands. It's also a literal mirror-image of last year's but they're more intimate--and yet completely separate and insulated, not as intimate with the viewer thanks to their scale within the whole, and how we get their whole bodies & the language that goes with that, instead of portraits. The intimacy is also--hmm--like it's for them to know, not showy or overly demonstrative.

♥/ It does have that old paperback feel--ah ha, this could be added to my collection of cowboy novels! Jared's legs split apart and Jensen standing between them and Jared's boots. Jensen's fingers tucked in Jared's pocket. The sliver of bright green right below the sun & the layer of bright blue clouds."

[Art]: "This is gorgeous. I really do get the feel of an old paperback, you totally nailed that. It could fit right in with any of the paperbacks I have in boxes in my closet. The little Jared and Jensen is so private, forehead to forehead and Jensen standing between Jared's legs. Lovely."

[Art]: "I really love the two mediums together. To the untrained eye, it's sort of computer graphics combined with hand drawn ones. Cool combo! And I especially adore their feet all tangled together."

[Art]: "Beautiful art for an amazing fic! I love it! It gives you such a feeling of calm and the beautiful sunrise, and the two of them standing there, oblivious to the world. Just amazing! You captured the essence of the fic in this."

[Podfic]: "I just finished listening to the second part of this as I painted the house this weekend. :-) Lovely job with the read! Perfect pacing, just enough expression, and wonderful accents. I thoroughly enjoyed it!"

[Podfic]: "I listened to the first part of this verse stretched over a few days, while lounging around and basking in your voice and being absolutely indolent. Then I listened to the second and third parts yesterday and today while doing a bunch of actual cleaning and baking, and damn did it make those activities so much more enjoyable. ♥ God, I got so wrapped up in your reading that I did not want the verse to end (and I wanted to keep cleaning! The house is spotless! I even did all the windows!). I absolutely adored your reading; it was so atmospheric and southern and perfect, and I just can't imagine anybody else reading these stories or voicing these characters! SUCH an enjoyable listening experience. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to record this long verse! ♥"

Gathered Up

Author's Summary:"The first time Jensen Ackles had been determined to quit the sport and walk away from bullriding, life had presented him with Jared Padalecki. The second time he'd tried, life had just gone wrong. So he'd gotten smart and quit, inside-out, figured whoever kept score of these things wouldn't be the wiser. Which just doesn't fair explain how he'd been roped into taking a team to Dallas--complete with cranky riders, job politics, family obligations, and all with Jared at his side--to compete in an inaugural event the PBR brass are certain he'll win."

About the title, the artist writes: "Term to describe when a cowboy has his rope and the bull securely under him, and the bull settles into in a tight, steady spin. This is an advantage for the rider: makes it easier to stay upright and square, has balance and centripetal force to his favor, and will actually find it harder to be bucked off than to just stick his seat. Means the rider is sitting pretty, and all but has a top-scoring ride on the books."

• 

  cover, artwork by grayscaled

• 

  soundtrack cover, artwork by grayscaled, click to read song list

Fandom Reactions

"I think this was my favorite of the three. It felt like a nice culmination of what was built in the first two and it ended solidly on a high note. It feels complete as it is, but if there are any sequels, I will gladly read them. This whole series was much better than many professinally published books I've read."

"Oh, screw you and your squee-inducing victory-arms-making heart-clenching fist-pumping puppy-cooing rollicking good time schmoopy-tough-guy satisfyingly-happily-ever-after curtainfic anyway. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE."

"This is seriously just about as damned ideal a conclusion for these boys as I could ever have imagined. It was a perfect way to spend part of my day, and I will now head off back to my real life with a goofy grin on my face recalling all sorts of little moments from this story. Jensen with puppy. Jared straddled by onthephone!Jensen from the opening. Jensen's thumbs in Jared's beltloops. And mostly all the besotted smiles and the scads of secure smitten-ness from both boys. Like I said... *sigh*"

"I really admire what you've done with tone and language. The way you describe the corrals and the scents and the noise puts you right there in the arena, even if you've never been - or haven't been to a rodeo in years. Your characters are so real, they could walk off the page, although my living room appears to be proof against such a thing."

"I am so sad to see this series end! (Although glad that they are living happily ever after obviously). Since I saw the summary of this fic listed I have been looking forward to it and you did not disappoint. It's a fitting end to J2's journey. I really love this verse and the characters that you've created. In these 3 fics you've written about a lifestyle I know nothing about and yet I've enjoyed every second - it's very accessible to someone who doesn't even live in the US, let alone the region that you are writing about. All in all, I am sure I will be re-reading these fics in the near future. Thank you for sharing!"

"This might be the best of all three in this trilogy in my opinion because Jared and Jensen were so in sync throughout the entire story. It was lovely to see how in love they were and how very hard they were both trying to make the relationship work. The World Cup was extremenly interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. One of the really inspirational things I've noticed from watching the videos of PBR bullriding is the fantastic camraderie among the riders and supports of the sport. You've captured that feeling of sportsmanship and brotherhood so well in all your stories. And collin was adorable!!! <3"

"I found this 'verse, yesterday, and read my way through all three stories in the last 24 hours and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

These stories have such a strong sense of realism and your world-building is fantastic: from the the dialogue, to the descriptions of the characters' thoughts, to the body language and behaviour, the development and pacing of the plot, it all lent itself so strongly to creating a world I could lose myself in and picture strongly in my mind. These stories are now huge favourites of mine and I just wanted to comment to let you know how happy finding them has made me, and to thank you for writing/sharing them :D

Honestly, I'm sitting here with a massive grin on my face, and goosebumps on my skin, from reading and enjoying these stories/characters so much. Plus, I know more about PBR than I ever did before (and given that I'm not American, I didn't even know PBR existed lol)."ref>comment on page32 of the final chapter dated June 7, 2010; WebCite; Archive.is (accessed April 15, 2013).</ref>

[Art]: "Love the weightlessness of the cover - the reeling of feirce (sic) joy."

[Art]: "That cover is just brilliant. It's gorgeous and tells you what the story is about. I love the legs poking out of the truck, it's so easy to pick out who is who. Jensen's the jeans and Jared's the chaps. And I love the action figures, especially how you made Jared so much bigger... *g* "