[Fic] Morgan: Splinters
[ Sam/Dean ]
Title: Splinters
Writer: Morgan
Status of work: complete
Characters and/or pairings: Sam/Dean
Rating: NC-17
Warnings, kinks & contents: [Click to read]Horror, violence, character death, religion, dark themes
Length: 90k words
Summary: This is AU-Winchesters with a Southern Gothic flavor. Places and faces will be familiar, but mostly this is just a different take on the whole thing. John becomes a preacher after Mary’s death and mostly leaves his sons to take care of the farm and grow up as best they can manage. There’s some violence and I’m quoting scripture, meaning no offence.
Reccer's notes: Morgan. What can I say about this author? Morgan is one of the most talented, learned, kindest souls I've had the pleasure of corresponding with, and not just one of my favourite fandom writers, but one of my favourite authors period. This hefty, novel length retelling of Supernatural canon is a true Southern Gothic saga. I agonised over whether to rec a shorter, less daunting piece as a gateway drug, but honestly this story blew me away. It will stay with me forever and should be read by everyone. The author's voice is unique and instantly recognisable. The skill on display is nothing short of miraculous. Each time I read a work of Morgan's I lose days to researching the myriad references scattered throughout, and always feel richer and wiser for it! This story effortlessly transposes the epic love story of Sam and Dean into a harsh, unforgiving landscape steeped in religious fervour and dark magic which feels huge, filmic and perfectly fitting. I especially love the devotion Dean exhibits from such a young age, the desperate need to keep his brother safe, and the way that fire follows Samuel throughout their lives. Haunting, sexy and harrowing, this is the story our boys deserve.
[Short excerpt]Ma comes for Samuel at dawn, her long hair flowing behind her as if she were in the creek, floating. She takes a hold of Samuel’s arm and tries to pull him to her, but Dean will not let go. He holds on as tight as he can and he screams at her “I cast you out, you cannot have him, he’s mine”. The hurt on her face makes his heart feel so small and scared in his breast, a bird beating in a trap, trembling in him. “You cannot have him”, Dean screams and his voice breaks like it hasn’t for years. Ma has hands on Samuel’s arms, the devil has a hold of his feet and Dean is desperate, crying broken words and ragged with lack of sleep, so scared, so scared. He throws himself down over Samuel’s body, and he is Daniel in the lion’s den, and he is that same boy in the dry grass holding a sooty bundle in his arms. He fights. He fights them both, he fights the dead and the Devil for his brother.