SPN Fiction: "That Old Familiar Magic" (Sam, Dean, or Sam/Dean, PG, Schmoop)

[halfshellvenus]

Title: That Old Familiar Magic
Author: HalfshellVenus
Characters: Sam, Dean (Gen or Light Wincest, Schmoop)
Rating: PG
Summary: When Sam's not feeling good, Dean actually takes pretty good care of him.
Author's Notes: For schmoop_bingo, this is "reading aloud."

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Comments

[dipenates]

Oh, lovely! Just lovely.

[halfshellvenus]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[devon99]

Your work is always lovely sweetie, but this one actually made me aww out loud at the screen

*smiles and clutches this fic in a squishy hug*

[halfshellvenus]

This was another one of the prompts I'd expected to avoid, but because you mentioned it in the comments it kicked off this whole idea of adult Sam & Dean, and how Dean reading to Sam might be sweet instead of cloying (you can tell I have a big fear of "cloying.")

So in many ways, this story was especially for you! \o/

[devon99]

Well that makes it an even more lovely reading experience. It was beautifully done and that they are carrying around To Kill a Mockingbird amongst all their meagre belongings fill me with squee.

♥

[halfshellvenus]

Of all the books I can imagine Sam cherishing (especially with the desire to Fix The World And Do Good, combined with wanting to be a lawyer), that particular novel seems to me like one he would always return to.

I was surprised, years ago, to find that it's required reading for many British schoolchildren, but very pleased. It is not a story just of a particular time and culture, but also of the ability of human nature to transcend the common direction and instead do what (however difficultly) is right. :)

[tsuki_no_bara]

awww, boys. this is really sweet and not saccharine at all. partly because sam is kind of petulant in the very beginning, with his internal whine about wanting to convalesce in a hospital where people can feel sorry for him on account of his wounds. poor thing. and also, dean's a good big brother.

i wondered what the books were.... i gather to kill a mockingbird is the second, but what's the first?

[halfshellvenus]

I'm glad it didn't come off as saccharine, because that's the challenge with all the schmoop prompts for me. I love schmoop done well, but given the prompts some of these could so easily get drippy instead.

poor thing. and also, dean's a good big brother.
He is, and one of the things I remember most from S1 was how much I wanted Sam to see that (it really frustrated me), and how much a "youngest sibling" dynamic it can be to take what others give to you for granted. We struggle with this at home, all the time. ;)

i gather to kill a mockingbird is the second, but what's the first?
You're right on the second one. The first is a piece of potboiler dreadfulness that I created just for this occasion. \o/

spellbooked

[auroramama]

Which sibling were you? As an elder sibling, I identify with Dean - except when he's teasing Sam. I liked S1 much better once I understood how deeply Dean cared for Sam, and how much of his teasing is meant to shield his utter vulnerability to him.

When you're a youngest, sometimes you get stuff because it's easier to give it to you, or do it for you, than to leave you to get it or do it yourself. Especially if you're disabled in some way. I kind of think someone in this position is partly right to take it for granted, or at least to value it more lightly, as compared to the same things when they were given to the first child.

But I only know my own families. All the elders of my clan were youngest children - all my children's grandparents. Dear Spouse is a middle child - think of something between a textbook middle child and a Yendi - and I'm an elder almost the way Dean is.

I liked the potboiler, and I love the idea of Dean getting into voice roles, and then his flattered shyness at Sam wanting just him.

Re: spellbooked

[halfshellvenus]

I'm an older sibling, and it probably shows! But also a middle once, since I have older half-sisters and a half-brother. Best of both worlds, I say!

I liked S1 much better once I understood how deeply Dean cared for Sam, and how much of his teasing is meant to shield his utter vulnerability to him.
Me too-- my first impression of Dean was that he was a chauvinistic, blowhard jackass. It was his love for Sam that gave him depth and complexity, and as more of their childhood was revealed (and that heartbreaking moment in "Home" where he called John in such desperation and John didn't even call him back) my opinion of him really changed. He still frustrates me at times, but he loves his family and he would do anything for them. He has.

I kind of think someone in this position is partly right to take it for granted, or at least to value it more lightly, as compared to the same things when they were given to the first child.To some degree, their world is shaped by the fact that everyone (including their older siblings) gives and does

[borgmama1of5]

Awww.....

[halfshellvenus]

:D Thank you, borgmama!

[multivariation]

Work had really ticked me off today and that was just what I needed to get back to center. It made me smile when I overwise felt like frowning. Thank you so much for sharing.

[halfshellvenus]

Glad to put you back in a good mood, especially after a lousy day at work. :)