about Supernatural fanfic...

[ratcreature]

I'm not feeling particularly fannish about Supernatural, but I have watched most episodes, thus while I was bored I looked around for Supernatural fanfic to read. I was mostly interested in gen, and while of course I knew that there's Sam/Dean slash I was actually surprised how common it is, from my first impressions even more widespread than gen (though I could be wrong about that). And I just don't get it. Personally I just have a hard time seeing Sam/Dean slash.

It's not that I'm particularly squicked by sibling incest, but the story has to somehow work harder to make that kind of thing work than other pairings. Not only because it has to make me buy that they would act on a sexual attraction despite incest taboos, that is similar in a way to other "relationship obstacles" in romance stories, but because it has to make me buy that there would be attraction in the first place. With most pairings I can buy that the author simply has a character feel attraction, inappropriate or not, and then the story goes from there, but for me (and I suspect most people) thinking about close family members with whom you grew up with, like your own siblings or parents and sex together is, well, sort of icky. Not just incestuous sex, but even the fact that your sibling or parent has sex with anyone, that's the kind of thing you don't want to contemplate in much detail. At least I don't, and I suspect I'm not alone in that.

I tried reading a couple of Sam/Dean stories, but they seemed to be much like regular slash in the way that it assumes that the reader buys the possibility for attraction between the guys in the first place. I don't quite get what makes this plausible for Sam/Dean shippers just from watching the series, and yet it seems very common. Which leaves me puzzled. I looked whether there was an essay on this pairing at ship_manifesto to provide me with some insight, but there doesn't seem to be one yet. So does anyone know of any Supernatural meta that would explain to me where the Sam/Dean shippers are coming from?

Comments

[elynross.livejournal.com]

The only story I've found so far that (for me) does a decent job of this is Maygra's Room and Board (http://wordsmiths.net/Maygra/#spn) -- the link goes to her SPN stories in general, gen and slash. I haven't read her longer slash series yet.

[ratcreature]

Heh, I actually already read that one. I think you linked to it, no? I remember following a link from my f-list to it anyway. It didn't fully convert me to the pairing, but it worked well enough for the duration of the story.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

Figures. *g* I've read another I liked okay, but the whole setup was such that you didn't have to be convinced -- it was the equivalent of "aliens made them have sex", basically, and then in the aftermath, Sam's a bit tortured that he enjoyed it (basically a blowjob for Dean, I think), and it ends with Dean going to him, because he's never been able to deny Sam anything, and what was this but one more way to be there for his little brother, who'd already lost so much?

joyfulgirl41 had a couple of short pieces (http://www.livejournal.com/community/sn_fic/13103.html?mode=reply), one gen, one slash, that I enjoyed, as well, although the gen one has a premise that's not particularly supported by canon, and could have been much more developed.

[shealynn88.livejournal.com]

The "aliens made them do it story" was this one:

Factum Amoris (http://www.livejournal.com/users/scribblinlenore/215467.html)

I enjoyed that one as well...it helped convert me to the Wincest.

Honestly, I'm not one who sees slashy potential in shows. Period. This is the first fandom that I've written slash in. Which is odd, because let me tell you, the Wincest squicked me big time at first.

I don't know what converted me. It was slow process. But here I am.

There is a series that I enjoyed that gives backstory on the whole Wincest thing. It is chock full of kinks, and it has underage elements in it, but I thought it did a great job of explaining the dynamic and developing it, while also developing Sam's psychic abilities and getting into the family dynamic. If you're easily squicked, this one may not be for you, but it is very deep and I thought, well done.

Things My Brother Taught Me (http://www.livejournal.com/users/deannaz/61443.html)

Wednesday's Child (http://www.livejournal.com/users/deannaz/61879.html) (This and the next one are my favorites)

The Wind Cries Mary (http://www.livejournal.com/users/deannaz/62120.html)

In Vino Veritas (http://www.livejournal.com/users/deannaz/62326.html#cutid1)

[elynross.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, that's precisely the one! I think I have it bookmarked to rec at some point, but I couldn't find it at the time. And I'm delighted to have other recs.

I haven't yet tried my hand at writing it, so I don't know how it will go. I suspect I'll require more convincing of the boys' willingness when I write it than I do reading it, which will complicate things. *g* But I do have ideas!

[shealynn88.livejournal.com]

I have a suspicion that the Wincest I write is of the bad variety. But I still enjoy writing it. It's rare to find the really good stuff, so I'm glad to rec it when I find it! :)

[thisisbone.livejournal.com]

I just have to thank you for the rec of the Things My Brother Taught Me series. Sweet JESUS, that shit is hot. I went and friended the writer and was rewarded with the next part of the story -- Wake Up Older.

It's so wrong, but it's so RIGHT!