#dean has a plan

[s0fter-sin]

one of my favourite aspects of supernatural that you very rarely see in paranormal shows is that sam and dean are already versed in the world they live in. there’s no sudden discovery of ghosts and demons and now they have to learn about them along with the audience; they are born into it and already know all about it. it allows the audience to follow their personal story instead of also trying to figure out this new world and its rules

the first season is full of knowledge we never see them learn; “w*ndigoes are in the minnesota woods or- or northern michigan. i’ve never even heard of one this far west.” […] “great. well then this [his gun] is useless.” (1x02), “you don’t break a curse. you get the hell out of its way.” (1x08), d: “it’s a god. a pagan god, anyway.” […] “the annual cycle of its killings? and the fact that the victims are always a man and a woman. like some kind of fertility right.” […] s: “the last meal. given to sacrificial victims. d: “yeah, i’m thinking a ritual sacrifice to appease some pagan god.” (1x11)

almost every episode in the first season is a monster they’ve faced before that they then explain to the audience in a way that should feel patronising; like it’s the same speech given over and over again but instead, the audience almost feels included in the knowledge. it’s stated with such an innate confidence and comfort in said knowledge that it feels like we already knew it too; “spirits and demons don't have to unlock doors. if they want inside, they just go through the walls.” […] “the claws, the speed that it moves; could be a skinwalker, maybe a black dog.” (1x02), “it's biblical numerology. you know noah's ark, it rained for forty days. the number means death.” (1x04), “no no no, not the reaper, a reaper. there's reaper lore in pretty much every culture on earth, it goes by 100 different names.” […] “you said it yourself that the clock stopped, right? reapers stop time. and you can only see 'em when they're coming at you which is why i could see it and you couldn't.” (1x12)

they already know and, at least in the first season, already have what they need to kill whatever they’re hunting; already know to salt and burn bones for spirits, fire for a w*ndigo, exorcisms for demons, a silver bullet to the heart for shapeshifters. there’s only three times in the entire first season that they run into something new to them; 1x14 when sam gets his first vision that leads him to another psychic, 1x16 when dean calls caleb for help on the sigil he put together and he tells him about daevas, and 1x20 when they find out vampires are real- and they only don’t know that bc john thought they were hunted to extinction and not worth mentioning

(there’s also technically two half instances if you count one of them knowing something the other doesn’t - sam figuring out the tulpa in 1x17 and dean already knowing about the shtriga in 1x18 - but those still rely on sam and dean having prior knowledge)

even when they’re uncertain about facing something, it’s not bc they don’t know what it is; it’s precisely bc they know what it is and acknowledge that it’ll be a difficult hunt (“i don't know, man. this isn't our normal gig. i mean, demons, they don't want anything, just death and destruction for its own sake. this is big. and i wish dad was here.” 1x04)

so much of the tension in paranormal shows typically comes from the main character(s) not knowing what is happening to them/the people around them and having to find out how to resolve it. supernatural is unique in that it operates more like a police procedural. the tension comes from solving the clues and identifying patterns to figure out who (what) the killer is and intercepting before they can take another victim

it’s such a different tone to go for when compared to other shows that came both before, during, and after its run. it sets sam and dean on even footing with each other since they both have the same knowledge going in, and it puts them in a place of authority usually reserved for an outside character

the shows i compare spn to most is charmed, buffy and teen wolf; every main character in those shows are brought into the paranormal world knowing nothing, putting them on the same level as the audience, and they have their mc interact with others already knowledgeable about that world in order to overcome their problem/monster of the week. the audience organically learns about this new world as the characters learn about it. it’s a sound writing strategy that prevents “as we already know”-style exposition but something that complicates it is if your world building isn’t unique or intriguing enough, this slow introduction can become boring

we’ve seen shows like these before; sitting through the same tropes of characters learning to use their powers, struggling with no longer feeling normal/relating to the regular world around them, and not knowing how much they can trust the people already involved in this new world gets repetitive. all three shows eventually reach the same level of comfort with their new world that spn starts with but if the characters aren’t enough to draw you in, you can end up dropping it before they reach that point (and often, before the overarching plot can really kick in and evolve the show beyond the villain of the week format)

it’s the superhero origin movie in tv format; dragged out and overplayed. dropping the audience into an established world of course comes with its own problems but you also have the benefit of pre-existing established character dynamics that let the audience slot in like they’ve always been there instead of just getting to know all the characters while the characters also get to know each other

sam and dean already knowing about the supernatural lets the audience immediately get to the core of the story; the conflict between sam and dean, the search for their father, and the mystery of what killed their mother

[angelsdean]

anyways. dean and victorian lady cas. time travel shenanigans. dean gets thrown back in time for plot reasons. he's stuck there for a while before his cas can find him and bring him home. lady cas is SO grumpy. does not believe a word dean says about what they are to each other in the future. dean is like, "look into my memories, then." cas does. and she is stubborn on the outside. still refuses to believe. (inside she is SO confused. doubting. curious. afraid). obvs she poofs off to somewhere for a bit to Process. dean is left in a field like, "ok i guess i'll just wait here." she eventually comes back and... starts to thaw. i mean dean IS beautiful. and she can SEE his soul. and it's so bright and good. and then...she sees the handprint AND the mark on his soul...recognizes her own grace there and that's what really convinces her. and it's SO much. she feels SO much. his smile makes her cheeks warm. she has to avert her eyes. the way he sticks his tongue between his teeth, teasing. the way he reaches for her hand, gentlemanly, as they get out of a carriage (and ohh how she loathes these human modes of transportation. and she tells him. and he laughs. big and bright and says "yup same old cas.") and he slings his arm around her when they both get tipsy. and he compliments her dress and plays with her hair. and when he looks away she can't stop looking at his profile. and when he looks back she pretends she wasn't. but he knows. and his eyes crinkle and she can't stand it. and maybe akobel was right...these humans are beautiful creatures worth loving. and oh it feels so dangerous when she finally reaches for him, pulls him close. but mindful of her vessel they don't kiss. they can't. so later she appears in his dreams, and they can have it all. and it's so thrilling. and he's so beautiful, beneath her, looking up with stars in his eyes. looking at her with such adoration. and oh god, oh god, she loves him. but she'll forget all this soon enough....

[shallowseeker]

anyone wanna talk about how much i love cas this week?

“any time they try, it’s like it it breaks them apart”

and cas keeps trying!

he keeps trying to overcome a billion years of brainwashing and programming, and he overcomes so much in such a short time. he has victories and setbacks but

but!

by season 15, his will is iron

he prays to chuck for help, but the moment he reads chuck’s intentions as a liar, he has no qualms against turning away, and it is amazing!!! i don’t think you understand just how amazing

it’s such a wonderful moment, tucked away in a season where sam is paralyzed, waylaid, and discomfited by chuck, where dean both gets on board w/ and suckered by chuck, and then has a existential crises over him, where a tough cookie like eileen is puppeted ratatouille-style by him…

cas turns away!

[shadystranger]

yeah sam im doing it im killing myself n our son i know u hate it but this is the only way™️ this is a dickship or whatever

-wow i'll be rlly devastated by that *leaves the room w tears in his eyes*

uweggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[catsconflictscopicsandchamomile]

Just remembered an older spn finale fix-it fic concept and gave myself brain damage....

Dean succesfully rescuing Cas from The Empty and dragging him up onto the shores of Purgatory (why does Purgatory have shores, and why does one connect to The Empty? I don't fucking know, ask Dante, he implied it), Dean half-carrying the still-unconscious angel deeper into the woods, searching for a spot with thick brush and good cover, gently leaning Cas against a tree to clear a small area for a camp, set up warding, build a firepit and lean-to and weave a canopy of branches over the rest of the space for concealment and warmth, giving a final, increasingly hopeless, attempt to rouse Cas before lifting him and carrying him into the lean-to, easing him down onto a bed of leaves, glancing outside the shelter one last time to check for danger before settling in to assess Cas' condition more thoroughly

Cas waking days later to crunchy leaves and pine boughs, rain spattering on branches overhead, scratchy camping blankets and Dean

Dean checking the warding around the site over and over when he has to find food and water and leave Cas alone, worrying himself crazy every second until he crawls back into the lean-to and sees Cas' chest still rising and falling - Cas is too out of it to worry, he knows Dean will come back, maybe he doesn't even realize he's gone-

Dean spoon-feeding Cas broth out of camping cups, because he doesn't know if Cas needs to eat now, if he's human or something close to human, or even what's wrong with him but he does know that Cas, his angel his boyfriend is cold, way too cold right now, and Dean needs to change that and if he has to get under the blankets at night to keep Cas warm, then that's what needs to happen too, and he doesn't feel weird or awkward about it at all and absolutely isnt thinking about how this could be in a better world where they weren't hiding and Cas wasn't sick (NOT DYING. he is NOT dying) from some after-affect of The Empty that Dean can't understand.....

Cas isn't thinking of any of this, he's confused, the dark waters of the Empty still surging inside of him, dredging up jumbled memories, the worst regrets of so many previous vessels and previous lives, time moving in no particular order, pain, fear, grief, but in between it all there's the smell of pine and dirt, and rough-warm hands that bring a hot cup of soup to his lips, and a face and name that he knows he can trust- Dean- whoever that is

[samanddean76]

Title: Showdown At The Midnight Silver Mine

Pairing: Sam Winchester/Dean Winchester

Rating: Explicit | Word Count: 4,180

Tags: Alternate Universe - Wolves, Established Sam/Dean, Magic, Curses, Transformation, Protective Sam, Annoyed Dean, Sam Has A Plan, Sam & Dean Fight As Wolves, Wendigo, Dean Follows His Animal Instincts, Sam Winchester Is So Done With Dean Winchester, Happy Ending, Case Fic, Samulet, Soulmates, Bottom Sam, Top Dean, Original Art by Midnight Silver

Summary: Sam thinks their current case will be easily wrapped up. But the sleepy little town of Midnight, Idaho holds secrets the boys never anticipated.

@sammybirthdaybonanza

I was scrolling through Tumblr and found a gorgeous piece of art by @midnightsilver featuring Sam and Dean in less than human forms, fighting a Wendigo. I was intrigued and asked if I could write up a story to accompany their creation. Thankfully they said yes. 💜🦄

Fic on AO3 | Art on Tumblr

[bloodcanbehot]

I was suddenly possessed with an immense urge to fuck jason todd, sorry in advance cause I also decided to start rebloging fics of him (mostly fluff)

[istadris]

Everyone is like "wah my friends don't live in the same time zone as I do and it sucks 😭" meanwhile I'm relieved when I have 3 am insomnia anxiety and i can ask my Australian friends about who would win in a mud fight between Super Mario and Dean Winchester

[tvxcue]

i get what ppl mean when they say that big eden had no homophobia bc none of the characters are ever active targets of homophobia and there are no homophobic characters but homophobia is actually a very important part of the film and henry's arc. everyone loves the conversation between henry and his grandpa and "did we teach you shame?" which depends on the social force of homophobia on gay people and the acknowledgement that even if the people you love and who love you don't participate in it, it's terrifying to confront because you just don't know! homophobia is so ubiquitous in the world (especially in 2000) that even if henry knows that his grandpa would always love him, he still can't tell him he's gay because of how scared he is. the entire premise (gay man moves from new york city back to his small town in montana to take care of his sick grandfather) rests on henry and the audience being Afraid of homophobia. and yeah the plot evolves once we get to big eden and see that it's actually not Like That so we end up with a love triangle between two gay men and a straight man who tries to be gay but henry never even tells his grandpa who he is, even after that conversation on the couch...............homophobia is so central to the story.

[real-russ-jackson]

A scene from Season 2 episode... 2 👁️ ...okay

[scoobydoodean]

"Dean has no time for fruitless quests to find God. He's got people to protect" | 1.03 "Dead In The Water

Quote is tags from @ilarual ♥️

[boykingnightshift]

happy wincest wednesday! god i love their little divorce in this episode

[quietwingsinthesky]

for your fic prompts, sam taking care of baby jack?

He's so small, and Sam wishes he cried more if only because he'd know what to do to help him, feed him, change him, rock him. At least he knows this, that Jack can't fall asleep, or stay asleep, unless Sam is holding him, and Sam is the only one who can, after Dean tried and nearly dropped Jack on the floor, fingers frostbitten and expression furious while Sam cradled Jack close and stumbled over excuses ("He's a baby, Dean, he wasn't trying to hurt you, he didn't know, he didn't know.")

But even though Sam is sleep deprived and riddled through with anxiety taking care of his- of Jack, he still can't help how much he loves him, how much he'd give for Jack to have a good life, safe and happy and loved, and every day, he gets more and more scared that he's not going to be able to give that to him.

(birthday 3 sentence ficathon! come toss a prompt!)

[theno1joelhater]

new character dean nile. in relationship with someone named jen. cam said that he was thinking of adding a trans character named jen derswap. conclusion: dean nile is dating jen derswap and she will appear as the first trans character in the cgcu. i’m so good at theories.

[samanddean76]

Manifested Destiny - Eldritch Reverse Bang

Title: Manifested Destiny

Pairing: Dean Winchester & Sam Winchester (Gencest)

Rating: Mature | Word Count: 7,646

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Series Sam Winchester, Pre-Series Dean Winchester, Pre-Series John Winchester, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Sam Winchester Has Powers, Sam Winchester Has A Plan, Good Parent John Winchester, Dean Winchester Has Powers, Good Intentions, Misunderstandings, Eldritch, Eventual Happy Ending, Written for the SPN Eldritch Bang, Original Art by Midnight Silver

Summary: Sam was nine when John handed him a gun after Sam told him about the monster he feared was lurking in the closet. One night the monster slithers out, and Sam is unprepared for the devastating truth he learns. Now it's a race against time to save not just himself, but all the Sam's that have been ripped from their worlds. And to fix all the mistakes made with the best of intentions.

Story on Ao3

Art on Ao3

I am so happy to present this story to everyone. I was inspired by @midnightsilver 's amazing artistic vision, of a nine-year old Sam fighting off the proverbial monster in the closet. But then I decided to explore the possibilities and was inspired by a thought. What if the monster really wasn't a monster. And Sam being Sam, what if he felt compelled to figure out the mystery, to save not only himself, but everyone. 💜🦄

[tiktaalic]

How do I know dean could never have a physical full on brawl with his dad . Because Mickey did