Sam/Castiel

I think that [parallels between Sam and Castiel] makes Sam more sympathetic towards Cas. You know, Dean seems to be having a hard time forgiving Cas than Sam in general. I think that Sam has been through a lot of similar stuff, and is more forgiving in general. – Misha Collins, Jus In Bello Italy 2013 , Source

Sam/Castiel slash fanfiction pairs the characters Sam Winchester and Castiel in a romantic or sexual relationship. A ship with humble beginnings, it continues to grow traction in fandom and gain new shippers daily, particularly on Tumblr, where it enjoys a healthy and substantial life in the form of numerous fanworks and several sassy-exclusive blogs, such as fuckyeah-sassy and sastielweek. Sastiel shippers are fans who appreciate the significant parallel arcs of both characters, and who enjoy imagining them in a relationship, while still remaining respectful of both the actors' personal lives and the characters' network of relationships, unlike other, more zealous shippers. The pairing is also known as Sassy or Sastiel.

Castiel: Hello, Sam. Sam: Oh my God – er – uh – I didn’t mean to – sorry. It’s an honor, really, I -– I’ve heard a lot about you. [they shake hands, Castiel somewhat reluctantly] Castiel: And I, you. Sam Winchester – the boy with the demon blood. [Castiel takes Sam's hand in both of his, reminiscent of a gesture of comfort] Glad to see you've ceased your extracurricular activities. [Sam is taken aback] – Castiel and Sam Winchester, 4.07 It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester

From Castiel and Sam's first scene together in 4.07 It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester, the two have grown into a sort of odd friendship: two characters who were never supposed to be on the same side, fighting with each other and for each other despite their differences. Many of their scenes together, and references to each other, are based in providing comfort, looking after each other's wellbeing, or asking after each other's mental and/or emotional state.

Sam: I need some advice. Balthazar: Advice? Sam: Angel advice. Balthazar: Well, then go ask your boyfriend. Sam: Cas can't help me. I need to know if there's a spell or a weapon, anything that can keep a soul out -- forever. – Sam Winchester and Balthazar, 6.11 Appointment in Samarra

In 10.05 Fan Fiction, we found out that Sam was rather partial to the pairing himself.

Sam: I don't understand. Dean: Me neither. Sam: I mean, shouldn't it be... Deastiel ? Dean: Really ? That's your issue with this ? Sam: (smirks) No, of course it's not my issue. You know... How about Sastiel ? Samstiel ? – Sam Winchester and [Dean Winchester]], 10.05 Fan Fiction

Meta and Ship Manifestos

• Sam/Castiel: It might be crack. Or it might just be the little underdog ship that could. by 13chapters (March 2010); archive link
• Why do I ship Sassy? by spn-stuck (February 2011); archive link
• You guys have no idea how much it hurts my heart that people see Sam/Cas as this fluffy crackship that has no basis in canon and can’t be emotional and can’t be dark and can’t be sexual. (Untitled) by luciferious (January 2012); [http://archive.today/K165s archive link
• “There is potential here for a dynamic that is gut-wrenchingly beautiful and intense and wonderful…” (Untitled) by leviathiel, illmetbymoonlight (January 2012); archive link
• “Look at your life, look at your choices" ~*~ a Sassy manifesto by tawghasa (February 2012); archive link
• A few reasons why Cas and Sam are more alike than any two people on this show… by boazpriestly (circa March 2012); archive link
• I guess this is like, why I ship Sam/Castiel, in one post by wordsinhailed (May 2012); archive link
• see this is a thing where i get my ‘star crossed lovers’ feels… by poxybastard, rrrowr (May 2012); archive link
• compilation of canon scenes (plus commentary) by doeraymisha (October 2012); archive link
• Why Do You Ship Sam/Castiel? by luciferious (December 2012); archive link
• meta about cas intentionally breaking sam’s wall in s6 (untitled) by luciferious (December 2012); archive link
• Sassy makes so much sense to me, like, to the point where I don’t understand how some people don’t see it by whats-opera-doc (February 2013); archive link
• …and people are still so shocked by the fact that people ship sastiel (untitled) by doeraymisha (June 2013); archive link
• untitled commentary on Sastiel, Castiel’s sexuality and Sam’s sexuality by wefellasangels (July 2014); archive link
• Why Sastiel? by infinitysgrace (February 2019); archive link
• untitled thoughts on cas + sam’s bond by tesseractheart (October 2019); archive link
• How anyone can insist that there’s no subtext between Sam and Castiel after 14x15 is beyond me by theladyofsupernatural, themegalosaurus (December 2019); archive link
• Sastiel in S4-S5 by seethekraken (December 2019); archive link
• I find it fascinating how much of the Sam & Castiel relationship involves Castiel poking around in Sam’s body (Untitled) by teamfreewillbettertogether (December 2019); archive link
• The Smart Choice vs The Heart Choice (Untitled) by theangelofawinchester (January 2020); archive link

External links

• fuckyeah-sassy
• sastielweek hq: the central hub for many Sassy community projects, such as Sassy Week and Blind Sassy Exchanges
• Sam/Castiel comm on LJ
• Sassy_OTP. A community for all things Sam/Castiel, it delights in Crack. The comm invented the mashup pairing name Sassy.
• Sassy starter kit: a step-by-step guide to the successful shipping of a moose and an angel.