All Your Dreams Are Still As New [Gen, PG-13]

[apreludetoanend]

All Your Dreams Are Still As New [Gen, PG-13]
Quoth Sam, "It’s not fair, and, you know, it hurts like hell, but… it’s worth it." Maybe he's right, but sometimes it feels like he's not.

Coda to WIaWSNB, the episode, title stolen from WIaWSNB, the song. Written for madame_meretrix's icon meme, and she beta'd it, too, 'cause she's awesome like that.

Comments

[girlfan1979]

Incredible. You write such amazing prose. It's like being there.

[apreludetoanend]

Thanks! That's super nice of you to say, and I'm really glad it worked for you! =)

[kimmer1227]

“Pay no attention to that djinn behind the curtain,” he whispers.

Oh, Dean.

Simply lovely.

[apreludetoanend]

Thanks so much! I had lots of fun working those little references in, so I'm really glad you liked that one! =)

[mgbutterfly]

Oh, this was lovely. So desperate and aching. I just wanted to wrap Dean up in my arms and tell him it's okay.

Just beautiful, love. So vivid and real.

[apreludetoanend]

Hee! I totally need to take happy!fic classes, don't I? I'm glad you liked this, though, and that the awfulness of the situation came through. Thanks so much! =)

[innie_darling]

Oh, gorgeous. These lines especially did a lot of work, I think:

Instead, he sleeps on the couch, gets extra onions without ever having to ask, mows the lawn in Technicolor.

He waits his turn, catalogues the things that can never be real, rearranges them in his mind until they resemble the truth: merlot cutting a crimson swath across Jessica’s belly, slow burn of the oil lamp blazing up from the table, flaming her hair, tulips like promises on her grave.

And the bit with the tie living the same double life as Sam is so good.

[apreludetoanend]

Thanks! I'm so glad you liked the tie bit, both because that was the foundation for the entire story, and also because I fast forwarded through no less than thirty episodes trying to search out where I'd seen Sam wearing that damn yellow tie before. So, knowing someone liked the tie part? Makes me happy. I'm so glad those lines stood out to you as well; I was hoping they'd be well received. =)

[laisserais]

for all that i love the idea of the recurring horror of the nightmare, and the allusions to the wizard of oz, i think my favorite part of this is: He thinks maybe this is where it wants to be. Where it came from, where it belongs, a world with sunshine and law school and Jessica, maybe two and a half kids eventually, soccer on Saturdays, church on Sundays.

Dean thinking about the tie shows that the groove he's wearing into this nightmare/fantasy is starting to get to him, and Sam's conviction that it's all worth it, even at the sight of Dean's pain, is heartbreaking. Because I think he might need more reassuring on that point than Dean does.

I also LOVED the image of Dean bleeding into the scene, another subtle nod to the fact that he's in a horribly untenable situation, and soon something awful might happen.

God, so atmospheric and compact and lyrical! as always, you make a masterpiece out of a simple idea. i'm so pleased that the icon meme happened, since it's giving me (us) all of these wonderful little pieces of fic gold.

[apreludetoanend]

Sometimes I think I shouldn't post stories, I should just post your comments on my stories, instead. Mostly they're just as good, but with extra succinctness and clarity! *g* I'm so glad you liked this, though. And so glad I didn't post without you!

For real, this is the best meme ever, and you are awesome for editing it into something that's been so much fun!

(Also: I'd planned to fan-ku the rest, but it looks like there's one more fic coming. You are inspirational!)

[laisserais]

eee! more fic from the meme? AWESOME. i'm so stoked that you're on a roll.

you know, just the other day, i was seriously thinking about doing a meta piece on inheritance. what do you think of that? would you hate that idea?

but also: whatevs. succinctness is the opposite of fun. storytelling is fun, and you make some of the funnest fun around.

[apreludetoanend]

dude, meta away! you and inheritance, together? omg.

i'm working on the meme fic now. slow going because it's uncomfortably creepy. why is it that i sometimes write stuff i'd never read? do you do that too?