Pimp Your.... #4
Major thanks to the mods for giving me the chance to pimp my special little corner of the SPN fandom.
I love a lot of things about SPN. Well, okay, let’s be honest. I love everything about SPN. I play in several different areas of fandom, but my true fandom love is hardcore. Like SPN, there's a lot I love about hardcore, but there's a subsection that particularly engages me, one that skirts the borderlands between hardcore and mainstream.
I’m not talking about the sizzling hot explicit sex between two brothers happily humping like bunnies (how many fandoms get to claim that as mainstream?). I’m talking about the dark underbelly of hardcore that explores those darker aspects of humanity while hurting our boys like nothing else can.
If you read it, you know what I’m talking about. For those of you who see hardcore elements listed in a story's warnings and run for the hills, I'm here to tell you why we use them and why you should give hardcore a chance.
The Disclaimers
This aspect of hardcore deals with themes of dub/non-con, torture and abuse. If you're highly uncomfortable with any of these topics, please do hit the back button, but otherwise, don’t run away just yet. It’s not for everyone, but it’s not as far out there as some might think.
Also, I use Dean as an example character here not because Sam isn’t equally awesome, but just because Dean is the brother I personally explore in these scenarios. If Sam is your boy please do share the hardcore Sam love in the comments.
Now to the good stuff.
What is Hardcore?
Hardcore can mean just about anything and means many different things just within the SPN fandom. Here, we're using the term hardcore as synonymous with extreme. These are story scenarios, which delve into dark, frequently sensitive, topics. These topic are often sexual in nature, but don't have to be.
Why Read Hardcore?
While not true of everyone, it’s safe to say that many of us are character sadists. Yes, you know who you are. Whichever boy is your favorite, the chances are that on one level or another you like to see him hurt. True in most fandoms, but truer than most of the SPN fandom. Let’s face it, no one knows how to hurt like our boys know how to hurt and the series gives us plenty of fodder.
While many of us like to see our boys hurt, we (hopefully) all abhor real world violence. The same goes for those in the hardcore portion of fandom. We may torture and maim and rape and pillage our poor boys, but just because you find yourself pulled into accompanying your favorite boy on his harrowing journey doesn’t mean you’d wish it on your worst enemy.
This isn’t a genre for those who seek fiction for escapism. I’ve heard quite a few equate reading hardcore to a train wreck - the events are horrible, but you can’t look away. That surely sounds dreadful to some, but why are we compelled to watch a train wreck? It touches various aspects of ourselves that may not be pleasant, but are inherent in humanity, something that hardcore provides a safe and (mostly) sane outlet for.
This genre offers the greatest depth of hurt that can be brought - those kinds of pain that break a character down to their core elements and let the full depth of our boys’ true nature shine through. It shows them, or each other, aspects of themselves that they didn’t know or would never admit to - for better or worse. And when aftermath is explored, it brings the greatest potential for the boys to help each other rebuild. It becomes a true emotional roller coaster that is the ultimate H/C. Whether the ending is hopeful or devastating, these stories resonate on a level that touches emotions few other subjects can.
Dub-con, non-con, fuck-or-die...WTF?
For those new to hardcore these frequently used terms may seem odd and for good reason - they're strictly fandom vocabulary with no basis in the real world.
In the hardcore division of fandom, dub-con (dubious consent) frequently refers to situations in which a character makes the choice to have sex under duress such as in a fuck-or-die scenario, which means exactly what it sounds like. Dub-con can also refer to a character who is emotionally compromised i.e. Dean has sex with evil!Sam only because he's looking for a way to get through to his brother. Non-con (non-consensual) typically refers to rape in the form of physically forced scenarios where no degree of consent is given.
The bigger question for those who don't read hardcore is likely who in their right mind would want to read about rape regardless of the term its given. We're not talking about the glorification of sexual violence or characters finding love through forced scenarios. The thing is, we're not even really talking about sex.
Certainly, there are those who enjoy hardcore for the kink factor, but in many of these stories, the sex isn't pretty and in most cases, it isn't even sexy. It's something that's used as a weapon to strip the character down in a way that pure physical violence can't. It's taking a character like Dean, who seeks escape in sex and only values his physical abilities to fight and brings him to his most vulnerable then explores how he copes with the situation and the struggle to move forward.
Torture, Abuse and Prostitution
Torture, whether in association with sexual aspects or purely gen, is used in large part for the obvious reason that it brings massive hurt for our boys. It fits easily into SPN stories given that it's a theme that makes regular appearances in canon, but like other aspects of hardcore, torture in these stories is rarely about the physicality of torture. It's rather a vehicle to drive the characters to a certain point.
Like non-con, torture can leave the boys exposed and vulnerable in a way that standard hurt cannot. Depending on the circumstances, it can reach for the boys' greatest fears or force them to make impossible and revealing choices. It's a theme that can be used to emphasize just how much the boys will sacrifice for each other or to highlight how strong they truly are.
The same is true of abuse, which carries a particularly devastating connotation in the SPN 'verse when that abuse comes from family. It's again another topic that fits seamlessly into SPN stories given the undertones of the series. We have two boys who were raised by a loving, but unstable and obsessive father on the fringes of society. Whether the abuse is unintended or overt and whether it comes from inside or outside of the family, it's not hard to imagine that these boys would have been vulnerable to it. It's another theme that lets us look at how deep the pain could cut or the depth of the sacrifices the brothers would make for each other.
Another sacrifice-centered trope that makes frequent appearances in SPN hardcore is prostitution. It has a heavy kink following, but can also be presented as deeply emotional and character driven scenario. We have these undeniably attractive boys growing up in seedy motels and raised to hustle for money. Then we take a character like Dean who places little value in himself and will do anything to take care of his family. Prostitution in these stories is frequently used to look at a character's feelings of self-worth and the lengths they'll go. And when another character finds out what they've done, we're back to H/C.
Hurt/Comfort and Emotional Impact
For many who read or write this class of hardcore fics, H/C is what it's all about. It's bringing the boys to the brink so that they can help each other rebuild with a better understanding of who they are.
Now, these stories don't always have comfort. Sometimes, the 'comfort' is only in one of the characters witnessing the other's pain. These sort of topics aren't ones that can just be swept aside with a magic wand and these are in many cases dark fics. Some explore the full aftermath, others give the hopeful promise that things will get better and others leave you devastated.
It's rarely an easy ride, but it's one that will stay with you, get you thinking about the characters and feeling the depth of their struggle right along with them. If it's a ride you're ready to take, the incredible talent this fandom has no shortage of difficult, but incredible journeys for you to follow.
Fic Recs
I'm not a reader myself, but some wonderful gals from my flist helped to put together a lovely assortment of dark hardcore ranging from gen torture to extreme non-con. All the recs focus on emotionally engaging stories that explore the deepest facets of our favorite boys.
Acoustics by tifaching - This is an on-going series of drabbles focusing on evil!Sam's breaking of Dean. There is no comfort or reprieve here, but these drabbles will draw you into the boys' devastating world of pain. Sam/Dean. 100 to 200 words each. They cover various hardcore elements with a focus on torture.
Becoming 'Verse by Incognita (supernaturalfun) - The Winchester brothers are trapped by a Trickster, playing a twisted game they haven’t played before, especially with one another. Sam/Dean. Multi-chapter. Includes many aspects of hardcore with dub-con as a central theme and is Sam!girl approved.
Cupid's Got a Gun by geckoholic - Fuck-or-die, Sam/Dean, set in early S4. But they've been fucking for years, so that shouldn't be a problem, right? Wrong. Ever since hell, Dean's in no hurry to get that show on the road again. They've tried, and it doesn't work, too many bad memories from what's been done to him downstairs. A case that involves a cursed cross and a vengeful witch takes that choice away from them, though... Sam/Dean. 13,461 words. Deals with the emotional devastation of fuck-or-die with hell PSTD overtones.
Crux Cross by adrenalineshots - If I told you there was a man who was dead and had been brought back to life by an angel; if I told you that angels obeyed this man's word and respected him as equal; if I told you that he was the one to save Mankind... would you believe me? Gen. 8,800 words. Both deeply emotional and character-revealing through torture.
Every Stone A Story by phantisma - Dean is a few months shy of seventeen when John is hurt in a car accident coming home from a hunt. The accident lands him in a coma and leaves Dean trying to find a way to support Sam when he can't reach their emergency contacts. What starts out as a seemingly simple job stripping turns into anything but and Dean finds himself in a game where the only card he has to play is his own body and the deck is stacked against him. Dean/OMCs. 13,254 words. Forced prostitution that explores how far Dean will go for his family.
Gonna Know Where You've Been by purple_carpets - It's just your run-of-the-mill fuck-or-die curse. It shouldn't be a problem for two brother's who've been fucking each other for years. Except for the part where Dean hasn't had sex since he came back from hell and keeps flashing back every time Sam touches him. Sam/Dean. 3,600 words. Explores Dean's post-hell PTSD through a fuck-or-die scenario.
Lost by CIFan812 (fanfiction.net) - This was the only way to make sure that Sam lived and that they would both be okay without me dragging them down. Dean/OMCs. 124,775 words. Non-con focusing on the aftermath of a gangbang and Dean's struggle to move on.
Sins of the Innocent by reapertownusa - Dean has always known what he is and what it takes to control the demon inside of him. He and his brother were raised hunters, living isolated from the rest of society to protect both themselves and innocent civilians. When everything falls apart, they struggle to find their way in a world they don’t trust. They come to discover that they were never as alone as they thought and nothing is what it seems. Sam/Dean, John/Dean, Dean/OMCs. 83K. Contains various hardcore elements with a focus on the impacts of severe, long-term abuse.
Stumbling Towards Spires of Freedom by meus_venator - For three years, Dean has been brutalized by hunters who kept him as a slave. He escapes and begins a painful struggle to break free of both the mental and physical shackles. Can he ever again be the same man and what will the cost be to those who aid him as he becomes the hunted? Dean/OMCs. 36K. Uses abuse, non-con and torture to reveal the strengths of Dean's character and how far he'll go for family.
The Bright Lights of Disturbia by leonidaslion (AO3) - Not all of our scars are worn on the outside... Sam/Dean, Dean/OMC (non-con). 373,399 words. Focuses on the aftermath of non-con and other dark sexual themes with heavy dub-con undertones throughout. Also available as a podfic here.
Trembling Darkness by a_phoenixdragon - It was just little things at first. The subtle twinge of want so gradual that Sam couldn't pinpoint when he had stopped admiring Dean and had started admiring Dean. Sam/Dean. 8,738 words. Dark fic that looks at the dismantling of Sam and Dean's characters through non-con.
If you have any additional recs, thoughts or questions - bring them on and thanks so much for reading!
I love a lot of things about SPN. Well, okay, let’s be honest. I love everything about SPN. I play in several different areas of fandom, but my true fandom love is hardcore. Like SPN, there's a lot I love about hardcore, but there's a subsection that particularly engages me, one that skirts the borderlands between hardcore and mainstream.
I’m not talking about the sizzling hot explicit sex between two brothers happily humping like bunnies (how many fandoms get to claim that as mainstream?). I’m talking about the dark underbelly of hardcore that explores those darker aspects of humanity while hurting our boys like nothing else can.
If you read it, you know what I’m talking about. For those of you who see hardcore elements listed in a story's warnings and run for the hills, I'm here to tell you why we use them and why you should give hardcore a chance.
The Disclaimers
This aspect of hardcore deals with themes of dub/non-con, torture and abuse. If you're highly uncomfortable with any of these topics, please do hit the back button, but otherwise, don’t run away just yet. It’s not for everyone, but it’s not as far out there as some might think.
Also, I use Dean as an example character here not because Sam isn’t equally awesome, but just because Dean is the brother I personally explore in these scenarios. If Sam is your boy please do share the hardcore Sam love in the comments.
Now to the good stuff.
What is Hardcore?
Hardcore can mean just about anything and means many different things just within the SPN fandom. Here, we're using the term hardcore as synonymous with extreme. These are story scenarios, which delve into dark, frequently sensitive, topics. These topic are often sexual in nature, but don't have to be.
Why Read Hardcore?
While not true of everyone, it’s safe to say that many of us are character sadists. Yes, you know who you are. Whichever boy is your favorite, the chances are that on one level or another you like to see him hurt. True in most fandoms, but truer than most of the SPN fandom. Let’s face it, no one knows how to hurt like our boys know how to hurt and the series gives us plenty of fodder.
While many of us like to see our boys hurt, we (hopefully) all abhor real world violence. The same goes for those in the hardcore portion of fandom. We may torture and maim and rape and pillage our poor boys, but just because you find yourself pulled into accompanying your favorite boy on his harrowing journey doesn’t mean you’d wish it on your worst enemy.
This isn’t a genre for those who seek fiction for escapism. I’ve heard quite a few equate reading hardcore to a train wreck - the events are horrible, but you can’t look away. That surely sounds dreadful to some, but why are we compelled to watch a train wreck? It touches various aspects of ourselves that may not be pleasant, but are inherent in humanity, something that hardcore provides a safe and (mostly) sane outlet for.
This genre offers the greatest depth of hurt that can be brought - those kinds of pain that break a character down to their core elements and let the full depth of our boys’ true nature shine through. It shows them, or each other, aspects of themselves that they didn’t know or would never admit to - for better or worse. And when aftermath is explored, it brings the greatest potential for the boys to help each other rebuild. It becomes a true emotional roller coaster that is the ultimate H/C. Whether the ending is hopeful or devastating, these stories resonate on a level that touches emotions few other subjects can.
Dub-con, non-con, fuck-or-die...WTF?
For those new to hardcore these frequently used terms may seem odd and for good reason - they're strictly fandom vocabulary with no basis in the real world.
In the hardcore division of fandom, dub-con (dubious consent) frequently refers to situations in which a character makes the choice to have sex under duress such as in a fuck-or-die scenario, which means exactly what it sounds like. Dub-con can also refer to a character who is emotionally compromised i.e. Dean has sex with evil!Sam only because he's looking for a way to get through to his brother. Non-con (non-consensual) typically refers to rape in the form of physically forced scenarios where no degree of consent is given.
The bigger question for those who don't read hardcore is likely who in their right mind would want to read about rape regardless of the term its given. We're not talking about the glorification of sexual violence or characters finding love through forced scenarios. The thing is, we're not even really talking about sex.
Certainly, there are those who enjoy hardcore for the kink factor, but in many of these stories, the sex isn't pretty and in most cases, it isn't even sexy. It's something that's used as a weapon to strip the character down in a way that pure physical violence can't. It's taking a character like Dean, who seeks escape in sex and only values his physical abilities to fight and brings him to his most vulnerable then explores how he copes with the situation and the struggle to move forward.
Torture, Abuse and Prostitution
Torture, whether in association with sexual aspects or purely gen, is used in large part for the obvious reason that it brings massive hurt for our boys. It fits easily into SPN stories given that it's a theme that makes regular appearances in canon, but like other aspects of hardcore, torture in these stories is rarely about the physicality of torture. It's rather a vehicle to drive the characters to a certain point.
Like non-con, torture can leave the boys exposed and vulnerable in a way that standard hurt cannot. Depending on the circumstances, it can reach for the boys' greatest fears or force them to make impossible and revealing choices. It's a theme that can be used to emphasize just how much the boys will sacrifice for each other or to highlight how strong they truly are.
The same is true of abuse, which carries a particularly devastating connotation in the SPN 'verse when that abuse comes from family. It's again another topic that fits seamlessly into SPN stories given the undertones of the series. We have two boys who were raised by a loving, but unstable and obsessive father on the fringes of society. Whether the abuse is unintended or overt and whether it comes from inside or outside of the family, it's not hard to imagine that these boys would have been vulnerable to it. It's another theme that lets us look at how deep the pain could cut or the depth of the sacrifices the brothers would make for each other.
Another sacrifice-centered trope that makes frequent appearances in SPN hardcore is prostitution. It has a heavy kink following, but can also be presented as deeply emotional and character driven scenario. We have these undeniably attractive boys growing up in seedy motels and raised to hustle for money. Then we take a character like Dean who places little value in himself and will do anything to take care of his family. Prostitution in these stories is frequently used to look at a character's feelings of self-worth and the lengths they'll go. And when another character finds out what they've done, we're back to H/C.
Hurt/Comfort and Emotional Impact
For many who read or write this class of hardcore fics, H/C is what it's all about. It's bringing the boys to the brink so that they can help each other rebuild with a better understanding of who they are.
Now, these stories don't always have comfort. Sometimes, the 'comfort' is only in one of the characters witnessing the other's pain. These sort of topics aren't ones that can just be swept aside with a magic wand and these are in many cases dark fics. Some explore the full aftermath, others give the hopeful promise that things will get better and others leave you devastated.
It's rarely an easy ride, but it's one that will stay with you, get you thinking about the characters and feeling the depth of their struggle right along with them. If it's a ride you're ready to take, the incredible talent this fandom has no shortage of difficult, but incredible journeys for you to follow.
Fic Recs
I'm not a reader myself, but some wonderful gals from my flist helped to put together a lovely assortment of dark hardcore ranging from gen torture to extreme non-con. All the recs focus on emotionally engaging stories that explore the deepest facets of our favorite boys.
Acoustics by tifaching - This is an on-going series of drabbles focusing on evil!Sam's breaking of Dean. There is no comfort or reprieve here, but these drabbles will draw you into the boys' devastating world of pain. Sam/Dean. 100 to 200 words each. They cover various hardcore elements with a focus on torture.
Becoming 'Verse by Incognita (supernaturalfun) - The Winchester brothers are trapped by a Trickster, playing a twisted game they haven’t played before, especially with one another. Sam/Dean. Multi-chapter. Includes many aspects of hardcore with dub-con as a central theme and is Sam!girl approved.
Cupid's Got a Gun by geckoholic - Fuck-or-die, Sam/Dean, set in early S4. But they've been fucking for years, so that shouldn't be a problem, right? Wrong. Ever since hell, Dean's in no hurry to get that show on the road again. They've tried, and it doesn't work, too many bad memories from what's been done to him downstairs. A case that involves a cursed cross and a vengeful witch takes that choice away from them, though... Sam/Dean. 13,461 words. Deals with the emotional devastation of fuck-or-die with hell PSTD overtones.
Crux Cross by adrenalineshots - If I told you there was a man who was dead and had been brought back to life by an angel; if I told you that angels obeyed this man's word and respected him as equal; if I told you that he was the one to save Mankind... would you believe me? Gen. 8,800 words. Both deeply emotional and character-revealing through torture.
Every Stone A Story by phantisma - Dean is a few months shy of seventeen when John is hurt in a car accident coming home from a hunt. The accident lands him in a coma and leaves Dean trying to find a way to support Sam when he can't reach their emergency contacts. What starts out as a seemingly simple job stripping turns into anything but and Dean finds himself in a game where the only card he has to play is his own body and the deck is stacked against him. Dean/OMCs. 13,254 words. Forced prostitution that explores how far Dean will go for his family.
Gonna Know Where You've Been by purple_carpets - It's just your run-of-the-mill fuck-or-die curse. It shouldn't be a problem for two brother's who've been fucking each other for years. Except for the part where Dean hasn't had sex since he came back from hell and keeps flashing back every time Sam touches him. Sam/Dean. 3,600 words. Explores Dean's post-hell PTSD through a fuck-or-die scenario.
Lost by CIFan812 (fanfiction.net) - This was the only way to make sure that Sam lived and that they would both be okay without me dragging them down. Dean/OMCs. 124,775 words. Non-con focusing on the aftermath of a gangbang and Dean's struggle to move on.
Sins of the Innocent by reapertownusa - Dean has always known what he is and what it takes to control the demon inside of him. He and his brother were raised hunters, living isolated from the rest of society to protect both themselves and innocent civilians. When everything falls apart, they struggle to find their way in a world they don’t trust. They come to discover that they were never as alone as they thought and nothing is what it seems. Sam/Dean, John/Dean, Dean/OMCs. 83K. Contains various hardcore elements with a focus on the impacts of severe, long-term abuse.
Stumbling Towards Spires of Freedom by meus_venator - For three years, Dean has been brutalized by hunters who kept him as a slave. He escapes and begins a painful struggle to break free of both the mental and physical shackles. Can he ever again be the same man and what will the cost be to those who aid him as he becomes the hunted? Dean/OMCs. 36K. Uses abuse, non-con and torture to reveal the strengths of Dean's character and how far he'll go for family.
The Bright Lights of Disturbia by leonidaslion (AO3) - Not all of our scars are worn on the outside... Sam/Dean, Dean/OMC (non-con). 373,399 words. Focuses on the aftermath of non-con and other dark sexual themes with heavy dub-con undertones throughout. Also available as a podfic here.
Trembling Darkness by a_phoenixdragon - It was just little things at first. The subtle twinge of want so gradual that Sam couldn't pinpoint when he had stopped admiring Dean and had started admiring Dean. Sam/Dean. 8,738 words. Dark fic that looks at the dismantling of Sam and Dean's characters through non-con.
If you have any additional recs, thoughts or questions - bring them on and thanks so much for reading!