Archived fic rec - Like a Parched Land

[sakura_no_miko]

Title: Like a Parched Land

Author: Las

Fandom: Supernatural

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Dean/Castiel

Warnings: explicit sex (gay), possible blasphemy, character injury

Other notes: alternate universe

Length: 9k

Summary: Written for the following prompt: “Reverse!verse: Castiel is the Righteous Man and Dean is the angel who drags his ass out of Hell.” This is an AU version of episodes 5x01 through 5x03.

 

I love alternate universes, love, love, love them. Point of fact, that’s mostly what I write, when I do write. Now, granted, it’s definitely easier to write when you’re developing your own canon and world–well, easier that making sure every bit of canon is correct–at least to me. But what AUs are about, to me, is paring down a character to his/her essential characteristics. You want to still be able to recognize the character, but at the same time, by writing an alternate universe, you should show how the changed circumstances have affected that character. Moving from a war-torn giant robot space opera to a boy band AU will not produce the same person. Growing up as a soldier is not the same as being a singer, and yet, there’s still going to be something there. Maybe the person is still awkward and uncomfortable with being the in limelight, as a war hero or as a celebrity. Maybe the person plans out battle movements with as much preciseness as he does concert hall seating. It might make the reader laugh to see the similarities, or maybe touch them emotionally to see the parts of the character they like transposed into a new scenario.

So, this idea of “what characteristics make Castiel human-like” has been fairly well-explored, both in canon and in fic. Fallen or otherwise turned-into-a-human Castiel is a staple of fic. And Dean, being the Righteous Man and potential angel fodder himself, has also been subject to “what characteristics make Dean angel-like.” And, while I’ve seen both-as-angels fic, both-as-humans fic, priest!Dean fic, angel!Dean and Godstiel fic, this is the first one I’ve read with Castiel born as a human and Dean as his mouthy angel.

I think.

It does seem like something people would have written, and written a lot of. Hmmm. Well, like I’ve said, Supernatural is more of an occasional read fandom for me.

Anyway. I think I lost what I wanted to say somewhere up there. I like seeing this emphasis on Dean and Castiel’s essential characteristics–that Castiel’s quiet studiousness could be just as easily applied to studying hunter lore, or that Dean’s unwavering devotion could be to a heavenly father and brother as much as a human one. I adore the scene where Dean reveals that, when he felt most alone, the thing that kept him going was Castiel’s steadfast prayers. And–I’m sure you’ve heard this before–the sex is hot.

Anyway, this cheered me right up.

 

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Originally posted on tumblr on 01/24/13