Fic: A Threefold Path to Redemption | NC-17 | Sam/Dean
Title: A Threefold Path to Redemption
Author: rei_c
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 119,000
Summary: Sam finds a way to keep Dean from going to hell: he'll go in his brother's place. He knows it's going to be bad and that he'll emerge changed. He never knew how much.
Pairings: Sam/Dean, Sam/Ruby (Sam/Lilith, Sam/Sycorax, Sam/Ruby+Dean, Sam/Sycorax/Lilith, Sam/Lust, Sam/Gluttony/Sloth, Sam/Envy, Sam/Pride, Sam/Vetis, Sam/Caésinha, off-screen Dean/OFCs & Dean/OMCs)
Warnings: dub-con*, au**, language, gore, graphic torture, incest, philosophy, literature, object penetration, bondage, S/M (caning, whipping, flogging), bloodplay, self-harm (cutting), pegging, blasphemy, theology, inappropriate use of religious items, pop culture, angst
*: My definition of dub-con in this instance: Sam has made a deal and promises to do anything. He doesn't like the fact that 'anything' includes sex and would refuse it if Dean's soul didn't hang in the balance. This isn't true consensual sex, but he stomachs it for the pay-off, in a sense. He hates it but he doesn't fight it.
**: This deviates seriously from canon following 'Mystery Spot' with traces of events from the rest of season three present, up to but not including the finale. Also assumes that John started hunting when the boys were young and Sam was raised as a hunter's son from almost the beginning.
Extra warnings: No, seriously. Lots of blood and torture and angst. This is not pretty. It's actually pretty inherently disturbing.
--
Author's notes: I owe a debt to several writers, notably Dante, Milton, Blake, S. Lidell MacGregor Mathers, and Avetik Isahakyan, as well as to the larger, general Romantic movement. Many websites/poems/plays/books were used as references; if you're interested in a list, I'll be happy to provide one given plenty of time. *Grins*
The threefold path or ascent is typically found in Christian philosophy but originated with Dionysis. The three steps are as follows: purification (moving away from selfishness towards discipline and devotion), illumination (an opening of mind and spirit to the movement of God and the practice of His gifts), and union (belief becoming experience). For more information, I recommend Gordon Mursell's The Story of Christian Spirituality.
--
A special mention of thanks is due to nu_breed, without whom this would never have been finished. She has been cheerleader, midwife, and godmother to Threefold and my words will never be equal to my gratitude.
With utmost thanks to my beta-readers: veronamay, star_dancer54, and cormallen, and to my feedbackers: vorpalblades, sloane_m, estei, Baz, Maz, anyone who read any of the snippets or excerpts or thoughts and said 'Yes, please!' and everyone's brother. Too many to name; you know who you are.
You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough.
--Sheila Graham
Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.
--Laurence Sterne
Purification
[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three ]
Illumination
[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four ]
Union
[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four ]
[ Single-file download | Music download ]
Author: rei_c
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 119,000
Summary: Sam finds a way to keep Dean from going to hell: he'll go in his brother's place. He knows it's going to be bad and that he'll emerge changed. He never knew how much.
Pairings: Sam/Dean, Sam/Ruby (Sam/Lilith, Sam/Sycorax, Sam/Ruby+Dean, Sam/Sycorax/Lilith, Sam/Lust, Sam/Gluttony/Sloth, Sam/Envy, Sam/Pride, Sam/Vetis, Sam/Caésinha, off-screen Dean/OFCs & Dean/OMCs)
Warnings: dub-con*, au**, language, gore, graphic torture, incest, philosophy, literature, object penetration, bondage, S/M (caning, whipping, flogging), bloodplay, self-harm (cutting), pegging, blasphemy, theology, inappropriate use of religious items, pop culture, angst
*: My definition of dub-con in this instance: Sam has made a deal and promises to do anything. He doesn't like the fact that 'anything' includes sex and would refuse it if Dean's soul didn't hang in the balance. This isn't true consensual sex, but he stomachs it for the pay-off, in a sense. He hates it but he doesn't fight it.
**: This deviates seriously from canon following 'Mystery Spot' with traces of events from the rest of season three present, up to but not including the finale. Also assumes that John started hunting when the boys were young and Sam was raised as a hunter's son from almost the beginning.
Extra warnings: No, seriously. Lots of blood and torture and angst. This is not pretty. It's actually pretty inherently disturbing.
--
Author's notes: I owe a debt to several writers, notably Dante, Milton, Blake, S. Lidell MacGregor Mathers, and Avetik Isahakyan, as well as to the larger, general Romantic movement. Many websites/poems/plays/books were used as references; if you're interested in a list, I'll be happy to provide one given plenty of time. *Grins*
The threefold path or ascent is typically found in Christian philosophy but originated with Dionysis. The three steps are as follows: purification (moving away from selfishness towards discipline and devotion), illumination (an opening of mind and spirit to the movement of God and the practice of His gifts), and union (belief becoming experience). For more information, I recommend Gordon Mursell's The Story of Christian Spirituality.
--
A special mention of thanks is due to nu_breed, without whom this would never have been finished. She has been cheerleader, midwife, and godmother to Threefold and my words will never be equal to my gratitude.
With utmost thanks to my beta-readers: veronamay, star_dancer54, and cormallen, and to my feedbackers: vorpalblades, sloane_m, estei, Baz, Maz, anyone who read any of the snippets or excerpts or thoughts and said 'Yes, please!' and everyone's brother. Too many to name; you know who you are.
You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough.
--Sheila Graham
Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.
--Laurence Sterne
Purification
[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three ]
Illumination
[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four ]
Union
[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four ]
[ Single-file download | Music download ]