If Dean's willing to bargain, but Sam's not

...Kinda where John was with Dean in the season opener, no? If Dean had known about that bargain in advance, he would have nixed it, or at least had a hissy fit over it. With Sam pining for the fjords, he has no say in what Dean does.

Weirdly enough, this means that for once Dean is in charge of the Winchester Family Circus -- not just the one making the decisions, but any steps he takes to get Sam back are really What Dean Wants. Like, I'm sure Sam, if polled, would prefer to live at this point; but Dean's the one who has everything invested in Sam's safety, and he's liable to go do something dramatic to get what he wants.

Which, we've seen Sam as unilateral bossypants, and John is the original die from which all future bossypants are struck, but seeing Dean step into those pants will be... interesting.

and if Sam isn't any more willing to live with his life being bought by another's sacrifice than Dean was in the beginning of the season, what options does that leave?

This presumes Dean actually cares what Sam would or wouldn't want him to do. I mentioned in someone's journal the other day: wow, wasn't the demon stupid! If he'd picked Dean as his general instead, with Dean's flexible ethics and single-minded attachment/weak point, he'd have a real weapon on his hands.

(And while I think it might be cool for such a switcheroo to occur in canon, I think it would also be an incredible WTF and unsuitable for the storyline.)

Beverly -- I opened a LJ account (morgana_st) so I could comment on all the SPN fanfiction I found myself devouring. I'm still kind of fumbling my way around there, so I don't have a LJ page set up yet, and I don't have the profile all filled out. That's all on my "to be done eventually" list. Right after "write more cover letters and send out more resumes, dammit!" But what I do need to do soon is friend all the Buffistas who've revealed their LJ names.

Morgana, I'm sophiap over in LJ land (it's based on my nom de fic).

Got it, Morgana, and thanks. I don't fic, and I rarely meta, and I've been uncharacteristically silent about RL of late. But I do comment on fic and meta and posts on RL wherever I find them, so.

Backflung, Anne.

If he'd picked Dean as his general instead, with Dean's flexible ethics and single-minded attachment/weak point, he'd have a real weapon on his hands.

I had wondered if all the Sam manipulation hasn't been just to get Dean to the point he'd do the demon's bidding to rescue his family, because yes, Dean would be a less hesitant and more effective tool. Was it you who called Dean John's killing dog, that Sam had inherited? Because that description has stuck with me, I think it's apt.

But now you've mentioned it, I'd really like to see Dean modeling the bossypants.

Was it you who called Dean John's killing dog, that Sam had inherited?

That sounds like something Hossgal might say. I don't really disagree, or not all the time; and the drama of the season ender for me will be seeing what he does when he's the one giving himself orders.

And, I thought it was our goal in life to see him more extensively without pants at all?

i'm still in denial that Sam's actually dead. the first time i watched that scene i thought he'd been stabbed much lower and didn't think it was really possible for it to be a life threatening injury. then i rewatched and saw that it was much higher than i had initially thought.

i'm pretty certain that Dean won't bat an eyelash striking a deal with a demon or whatever to keep Sam alive. he views Sam as his only reason for living in the first place. so with him gone, it's going to be an interesting Dean to see.

i'm tiggz on lj if anyone wants to add. i've been pretty quiet lately(especially fandom wise), but i'm sure with finales upon us that will change.

I had wondered if all the Sam manipulation hasn't been just to get Dean to the point he'd do the demon's bidding to rescue his family, because yes, Dean would be a less hesitant and more effective tool

That's what I've thought too -- plus the promo seems to show him with the Colt. I'm thinking that the YED could have manipulated things so that Dean has the weapon and thinks he has the upper hand but winds up doing something that the YED really put in motion.

Thanks, Beverly, Anne, and tiggy. I hope to be on LJ later tonight (after I finish this experiment I've got going -- I'm trying to bake a Mother's Day cake, and it involves chopping up maraschino cherries and has mini chocolate chips and such involved), and I'll look forward to adding everyone then. When I first joined, LJ would give me these sad messages, like "you have only made 1 friend." And I'd think, gee, thanks, make me feel like the lonely new kid at school. So having a new group of Buffista friends is just too cool for words. (And should get LJ off my back.)

Do you think that Wee Baby Sammy's eye are flashing yellow?

This was posted at TWOP and I'm not sure I'm seeing. (I should probably just rewatch.)

the first time i watched that scene i thought he'd been stabbed much lower and didn't think it was really possible for it to be a life threatening injury. then i rewatched and saw that it was much higher than i had initially thought.

Also professionally inserted and twisted for maximum damage.

Not that I've rewatched that scene many, many times or anything. Oh no.

It'll be interesting to see what Dean will do. I may have smart things to say later. Or not.