naruhearts:

Like everyone’s already squee’d over, I’m LOVING how D/C are framed in a literal trashdump (and the hunter husband/romance-coded visual/personal narrative symmetry keeps up x x) wow Berens!!

I have some short semi-disorganized and kind of coherent thoughts aka an addition to this:

Dean finally disclosed his Michael-induced trauma/shared trauma of robbed agency re: Sam and Cas *claps loudly* then strongly stated he can gain true happiness by killing Michael, but of course, the other most important emotion-based stuff still hasn’t been FULLY communicated —> feelings and desires, bringing to mind “Jack brought you back because we needed you back” (Want vs Need), Singular vs Plural, choosing and picking the right words, and being emotionally transparent in every respect. Internal dialogue must be verbalized.

Yes, you can talk trauma all you want, and it’s HEALTHY, and it represents how far Dean Repressed Winchester has come in terms of communication within his interpersonal relationships *character development ever-continuous* but talking varies from understanding what you talk about. There comes a time where you gotta tie that trauma back to somebody significant in your inner relationship circle. Be honest and open via describing, without qualms, how losing them — seeing them die — affected you psychologically. Why were you affected to a certain degree? Why was your grief so distinct from your brother’s? What is the nature of your relationship? x What was the impetus behind your grief-induced nihilism? DOES CAS KNOW? (He does not, obviously. To Empty-affected Cas, Dean doesn’t know either.)

And Dean, poor Dean, currently shackled by toxic paternal John-figure Michael, still has yet to completely destroy his remaining fear, guilt, and negative self-process (exposed by dark!Kaia); he still has yet to “experience things, feelings, differently than he has before…maybe even for the first time”.

By contrast, can Cas — who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Love and…Love — bear to hide his deal with the Empty from Dean? For how long? When will he allow himself to be happy (his love reciprocated by Dean)? How much time remains before Michael returns to twist the knife in deeper? *14×12 alleged D/C “turning point” can possibly be linked to honest communication*

And again, happiness is also emerging as a core theme. What does happiness mean to TFW? Is it material? Personal? What CHOICES will they make to achieve it?

QUESTIONS. WORRIES. ANXIETIES.

These all call back to the wonderfully and deeply tangible grief arc of early S13, where Berens, after Glynn’s brilliant Emotion-filled 14×08, may perhaps convey in 14×09 that time is one of Dean and Cas’ key enemies…always has been.

Now that the Empty has swept across their emotional narratives again to cast a monolithic shadow of doom and gloom upon their future, the clock is ticking. Something’s actually gotta give, and emotional progress can no longer be stalled. Address the pretty big elephants in the room. Eliminate miscommunication.

I know, I totally sound redundant, but recall that since Eldritch Expositional Empty and Michael are both heavy-handed enemies narratively serving as Dean and Cas’ core Dark mirrors, then D/C’s characteristic victories (as individuals; as best friends and more (lovers)) are contingent on reaching emotional catharsis by SAYING AND ACTING. *waves back at @dimples-of-discontent etc*

In turn, the Bag of Emotions/(Emotional) Bag(gage) resurfaces as a stressful symbolic reminder that unloading such baggage is inevitable – a healthy interdependent relationship always entails open communication, especially so that one can move forward into the future.

If I don’t make like a smidge of sense, sorry, I’m almost succumbing to a food coma *slaps forehead*

Okay a) I love all of this and 2) Dean said he’d have to be the one to kill Michael to be truly happy and just yes! Let go of that ‘toxic paternal John-figure’ but maybe consider his question first and answer honestly “what do you want?” because john never let Dean chose anything for himself and by Chuck it’s time he finally did

naruhearts:

Like everyone’s already squee’d over, I’m LOVING how D/C are framed in a literal trashdump (and the hunter husband/romance-coded visual/personal narrative symmetry keeps up x x) wow Berens!!

I have some short semi-disorganized and kind of coherent thoughts aka an addition to this:

Dean finally disclosed his Michael-induced trauma/shared trauma of robbed agency re: Sam and Cas *claps loudly* then strongly stated he can gain true happiness by killing Michael, but of course, the other most important emotion-based stuff still hasn’t been FULLY communicated —> feelings and desires, bringing to mind “Jack brought you back because we needed you back” (Want vs Need), Singular vs Plural, choosing and picking the right words, and being emotionally transparent in every respect. Internal dialogue must be verbalized.

Yes, you can talk trauma all you want, and it’s HEALTHY, and it represents how far Dean Repressed Winchester has come in terms of communication within his interpersonal relationships *character development ever-continuous* but talking varies from understanding what you talk about. There comes a time where you gotta tie that trauma back to somebody significant in your inner relationship circle. Be honest and open via describing, without qualms, how losing them — seeing them die — affected you psychologically. Why were you affected to a certain degree? Why was your grief so distinct from your brother’s? What is the nature of your relationship? x What was the impetus behind your grief-induced nihilism? DOES CAS KNOW? (He does not, obviously. To Empty-affected Cas, Dean doesn’t know either.)

And Dean, poor Dean, currently shackled by toxic paternal John-figure Michael, still has yet to completely destroy his remaining fear, guilt, and negative self-process (exposed by dark!Kaia); he still has yet to “experience things, feelings, differently than he has before…maybe even for the first time”.

By contrast, can Cas — who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Love and…Love — bear to hide his deal with the Empty from Dean? For how long? When will he allow himself to be happy (his love reciprocated by Dean)? How much time remains before Michael returns to twist the knife in deeper? *14×12 alleged D/C “turning point” can possibly be linked to honest communication*

And again, happiness is also emerging as a core theme. What does happiness mean to TFW? Is it material? Personal? What CHOICES will they make to achieve it?

QUESTIONS. WORRIES. ANXIETIES.

These all call back to the wonderfully and deeply tangible grief arc of early S13, where Berens, after Glynn’s brilliant Emotion-filled 14×08, may perhaps convey in 14×09 that time is one of Dean and Cas’ key enemies…always has been.

Now that the Empty has swept across their emotional narratives again to cast a monolithic shadow of doom and gloom upon their future, the clock is ticking. Something’s actually gotta give, and emotional progress can no longer be stalled. Address the pretty big elephants in the room. Eliminate miscommunication.

I know, I totally sound redundant, but recall that since Eldritch Expositional Empty and Michael are both heavy-handed enemies narratively serving as Dean and Cas’ core Dark mirrors, then D/C’s characteristic victories (as individuals; as best friends and more (lovers)) are contingent on reaching emotional catharsis by SAYING AND ACTING. *waves back at @dimples-of-discontent etc*

In turn, the Bag of Emotions/(Emotional) Bag(gage) resurfaces as a stressful symbolic reminder that unloading such baggage is inevitable – a healthy interdependent relationship always entails open communication, especially so that one can move forward into the future.

If I don’t make like a smidge of sense, sorry, I’m almost succumbing to a food coma *slaps forehead*

Okay a) I love all of this and 2) Dean said he’d have to be the one to kill Michael to be truly happy and just yes! Let go of that ‘toxic paternal John-figure’ but maybe consider his question first and answer honestly “what do you want?” because john never let Dean chose anything for himself and by Chuck it’s time he finally did