After the Fire

[corvus_imbrifer]

A few weeks back, Samantha Ferris asked on her website for some suggestions on what Ellen has been doing with herself since last we saw her slamming shut the gates of Hell with Bobby Singer. Due to one thing and another, it took me a while to formulate my response, and naturally I couldn't just do a few sentences, and so I'm coming late to the

Comments

[sylvanwitch]

It's extra-fun for me, gifted as I have been with all our many conversations about the show, to hear in Ellen's voice and in this piece your ideas about where the show should have gone, plot-wise, and who these boys really are, character-wise, what drives and motivates them. It's great, too, to see Ellen's development here, to see her fleshed out into the level-minded, clear-thinking leader she's clearly so capable of becoming on this show, if only the Powers That Be would let her. The catalogue in that last longer paragraph is a brilliant summation of every angsty thing that makes these boys damaged, and Ellen's solution is so simple, her final words so profound, that it really ties together nicely everything you've reflected on, via Ellen, throughout the story

[corvus_imbrifer]

It really is a poorly disguised meta, isn't it? Got carried away. But it was only meant to answer the one question! Got off the leash, you know.

The network of people are all from prior episodes, only one name (Marlowe) is not from the show. I made a little list. Couldn't even work in everyone they've saved, never mind anyone from anyone beholden to John or Bobby or Bill Harvelle. I should have provided a key. The point is: just calling on named guest stars forms a diverse and formidable group ready to stand up with the Winchesters.

Typos? Typos? Serves me right for not having this proofread.

Thanks!

[shotgun9]

The imagery! It's like candy.

Of course there was a war on, or so everyone had said.
I'm dying over here. Really.

Okay, when I heard you pitch this, I was a little worried it was going to be too... linear? Hahaha! Right. The structure is just perfect, the blending of consciousness, past and present contributing to the growing tension as well as communicating the necessary background. And Ellen. Oh, Ellen. You've got her voice spot-on. Simple, logical, reasonable with an underlying thread of caring and sentimentality that reveals itself in her actions, not her words.

Fantastic.

[Truckee? Hee. I'm taking that as a shoutout, thankyouverymuch. Didn't you have a Donner Party plot bunny floating around? Can I offer it carrots or lettuce?]

[corvus_imbrifer]

Well, it's not a real 'story,' just a lot of ideas that I'm making Ellen speak out loud, in exactly the fashion I roundly condemn when the show does it. And I couldn't quite bring myself to burn down Truckee after having it taken over by zombies, aren't you glad? It's the Coyote Moon Golf Course that I think needs to be written about. (It's probably very dull in real life. Who needs real life?)

Thanks very much!

[shotgun9]

Yes, but there is a story there (though maybe not in the traditional sense), amidst the beautifully-cloaked meta ;) And I very much appreciate that sort of complexity.

I fall at your feet, oh merciful Raven. I am an open book -- should you need pictures, descriptions, embellishments...

[Oh, P.S. -- you did submit this to Ms. Ferris, didn't you? Because I'll be disappointed if you didn't.]

[faithintheboys]

I loved this. Ellen's voice is strong and sure and I love her opinion on everything. I love Hell's Sorority or whatever Jo was a part of. This was so interesting and detailed. I love how everyone came together and was united because of the boys. This was such a great piece. You did so well of explaining everything, it was as if this story was more than one chapter. Awesome job!

I have a story that I am stuck with. Would you mind looking at it either when I get a little more done or when I am finished? Thanks!

[corvus_imbrifer]

The Sorority Girls from Hell are Charlie and Jill Shoemaker (Bloody Mary), Lori Sorenson (Hookman), Kat and Gavin (Asylum), Emily Jorgeson (Scarecrow) nominally led by Rebecca Warren (Skin), including Gert and Sarah, working in conjunction with Cassie Robinson (Route 666). (The 'Hell House' ghost hunters work for her.) There is a scene out there somewhere wherein Dean mocks Gavin for being 'one of the girls' instead of running with the combat teams of the Collins family or Deacon's convicts. Till he actually sees the girls motel room, with Gavin's little cot off to the side of the big beds covered in undergarments, and Gavin just grins...

If you have something for review, send by all means send when you're ready!

Thanks!

[faithintheboys]

Thanks! I may finish soon, so I will send it when I'm done. Are you planning on writing more in this verse?

[qzxy]

Gert and Sarah, working in conjunction with Cassie Robinson (Route 666). (The 'Hell House' ghost hunters work for her.) There is a scene out there somewhere wherein Dean mocks Gavin for being 'one of the girls' instead of running with the combat teams of the Collins family or Deacon's convicts. Till he actually sees the girls motel room, with Gavin's little cot off to the side of the big beds covered in undergarments, and Gavin just grins...

HEEEEE!

[areawomantwop]

Oh, happy day! This was well worth the wait.

Your imagery is always so vivid, and Ellen comes across very clear and true. I really enjoy reading stories from the outsider's perspective -- seeing Sam and Dean through others' eyes. (Which, I might add, is merely one of the reasons I loved Strangers in Gilead so much.)

So many heroes in this story, transformed by the Winchesters (with Ellen as a wonderful catalyst) from victims into victors. What a legacy, so nice that Dean won't have to leave it behind just yet, not after Ellen and her bottle of bourbon!

Burning Man! I love that part so much I might just want to marry it or at least co-habitate with it for a couple of years...

Just a few thoughts off the top of my tiny head. I trust you've shared this with Miss Sam? Hmmm? *poke poke*

[corvus_imbrifer]

I went through the episode list, and toting up the rescued PiPs, the list is longer than I would have guessed, and the membership quite formidable. It doesn't seem too far fetched that some of them would find each other, or Ellen would find them. And this is drawing just from the episodes; add in John, Bobby, Bill Harvelle, and the demon war (such as it is) isn't looking so dire.

I'm afraid the Burning Man thing is going to be obscure to some, but really, humanity isn't all thick and boring and mundane.

I sent a note to Miss Sam's webmaster, asking if I should just post to the thread or what. We'll see what she says.

Thanks very much!

[qzxy]

Oh, man. Such good meta. The clever guests take back the show from the demonic nincompoops. I loved so many parts of this: the orphaned and widowed creating their own families, the driving force of the women and the nurturing of the children, Sarah et al. dispatching with Bela, Ellen dispatching with Dean's notion of deals and hell, the west coast lining up for their stars and suns, BURNING MAN! (AHAHAHAHA!!!) Perfect. :D And Ellen at the end, getting them "home." (Mary is thanking her.) Just, the relationships between all these people. It's been so missing this season.

[corvus_imbrifer]

It should have been better disguised meta, perhaps. Not very subtle, or circumspect. But then neither is Ellen. (Nor Samantha Ferris...)

Thanks!

[tsubaki_ny]

THE META IS FINE! ^________^ (But, you know my views.)