fic: A Thousand Small Cruelties

[aenissesthai]

Fandom:  Supernatural
Title: A Thousand Small Cruelties   3/4
Genre: fic: gen, strong friendship
Characters: Dean, Castiel, Sam, Bobby
Rating: PG-13 for language
Spoiler warning: Spoilers for Season 5, in particular Episode 4 and Episode 10
Warnings: harsh language
Author note: I do not warn for character death in any of my stories, since I consider it a

Comments

[olympia_m]

Ah! that trip to the mall scene just broke me - as well as Dean's understanding of it...
but it was in the best way possible that it broke me and I'm so, so grateful that you go on with this story!

seriously, I stopped reading WiPs a while ago but this is the only exception and it's because it's such an awesome story!!!! please keep it up!!!!!!

[aenissesthai]

Wow, thanks for the kind words! The mall scene was a tearjerker to write as well, which is funny in a way, but if I can't get myself to react emotionally to a scene while writing it, I figure no reader is gonna connect with it either.

It was very nice to say that about how you make time for this WIP. I should really complete a story before posting, but I'm a dreadfully slow writer with an insanely busy life. It seems to take the added pressure of reader expectation to get my inspirational mojo working. Yeah, I'm weird. ^^

[olympia_m]

I hate reading WiPs but every chapter of your fic is kind of complete (and also, painfully sweet) so I can't resist :):)

btw - awesome LJ name :):) may I ask why did you choose it?

[aenissesthai]

Thanks for mentioning that, about the chapters being complete. It's something I work on, making sure that each chapter has a set up scene, build up of tension, resolution or climax (I like that word!), and a closing scene. That way, it feels more like a string of one-shots than a WIP. Of course, now that I've said that, I feel embarrassed, because the next chapter won't have that structure--it's just a coda or epilogue to this fic

[dachinchilla]

Oh my god, so I was reading along, smiling and laughing and getting my heartstrings tugged in turn, and then it got the scene with the cracky gift played so perfectly straight and unexpectedly painful and I CRIED.

[aenissesthai]

I'm glad you cried. I'm a sadist. ;P

Seriously, thank you for letting me know that the story affected you emotionally; it's the greatest compliment to a writer to be able to induce emotion in her readers.

[latvela]

Where to start? So many things are so awesome and touching and adorable about this chapter:

- Cas and Bobby kind of bonding (aww!).

- Dean missing Ellen and Jo.

- Cas' fake card from Bobby (and yes, I always thought Cas...well, I suppose Misha, looked kind of Eastern European. I love that you put that in :))

- Dean and Cas' silent communication.

- And, most of all, I love how Dean is so careful not to hurt Cas now; it's utterly endearing. The way he accepted Cas' unintentionally corny gift is SO sweet ♥ I also love how handsy he is with Cas here, and I think Cas appreciates it too! xD

Dean imagining what Cas' shopping trip for the locket must have been like broke my heart :(

So much love for this! It continues to be wonderful and I'm glad it's longer than you originally intended! More points for the Monty Python reference!

[latvela]

Oh, and how could I have forgotten to mention Sam going emo, the Puppy Eyes Cage Match, and As The Apocalypse Turns? That had me giggling like a crazy woman! So much fun :D

[aenissesthai]

I have serious love for the term "Puppy Eyes Cage Match"--and yes, Sam is no doubt the World Champion for all time, as Dean well knows.

Thank you for the very detailed comment! It's so kind of you to let me know which parts you liked most. The Castiel-Eastern European connection occurred for two reasons: Misha really does have EE ancestry. Although he claims not to know much about it, his real name gives it away. Also, I mentioned to a friend who is a serious Doctor Who fan (of the Tenth Doctor, anyway) that I thought Castiel was equally as fascinating and cute as David Tennant. To which she sniffed, "Well, if you like Eastern European looks, I suppose he is okay-looking."

HAH! Okay-looking indeed! I'll take Castiel any day!

Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting again; I truly appreciate it!

[latvela]

Misha really does have EE ancestry. Although he claims not to know much about it, his real name gives it away.

Ah, I think you're right!

To which she sniffed, "Well, if you like Eastern European looks, I suppose he is okay-looking."

Lol! I guess it's a testament to the spectrum of human taste! I think Ten is definitely cute, but it's Castiel's chiseled beauty for me all the way :D

BTW I looked up the word "Malak". Nice touch! ^_^

[syrinth]

I have no problem with this being the story that never ends as it is most enjoyable. The characterization in this fic is excellent and the humor is perfect.

[aenissesthai]

Thanks for the kind words! It was nice of you to say that about the characterization, and I'm glad you liked the humor. My sense of humor is somewhat whacked, so it's a relief that others find things funny the way I do.

[wickedvirtue]

LJ ate my comment last night! BOO.

I mentioned being really impressed by how Dean imagined Cas getting taken advantage of in the mall and wanting to rectify both the ill treatment of the angel by the service staff at the jewelry store and himself, in treating the gift like a joke. It showed a lot of depth and care coming from Dean and it was heartwarming despite also being heartbreaking for Castiel.

That said, I loved how you had Dean remember Ellen. ELLEN! With her whiskey voice and quick tease and the true affection she had for Dean that had her calling in the first place. It always irked me that canon wanted to push Dean with Jo, when it was always so obvious that Ellen was more his speed/style. Thanks for making that a lot easier to deal with.

These interconnected fics are amazing and as much as I hate to see them end, I can't wait for the next installment!

[aenissesthai]

Oh, that's so aggravating with LJ--I feel for you! It's happened to me a few times