Supernatural Fanfic: Into the Jungle (1/1)

[rheasilvia]

Disclaimer: Not mine. No harm, no foul.
Characters: John, Mary
Spoilers: 1x01 only
Rating: R for violence
Story notes: 2,500 words. Pre-canon setting.
Betaed by the_shoshanna, who did an amazing job and went above and beyond to hammer this thing into shape. Thank you very much!

Into the JungleThe first time John saw Mary, he hardly noticed her - not her as a

Comments

[without_me]

Holy cow, Sylvia, how do you do it? That was insanely good--not that I expected anything else, but... wow. Just, wow.

[rheasilvia]

It's ridiculous how relieved I am that you like the story - in spite of the lack of Dean and Sam. *g* Thank you very much for letting me know!

I've been nervous about "Into the Jungle" for a variety of reasons, and I don't even know why I wrote this down when I thought I'd be content to have it sitting in the back of my head, but... well, I'm just really glad you like it. :-)

[without_me]

I'm both flattered and mildly alarmed that you care so much about my opinion--but fear not, this is marvelous work. And now I should go and rec it.

[lilacsigil]

This was astounding and terrifying, and watching John and Mary's brutal fight to survive get put behind them, only to return and take Mary away, was a dreadful thing. I'd never thought of Mary in Vietnam, though there's no reason why not, and her determined, necessary actions are so like John's and Sam's that it frightens me. (and makes me wonder where Dean's kindness and love for his family came from, but maybe there was a space for someone to take that role back in America.)

[rheasilvia]

I'm very glad the story had such a strong emotional impact on you!

her determined, necessary actions are so like John's and Sam's that it frightens me

Yes... Sam has been getting there in the last couple of episodes, hasn't he? This hadn't occurred to me yet - probably because I wrote out this story in my head before the season even began - but you're absolutely right that there's a parallel.

makes me wonder where Dean's kindness and love for his family came from, but maybe there was a space for someone to take that role back in America

Outside of a war zone, I'm certain that neither John nor Mary were unkind or unloving. In a situation where there is simply no room for anything but the fight for survival, people are stripped right down to the steel at their core - that doesn't mean that that's all there is to them.

Thank you very much for letting me know what you thought! :-)

[synecdochic]

oh my holy fucking god, this is stunning. stunning.

[rheasilvia]

Thank you very much - I'm very glad indeed you think so! :-)

[rheasilvia]

Thank you so much! I'm very glad the story had such a strong impact on you - and that the characterization worked for you, in particular. It's great that these versions of John and Mary were real to you!

Would you mind if I asked how you came across this story if you don't read in the fandom? You don't need to tell me, of course - I'm just curious. :-)

[rheasilvia]

Ooh, now I'm very glad I asked - it's really wonderful synecdochic thought the story was good enough to recommend to you! :-)

Thanks again! :-)

[flambeau]

Whoa. Unexpected and gritty and hard as nails and really, whoa. I like it. :)

[rheasilvia]

I'm very glad indeed that you like it! I know it's unexpected, particularly in terms of characterization - and I'm happy to hear that it worked even so.

Thanks for letting me know! :-)