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Have you ever struggled whenever you've ventured inside a new fandom to find the really good stories?
With the Revival attracting a whole new generation of fans, I thought it would be a good idea for us to list the X-Files fanfictions that made our hearts beat faster, the ones that blew our minds, those stories we never forgot, the ones we've kept coming back to, or remember fondly because they were SO DAMN GREAT.
Our fandom is blessed with so many talented authors, but with more than 35,000 stories on Gossamer (and these numbers date from 2007), more than 4,000 on AO3 and around 8,000 on FF.net, plus God knows how many floating about on Tumblr, how can newcomers be expected to find the truly good stuff?
The rules are simple: list a maximum of ten fics you love the most followed by a short explanation of why you do.
Is it the plot? The writing? The characters? Something else?
You can list less, but not more.
No "everything by [insert author's name]" please, we're looking for specific stories here.
Let's rec!
ETA: you don't have to pick different stories if they have already been mentionned by someone else. Your list is *your* list.
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no subject
Date: 2015-10-05 03:01 pm (UTC)The Lost - Wintersong.
I...actually don't know what I love about these fics. Is it the portrayal of two people coming into their own? Is about the manner in which they hunt monsters? The family dynamic? The tantalizing WIP that makes up part 3, which I am not listing?
Games We Play - Wintersong. Summary - Mulder and Scully participate in an FBI wargame that raises interesting questions about what game is being played...and the identities of the players.
This story has it all. Humor, asskicking, unknown enemies, the internet, hurt/comfort. Romance, of a sort. Or perhaps just the promise of it...
The Four Corners Cycle - Spookey247. '
Our heroes in the post-apocalypse. This is not a comforting or comfortable story, but it's certainly a fascinating one. Mulder's new...spirituality is a huge adjustment for Scully, who I think suffers quite a bit throughout it.
Dropped Angels - shewhohides.
The fact that the author only appears to have written 3 stories just slays me. Dropped Angels gives us a vulnerable Krycek and a cruel, cruel Scully, a side of her we all know is there and so very rarely see.
Paracelsus - Prufrock's Love. Georgia Low Country: August, 1865
I'm not even sure this is my favorite by Pru, but I really love Mulder's character in this particular story. And if you haven't noticed, there are references to each previous story in Pru's big stories.
Paradise Lost -Bardsmaid (LoneThinker).
It kills me that Bardsmaid died before she could finish the final part of the Sanctuary series. I have the rough draft in my folder and honestly, haven't been able to bear looking at it all these years. In any case, I love the sympathy with which Bardsmaid writes her characters, Krycek in particular, and I love a certain...moment...that occurs that I can't talk about because spoilers. I like her vision of our heroes.
Being Crazy - Branwell.
The X-files are gone and Mulder is lost without them. Scully is trying to keep things together for both of them. In the middle of this crisis Scully receives a plea for help from her brother Bill. She and Mulder must carry out an unauthorized investigation of a crime to save Bill's family. At the same time a memoir falls into Mulder's hands that Scully's sister Melissa believed to be an account of a Scully family member's past life. Mulder's curiosity overcomes his sensible resolve to avoid reading the story of a dark, difficult life that he and Scully supposedly once shared. He doesn't want to believe in the authenticity of the document. Then events in the present go out of control and drive out every other consideration.
There's a prequel to this fic, Condemned to Repeat It, but I prefer Being Crazy. Two stories in which Scully suffers in ways that are not recoverable. Being Scully, of course she deals with them in her stoic, Scully-like manner, and Mulder is...flawed. There are family dynamics and really good plotting. So good. And yes, I cried reading each, for different reasons.
Night Giving Off Flames - JET.
Can't really go into details, save to say it's fabulous.
Okay, I;m going to have to review for my final two stories, and also see what other folks come up with...
Dang, OP, this is hard!
no subject
Date: 2015-10-05 04:00 pm (UTC)http://www.bardsmaid.org/XF/fic.htm (http://www.bardsmaid.org/XF/fic.htm)
It's Paradise Lost (part 1), Walking Through Fire (part 2) and Sanctuary (final, part 3). That series is complete and it's wonderful. I highly recommend it. I know the original post says not to just say "everything by this author," but in Bardsmaid's case, it's completely true. I love everything she's written and wish there could be more of it.
Unfortunately, she was working on the sequel to that trilogy (called Topaz) when she died, so that is what will never be completed. Which breaks my heart, because she had such a thorough mapping-out of what she wanted to do with the series as a whole and how she would connect it to the actual show's events. I once visited her over a Thanksgiving holiday and she showed me this amazing chart she'd made of the show's events and how they interconnected, and how they'd line up with parts of her Sanctuary series.
She was such a mentor and friend to me, and I mourn all the stories we won't get from her, especially with this new revival of the series. Every time I read something new about it, I wonder what she would have thought and what she would have created in response to all the new energy in the fandom. It's such a loss.
Anyway, thank you for all your other links - I don't think I've read them! :)
Night giving Off Flames
From:Re: Night giving Off Flames
From:no subject
Date: 2015-10-05 04:38 pm (UTC)As I was saying to
But if I can only name specific pieces, these are some of my favorites (by Bardsmaid and by other authors):
Overhead, The Stars (http://bardsmaid.org/XF/OTS.htm) by Bardsmaid ~ Two captivating characters: Fox Mulder and Alex Krycek. The weight of the world on each man's shoulders. A quiet yet surprising night in which the two rivals come to a momentary, unexpected truce in an intriguing (and humorous) way. As Bardsmaid herself notes, it involves "two very tired men, a language lesson, [and] a houseplant."
My added comment: Come on, you've got to be curious after reading that wacky description. *GRIN*
One of many great lines throughout, this one said in a snarky way: "Get a dictionary, Mulder."
Outpost (http://bardsmaid.org/XF/outpost.htm) by Bardsmaid ~ A fascinating snapshot of characters Dana Scully and Alex Krycek (and yes, mentions of Fox Mulder) during a moment's respite from fighting the alien occupation. This story captures the flavor of a dusty Star Wars-like "cantina" in a modern world slowly coming apart, with a poetic, contemplative quality that is pure Bardsmaid.
One of my favorite lines: "Her cheeks are flushed, her expression warm and relaxed; it lights the shadowed corner of the room like a quiet fire spied through a frosty window."
Lovely.
A Dream of Fools (http://spica.popullus.net/stories/DreamofFools.html) by Spica - A lengthy yet beautifully written piece about the dynamic yet dark relationship between Krycek and Scully. As the author writes: "Tiger and wolf, winter snow and cornflowers, wounds and desire: a war of wills." It's NC-17, so be forewarned, and it takes liberties with the possibility that Scully would ever get involved sexually with Alex Krycek (even just for one evening, as she does here), so if that's not your cup of tea, steer clear. But it's got some terrific insights into both the Krycek and Scully characters, and I love all her Russian backstory for Krycek. If you want to read something that's descriptively rich in detail, where words are like expressive poetry, it's a gorgeous, thought-provoking story. It's stuck with me all these years, ever since I read it. I think that's the mark of a good story. :)
Back in a sec. I yammer on too much for LiveJournal's character limits.
no subject
Date: 2015-10-05 04:39 pm (UTC)If you're looking for a well-written slash piece involving Mulder and Krycek, I recommend One Night in Bangkok (https://www.squidge.org/ratales/onenightinbangkokb.html) by Grimilkin. Here's the summary by the author: "One night in Bangkok and Mulder gets drunk, Krycek dances with a girl with blue hair, Stoli is used as a cold compress, envelopes are distributed, incriminating photographs are revealed, and Mulder's life is changed forever." Why I like it: it's funny, it's sexy, it's clever and it's a little dark. If I were ever to get into slash for this fandom, it's because of stories like this one.
I never thought I'd be a fan of Alex Krycek. When I watched the show back in the day, I wanted to slap him upside the head, he was such a bastard. But I never loved what they chose to do with his character in the final season; I thought it was a waste of a wonderful foil for Mulder and Scully, and through reading stories like ones by Bardsmaid or Spica, I've come to appreciate the potential of his character, the richness and dark levels that come from a guy who had to make hard, ugly choices and be pragmatic, which sometimes was in direct contrast with Mulder's more dreamy devotion to the unusual and uncovering "the truth," as Krycek's speech to Mulder in Red and the Black once showed. He could be a help or a hindrance, and I really love the writers who find the balance of his character - the dark ugliness and the potentially good.
In tribute to Krycek, I do have one more recommendation, called The House Of Hope Is Built On Ash (https://www.squidge.org/ratales/houseofhopeisbuiltonash.html) by an author named M. Sebasky. It's the short story of Marita Covarrubias and her attempt to say goodbye to Krycek after his death. "He died without dignity and that was not right. She knew he had lived with dignity, or tried to. It was integrity he lacked." It's a bit supernatural in style, a little "out there," but that's well in keeping with the tone of The X-Files, so... I like it.
Those are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy! And I look forward to others' recommendations. This could be a very fun revisiting of the best of XF fiction. ♥
no subject
Date: 2015-10-08 04:22 pm (UTC)Recs 1-5
Date: 2015-10-05 06:55 pm (UTC)Here goes. In no particular order:
The Other Man (http://http://keyofx.org/fiction_jess%20m-the%20other%20man.txt) - Jess M
"So you want to cut something out of my neck that may not even exist, then fly out to Idaho and break into a military base in order to rescue someone who may also not even exist?"
One of the most unsettling stories I've ever read. The author takes a "what if?" idea from the end of Deep Throat and follows it through to a horrifying conclusion that still makes sense within the context of the show. This is the kind of story that doesn't wrap up neatly, it has consequences. Regardless of how you view Scully's actions at the end, neither she nor Mulder will ever be the same for it.
The Second to Last 7-Eleven (http://archiveofourown.org/works/4580) - V. Salmone (Punk & Sab)
Scully wanted acknowledgment, she wanted fear. She wanted Charlie locked up and she wanted to go home.
While I'm sorry the show never introduced us to Charlie Scully, it does mean that he is a completely blank canvas-- something many fics have taken advantage of. I love this version of him that we glimpse: paranoid, dangerous, fragile. He's a serial arsonist who claims aliens made him do it, and Scully is trying to catch up to him before he gets himself killed. The ending, with the photograph, is a gut punch.
Strangers and the Strange Dead (http://archiveofourown.org/works/625190/chapters/1128881) - Kipler
They gave me their names and I tried to lay them on top of the dozens of other names I'd been given that day, but they slid down and away. So my brain catalogued them as the FBI agents: big, dark-haired, handsome man and slight, red-haired woman.
Told from an outside POV, this story plays beautifully with your expectations.
The Soft Embalmer (http://archiveofourown.org/works/1774645) - Scarlet
"For this to work, we have to learn to be monsters"
Like "The Other Man," this story plays on the idea of identity-- who are you, if not the sum of your memories, and what is that worth if someone can get into your head and manufacture new ones? For the folks working in this particular consortium lab, it's just another day at the office. The matter-of-fact approach to the horror of it all is what makes this story so unsettling and unforgettable.
Night Giving off Flames (http://jetfic.livejournal.com/3178.html#cutid1) - JET
"What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite."
This one induces ugly crying. Just like many of the stories I'm drawn to over and over again, Night Giving off Flames looks at the aftereffects of the kinds of experiments the consortium/aliens have conducted. Beautifully written and heart-wrenchingly sad, but with just enough hope to keep the end from being utterly crushing.
Recs 6-9
Date: 2015-10-05 07:10 pm (UTC)She sneaked a look at him while she read. He had headphones on and she tried to guess what he might be listening to - alternative rock? Alien whale song?
It's hard picking just one Syntax story, because I love her case fics. But this one is wonderfully ambitious, weaving seamlessly through Season 1 and the start of Season 2. I feel like she perfectly nailed the feeling of early-season Mulder and Scully, something that is not always easy to do considering the changes the characters underwent as the show went on.
Silver Cornet (http://archiveofourown.org/works/4535721) - Bonetree
"Does it have a special sound?" It came out less normal than she'd hoped.
"Oh, yes ma'am," Blue said softly. "A real special sound.That's why I keep it with me all the time."
Mulder and Scully are hostages on a train carrying a deadly pathogen. If that's not intense enough, they've also found themselves caught up in a battle between good and evil for the ultimate fate of humanity. This one moves at a fast pace (almost like a speeding train!), and might have benefitted from a bit more exposition, or at the very least some more detail about the Mercury virus, but I love that the author ties this story in to the evil that has "seen" Mulder at the end of The Calusari, as well as Scully's experiences during All Souls. The unsettling scene between Kever and Scully in the dining car has, for years, made me take specific notice of someone's hand position while carrying a drink.
Machines of Freedom (http://amalnahurriyeh.livejournal.com/34507.html) - Amal Nahurriyeh
"I'd love to stay and chat. But, sadly, I've got an expiration date. I've got to go catch my ride back home."
In general, I don't like kidfic. There are exceptions to everything, of course, and I've certainly read several wonderful stories in the genre. But I tend to like my Mulder and Scully living dangerously, chasing monsters, not necessarily domestic and happy. So kidfic is a harder sell for me. I'd initially resisted reading this one for a long time, in spite of the many recommendations, because of the kid angle (you mean Mulder and Scully have another kid? Who's not William?) I'm glad I finally gave in, because this story is worth it; a beautifully crafted sci-fi epic that addresses the impending alien invasion and the combined efforts of those trying to stop it. The revelation at the end is incredibly moving, and one I didn't see coming.
Soldiergirl (http://fluky.gossamer.org/display.php?Soldiergirl.Wintersong) - Wintersong
Wherever Mulder was going, she wasn't stumbling blindly along behind him. She would be right there beside him.
So many stories paint Bill as a villain, but to me he's always seemed like an overprotective big brother who's utterly convinced that the lunatic his sister has taken up with is going to wind up getting her hurt or killed. So yeah, he's kind of a jerk, but only because he doesn't really get it. In this story, Bill finally gets it. And the truth of it scares him half to death.
I'm not entirely sure yet what I want to name as my tenth rec. So I'm stopping here for now while I think on it.
Six Fic Pics
Date: 2015-10-06 12:59 am (UTC)America’s Games by Sarah Segretti. Author’s synopsis: “Assigned to the bioterrorism squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Scully tries to make sense of confusing evidence, her baffling partner and her uncertain place in a world where the X-Files don't matter.” Set just post-Talitha Cumi and Herrenvolk. Sort of a fish-out-of-water story with Scully temporarily assigned away from Mulder and the X-Files, though of course Mulder can’t stay away long. Scully tries to puzzle out the information from files they found at Strughold Mining, and Mulder wants to investigate ginseng farms in Canada. Both are frustrated by their lack of progress, plus there's an undercurrent that is making them snipe at each other. High tension story that fits the mid-series tone.
Ninety-nine and 44/100ths Done by Sarah Segretti. Set post-Brand X. This would make a good semi-humorous episode, though it also has its serious moments. Mulder and Scully are called to Cincinnati for a mysterious case and while there, get involved in another one. Two casefiles for the price of one, and Skinner and Krycek too. Scully muses on what it would be like to be a part of a community as she observes in Cincinnati, and Mulder watches Scully eat Graeter’s ice cream.
Cunegunde’s Restoration, or The Best of All Possible Worlds, Really by Livia Balaban. it’s one way Mulder’s abduction in S7 could have been resolved. Though it’s implausibly happy, I got a kick out of it and enjoyed it so much that I emailed the author halfway through reading it. Morris Fletcher makes an appearance and he is spot-on. The author’s intent was to write the best possible outcome to Mulder’s abduction, however unlikely it was to happen on the show. I found it a lot of fun to read, especially the epilogue.
Failure to Die by Kel. Narrated by Jerry Luskin, who works with Scully and Mulder on a case involving a hospital, some wise guys, and if Mulder has his way, ghosts. Scully gets to be a doctor. I enjoy a good third-party observer story, and this one has an interesting case file, too.
Beginner’s Guide To Tightrope Walking by Kel. Agent Luskin is back, retired from the FBI and running a detective agency with one other investigator: Fox Mulder. However, Agent Luskin isn’t sure that Mulder is investigating what he’s supposed to be investigating. This is post-series but pretty much ignores anything that happens after Mulder’s abduction.
Flesh and Blood by Prufrock. Very early partnership story. Mulder doesn’t want Scully involved in a case featuring real-life snuff films, but Skinner makes him take her. It’s profiler Mulder, and Dr. Scully, figuring out how to work with each other. I love the touches of pre-XF background the author provides, including Scully’s erstwhile boyfriend, Ethan Minette.
So many to choose from!
Date: 2015-10-06 04:31 pm (UTC)I've never visited the book club before because I knew I'd get sucked into reading All The Fic, but I love sharing recs so I couldn't resist. Thank you for the opportunity to give a shout-out to some of my faves.
I'll second (third, fourth) The Games We Play, Soldiergirl, and Cunegund's Restoration. I've read all of them multiple times because they're just so perfect. My other 7 (because that's all I can post! ~sob~):
Changes (http://blindfic.xphilefic.com/changes.txt) by Shirle. This one has Mulder!Torture, validation, a great OC, Scully comfort, and a marvelous profiler/bombing case. The interactions of the characters ring true and give us a look at Mulder being accepted and supported by his peers instead of the stereotype Spooky-Boy jokes.
Renovatio (http://maybeamanda.xffics.com/maybe_aa/renovatio.html) by Lisby and MaybeAmanda. The e-mail structure of the story works like a charm. A wonderful chance to see how Scully deals with having to stay home while Mulder's out taking risks. Fantastic characterizations and Mulder/Doggett interactions by proxy.
Kinesthesia (http://spooky247.mimicsmusings.com/kin_000.html) by Spookey247. M&S undercover at a traveling carnival. "Duke, this is Brenda, the greenest and meanest weight-guesser this show ever saw. Brenda, this is Duke. He's learning to jock the Thunder Bolt." Yes... yes he is. Splendid casefile.
Operation Clean House (http://colonizationhq.xphilefic.com/OperationCleanHouse.txt) by Sarah Segretti and Won & Lost (http://colonizationhq.xphilefic.com/won&lost.txt) by Branwell. Rather than post-col, the very beginning of colonization and what it means to M&S.
Happy Christmas, Your Arse by David Hearne (http://fluky.gossamer.org/author/10005-1.html). I love David's writing style and this is one of his fics that I read every year during the holidays. It answers the age-old question, "What does Mulder do for Christmas?"
Sieg und Verlust (http://akajake.net/siegundverlust.txt) by aka"Jake" gives us a look at what part Mulder might play in defeating colonization. In this story, he takes Doggett with him. Epic post-col and great characterizations.
Re: So many to choose from!
Date: 2015-10-08 04:25 pm (UTC)Re: So many to choose from!
From:Best fanfic
Date: 2015-10-06 06:51 pm (UTC)http://krycek.gossamer.org/display.php?
Smut. Yow.
http://www.thebasementoffice.com/
Just so lovely, so in character.
http://leylaslandofpurple.xffics.com/
The love. Just... the love.
http://krycek.gossamer.org/display.php?
More smut. I know, I know.
http://tooms.gossamer.org/display.php?
The humor, and Mulder POV.
http://tooms.gossamer.org/display.php?
It leaves me smiling.
http://krycek.gossamer.org/display.php?
Best. Erotica. Ever.
http://www.whispersofx.net/whispersofx/
Best. Long. Smut. Ever.
Is it wrong if I pick two of my own? I mean, seriously, I read what I like to write.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/3788173
My favorite non-NC-17 story of my own.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/3825070
My favorite NC-17 of my own.
I could easily add another dozen!
no subject
Date: 2015-10-06 10:56 pm (UTC)The Lost - Wintersong.
Games We Play - Wintersong
Ninety-nine and 44/100ths Done by Sarah Segretti
Vengeance by Juliettt
Goshen series by Bonetree
Deliverance From Evil by Char Chaffin and Tess
And Cupid Laughed by JHJ Armstrong
It's Me and Quis Custodiet by Lee Burwasser
The Fringe series by Michelle Kiefer
Parabiosis by Penumbra
Venturing over from Haven
Date: 2015-10-07 01:21 am (UTC)“The Tourists” by Discordia/DiscordantWords – Possibly my very favorite story ever. Beautifully written, with characterization and dialogue that fits the characters…or fits the characters as I would expect them to be post-December 22, 2012 when colonization didn’t occur. Sentimental and nostalgic, without being too much of either, this story is exactly how I would like to picture Mulder and Scully at that point in time. I doubt I’ll ever get tired of reading this.
“Parabiosis” by Penumbra - Because it’s Parabiosis? But really, this makes my list because it’s long, it’s epic, and it’s a behind-the-scenes look at season seven, and all the possible scenes viewers were deprived of. The writing style is unique and I enjoy it.
“Home, Home” by onpaperfirst - Because I can’t say “everything by onpaperfirst”? But also because she nails the banter (“Recidivist offenders are often bold”) and because Mulder and Scully contemplate a new career as turkey shoot ringers.
“Across the Rubicon” by Anne Haynes – I enjoy post-“all things” stories and I enjoy stakeout stories, so…
“Jasper’s Last Thought” by MD1016 – I remember reading this when it was newly published and was so taken by it that I read it repeatedly that first week. An interesting premise and a story that has stuck with me all these years.
“The Dreaming Sea” by Revely – A sweet casefile. I love the tone and the writing and the charm of the setting. Another story that has long been one of my favorites.
“The Ineffable Aura of Planet Spooky” by sixpences (or bravenewcentury on Gossamer) – What can I say, I’m a sucker for stories that take place in the aftermath of “all things.” I’m also a sucker for subtle stories offering glimpses of the mundane happenings in the day to day life of Mulder and Scully; this story is both.
“Nonessential Personnel” by Lara Means – Lighthearted and sweet, reading this story has almost become a tradition of mine (is that weird?). I’m a teacher, and I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve celebrated the first snow day of the year by re-reading this gem.
“Tinfoil” by Loch Ness – This is a really old one, but also sort of a tradition. I look forward to re-reading this one during the “Holiday Fic of the Day” countdown at Haven.
“20” by syntax6 – It spans twenty years! Enjoyed reading this as it was posted “year” by “year” and have reread it several times since. I enjoy the little glimpses of M&S, and how the different chapters capture their changes over time.
no subject
Date: 2015-10-07 06:04 pm (UTC)1)Cruise by Partous, Madeleine
It was one of these stories that made me stay up all night to read. It was so creepy that I had to leave the computer (yes. No notebook back in the days....) to clear my thoughts with a cup of coffee. And I am still in love with the story
2)Where there's a will by andrea
Such a sweet and romantic story. I remember that I started rereading the moment I finished this . Sigh. Great characterization.
3)Never by Allison Kinney
Oh I love it. Short skirt. Beer. Mulders hand reaching for her.... ok. That's NC17, of course.
4)Beyond Fragile by Leyla Harrison
OmG. This was so heartbreaking. I cried so hard. Leyla was such a talented writer. I should go to re-read this story.
5) Comfortably Numb by Paige Caldwell
Because I know what Paige was writing about. It was good to read. Another side of Scully. Breaking my heart.
6) Words Series by Karen Rasch
As you can see I'm into fanfiction since the beginning. And this one was always on my mind back then. Wonderfully written.
7) His and Hers by beduini
Because I am such a shipper and this post- all things piece melted my heart
8)Butterflies All Tied Up by Bugs
I was drawn into this plot and couldn't stop reading
9) Bite Size Love by Malibu Sunset
I just love her stories.
10)More than a river by flynn
Back in the days I had a printed copy of this fanfiction in my suitcase every time I had to leave town. I still own this copy and every time I come across it I have to smile because of all the memories
Oh. Ten. Sigh.
Never
Date: 2015-10-11 08:07 pm (UTC)Faves - part 1 of ?
Date: 2015-10-07 08:12 pm (UTC)But then how can I set one of those fics beside a fic like Arizona Highways, and choose the former? How can the tiny, lovely fragment outweigh the masterfully executed behemoth? Ultimately, in compiling this list, I tended towards choosing fics for the extent of their ambition, for how masterfully they achieved that ambition, and for the impact they had on fandom. Do I love Arizona Highways more than I love Without Speaking, Confess? I don't know. Do I admire it more? I don't know. But I had to impose some kind of value system on my choices. It would have been impossible to choose, otherwise.
Also, I limited myself to choosing only one fic (or series) by each author, to ensure variety.
My Ten Favorites (in no particular order, except that Parabiosis is first):
Parabiosis by Penumbra // For me, nothing beats Penumbra's deft, intelligent characterizations or her gorgeously poetic prose. I read this fic early on in my time as an X-Phile, and to a large extent I think her characterizations did a lot to shape who the characters were in my mind for the next five years. I stayed up all night reading this fic, looking up words in the dictionary as I went along, and rereading every third paragraph because I literally couldn't believe how good it was. At the risk of being over-dramatic, Parabiosis is the most intense, profoundly moving reading experience I've ever had, no contest.
Small Lives Awake by Jesemie's Evil Twin // Picking a favorite of JET's work is incredibly hard, and part of me balks at choosing one that is almost entirely domestic/relationship based, with very little of the actual X-Files in it. But Small Lives Awake simply cannot be denied. It's just...just wonderful, it's so lovely, such a sweet, tender, nuanced, luxurious joy of a story.
Universal Invariants by Syntax6 // Syntax6's writing has it all, and nowhere is that more true than in Universal Invariants. If someone told me there was a long, complex X-Files fic set in S1 & 2, which nails Mulder and Scully's early-days dynamic, sizzles with UST, aches with pent up emotion, thrills and chills you with multiple threads of creepy and sinister plot, weaves gracefully through the framework of S1 & 2 episodes, and has the most perfectly placed, perfectly written sex scene imaginable, I'd be like, "I'll believe it when I read it, because this sounds like the kind of fic that only exists in one's fantasy of what a fic could be." And then I would read Universal Invariants and have to admit that Syntax6 has written a fic that is better than even the perfect, unformed fantasy fic of my imagination. I think it's fair to say that while Penumbra's M&S shaped my headcanon of the characters mostly from the inside out, Syntax6's M&S shaped my headcanon of the characters from the outside in. They have the incisive strength and capability I look for in all my favorite characters. They're professionals, they're bamfs, and their smart about it.
Faves - part 2 of ?
Date: 2015-10-07 08:14 pm (UTC)Sokol (et al) by Khyber // I find it very, very difficult to choose just one of Khyber's fics to call my favorite. I love most of his fics, for a handful of qualities they all share, as well as a few things that are specific to each one. I love Khyber's writing for the strong, complex characterizations of M&S as well as the secondary characters. I also love his writing for its complicated brand of realism. Khyber's stories manage to be incredibly grim, even brutal, without being overly cynical. The ideals of the characters always remain an important part of who they are: their desire to do good, to preserve what is vulnerable, to fight for justice and safety and truth and clarity. To be strong in their actions regardless of how vulnerable and flawed they feel.
I find it particularly hard to choose between the Sokol 'verse and KvsS7 (both of which I insist can be chosen as single works, even though technically the fics in them are quite separate). I adore KvsS7, and in particular The Fall of Our Summer is one of those fics that will remain seared into my brain for a long time to come. But I have to choose the Sokol 'verse as my favorite of Khybers fics, if only because I think the writing is stronger. Perhaps Sokol is slightly less conceptually complex than KvsS7, which is such a dense, knotty conceptual tangle, but certainly Sokol is more consistently engrossing. The narrative is a smoother, cleaner fabric.
Life During Wartime by Cofax, Fialka, Maria Nicole, and Marasmus // I admire LDW enormously, but in truth, this fic is almost on my list as a matter of principle. Because, IMO, it's quite far out in front as the best colonization fic there is. LDW sets the standard. It's possibly the only colonization fic that deals carefully and realistically with colonization, without skipping major details or huge chunks of time, and without being either noir or decidedly optimistic. What it does is capture the scope of colonization, in a balanced, objective way, with M&S at the center.
Arizona Highways by Fialka // Dear, dear Arizona Highways. I loved you, I'm sure of it, but I don't really remember you. I just remember this fic being another fic that has it all. Strong, smart, attractive M&S characterizations, but also vulnerable and at times prickly M&S characterizations. A complex, gripping plot (which I don't remember now, but which I'm quite sure I thought was awesome at the time). Lots of UST and lots of angst between M&S, but also an M&S who are mature, professional people who admirably fight their way through the crises they're dealt. IIRC, the eventual, final sex scene in this fic didn't quite do it for me, but apart from that I'm pretty sure I loved almost everything. The one thing I remember perfectly is Mulder having to buy shoes for Scully because something catastrophic had happened and all her clothes were toast. And he comes back with these tiny tennis shoes that practically fit on his outstretched hand, and he just cannot believe that Scully, who is so strong and tough and capable, has such tiny feet. I've always loved that.
Faves - part 3 of 3
Date: 2015-10-07 08:16 pm (UTC)The Best Lies by Julie Fortune // The final two of my faves feel a little out of place, just because they're such relatively small fics, next to the previous fandom giants. I'm also a bit unsure about choosing The Best Lies over Fata Morgana as my favorite of Julie Fortune's fics, given that the latter is almost certainly the stronger-written and more substantial story. But I'm choosing The Best Lies, because it's so deliciously vivid in my mind. It lacks the length and complexity to be an episode, yet it has all the narrative punch to be a movie. Plus, the last scene is perfect, and beautifully captures the kind of painful, almost horrible UST I'm such a fan of - the complexity of Mulder and Scully's feelings for each other, and their feelings about themselves, and their interdependency which borders on unhealthy but also keeps them going.
On a separate note, I think of Julie Fortune as something of a stylistic sibling to Syntax6. Her fics are never as long and never as complex, but otherwise they're quite similar: strong, gripping plots; vivid, cinematographic prose; strong, capable M&S characterizations; and UST that's often more painful than it is sweet.
Waiting by Kipler // The shortest and least well known of my favorites, Waiting is an eerie Post-Gethsemane fic that was actually written during the S4 hiatus (rather than long after the fact), which is something I love about it. Waiting just...I read it and it stunned me. It's spare, it's vivid, it's creepy, and it's fascinating. I love the way the fic plays with the perception of time and of reality. I love that despite themes of death and grief and dying, the fic's aim is evidently to unnerve you and make you think, rather than to make you cry. And I really love Scully's characterization. First person POV is hard to pull off in fanfic, but in Waiting, Scully's POV is spot on, and a big part of the strength of the fic.
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Date: 2015-10-08 04:27 pm (UTC)Like I said, OP, choosing is so hard!!!
Recs
Date: 2015-10-12 02:05 am (UTC)By luck I finally ran across it: Going Nowhere by Nicole Perry. It is a long adventure with M & S on the run from the consortium, written early on - like after One Breath, before we had to deal with cancer and stuff like that. The action kept me on the edge of my seat, I could not put it down as I plowed my way through the series. And it has the hottest sex scenes I ever read. Lets just say that if I still remembered how much I loved this particular story, roughly 15 years since the last time I read it, it's pretty amazing. BUT - just a heads up - it is unfinished. It is still worth the read.
The other thing I found in my search was Jill Selby, specifically Rags. It was such a joy to run across a rec for her Aspirations of Closure, which led me to her site, only on the Wayback Machine since she didn't put her stuff on Goassamer. Since it had been so long I couldn't remember her name exactly, but it was such a joy to read her work again. I also recall her being a super nice person who helped me out by proofing some of my work as I tentatively set free a few fan fics of my own.
Other oldies but goodies:
The Sin Eater by Jane Mortimer
All the Mulders by Alloway
No Greater Love by Karen Rasch
Back in the day I felt badly burned by Season 9, and I dropped away from the XF universe, but the revival sucked me back in, and the creativity of fan fic is still one of my favorite things about XF. Thank you for throwing this 'book club' together and to all who share recs, I have so much reading to do, and I am loving it.
Favorite Fics
Date: 2015-10-13 03:53 am (UTC)1. Secret World http://wwwu.keyofx.org/fiction_bonetree-
If Chris Carter wants to make a 3rd movie, he should read this fic. This story has everything: plot, characterization, and fleshed-out supporting characters. Also I love how Mulder acts when he isn’t allowed to be around Scully.
2. The Eleventh Hour http://www.keyofx.org/fiction_Rachel%
I’m referring to the beginning of this story, when Mulder goes mental. It gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. I like how the author describes the events that transpired in a non-linear way, slipping from Mulder explaining the event itself to his present-day situation. The rest of the story is good, lots of sex, but I don’t really like AU stories.
3. Third Wish. http://x-files.bytewright.com/arcTh/
Just a smut-fest. Mulder basically goes caveman on Scully.
4. One Last Push. http://web.archive.org/web/
Again, sex, sex, sex.
5. In the Ruins http://fluky.gossamer.org/display.php?
6. After Midnight. http://www.annex-files.com/annex/
Smut again. Along with a well-developped story that fills in the gaps between episodes and imagines a different season 7 finale. A long read, but well-written and worth it!
7. A Show of Strength. http://www.keyofx.org/
This story loses momentum in some places, but the overall plot is clever.
8. Move the Body Over. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9273367/1/
Sex.
9. And She Cried https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7062870/1/
http://whispersofx.net/whispersofx/3e-
10. The Ghost of You. http://web.archive.org/web/
Clever story. Great X-file as well.
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Date: 2015-10-14 02:50 am (UTC)Blinded by the White Light by Dashakay. Love this story, I read it close to when she posted it and it's been one of my favourites ever since. It's a post-col that I would ordinarily find too neat and tidy, but it's got such a nice but sad happy ending. She did write a prequel, but I wish so much for a good plotty sequel where M&S investigate their new world.
Parabiosis by Penumbra. Others have recommended it for good reason. I love LOVE the Lone Gunmen's party. I think that's my favourite scene in one of my favourite fics.
Mobius by LA Ward. This is close to my number one favourite. It takes place after Mulder disappears in S7. I wish it had been an episode. Heartbreaking but lovely, I didn't want it to end.
Fata Morgana by Julie Fortune. I can never decide which of hers I like the best, but this one is definitely in my top also. Another amazingly creative x-file, done so well by the author. Can't say enough good things.
Theory and Practice by Nascent. An excellent story set between Demons and Gethsemane in which Mulder and Scully finally deal with their feelings around Scully's illness. This one is part of my own personal canon.
Antidote by Karen Rasch and Rachel Howard. Another plotty x-file (sensing a pattern here!) with some great sex to go with. I do have some problems with a few aspects of this story, but it's atmospheric and overall excellent.
Bone of Contention by Kel and Michell Kiefer. Another X-file, with some romance as well. Still in awe of how creative some of these authors are.
The Flexible Concept of Tomorrow by Finisterre. I might love this more because of my love for Donna from Dr. Who, but this story is sweet, funny and sad. It really captures Mulder and (for those of you who know her), Donna. My other favourite red head.
Ceremony by Darwin. A bit smutty with less plot. But it really captures the M&S connection and it's nice to see them able to enjoy each other without inhibition. i'd like to think of it as Canon :)
Pillar of Salt by Nascent. I tried to avoid repeating authors, but this one is also a favourite. Mulder takes Scully somewhere to assist him in having a medical procedure to provide closure regarding Samantha… without explaining exactly what it is he wants to do. It so well captures their dynamic, I have to say it reads like Canon.
So easy to pick ten, and I could easily pick ten more. Honestly so much of the good work out there is better quality than many episodes. I hope CC read some fanfic before tackling the revival.
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Date: 2015-10-14 02:20 pm (UTC)IOLOKUS is, I think, an acknowledged champion in the area of edgy, profane, non-canonical, and really dirty. It was a multiple-volume undertaking: an examination of a badly damaged Scully who can't stop fucking Mulder but can't become his girlfriend. Also, infanticide, incest, rape, courtroom theatrics, Philadelphia references, multiple Mulders, and a bona fide happy ending. This is a love-hate deal, but so many have admired it that it's impossible to ignore. A magnificent scramble of brutal behavior, funny stuff, and a kid called Mooselet that wins cutest-baby prize every time the question arises. C'mon: you know who wrote it.
SOKOL is IMO the masterpiece of the mysterious Khyber: a damn fine writer, a male romantic with many obvious areas of expertise beyond writing. Mulder and Scully are drawn into a hideous mind-invasion case that I immediately nailed as a Lovecraft borrowing. They go on the run, professionally and seriously, and endure mind-tricks that barely leave them breathing and loving. Gorgeous prose: important. Must reread.
OYSTER by Jordan is an anomaly; not many seem aware of it. In delicate, elusive narrative, Mulder is taken prisoner by an observing alien being who draws him into a subsidiary reality. Unlike weaker beings, Mulder copes. It takes strong medicine to bring him back into our world, and let's just say that involves the most original sex scene in this genre. One of. The atmosphere is magical and the subtleties are amazing. I'm a good-prose whore.
UNIVERSAL INVARIANTS, which seems to be most people's favorite of the many excellent things Syntax6 has given us. There's a unique narrative intensity to it, romantically speaking, and it is skillfully consistent to canon. Also, Ethan has a major part and he's an okay guy.
FATHOMS FIVE is the best of Penumbra, a rich and challenging examination of how troublesome it is to have eternal live. Starting with a brutal act, it shifts to the cherished though vulnerable family existence Mulder and Scully have established with their adult son. A strong sense of home and friendship and apprehension of the future. Original characters; philosophical depths. The fragile line between being with and being left.
THE OTHER MAN is a story Jess Mabe wrote when she was disgusted with Chris Carter. Without spoilage, I must explain that Mulder is very ready to love Scully until a bad discovery is made. There is a level of darkness that negates their relationship, and is summed up in the terrible fanfic phrase: "you're not really my type." As I have just convinced you not to risk your heart on this--though it's totally worth it--please allow me to mention BEGINNING, about their beginning: raucous fun and sexy and released at the same time! (I know, privilege abuse.)
Maybe I should continue on next rock. I do go on.
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Date: 2015-10-14 03:12 pm (UTC)DANCE by Dith is an oldy but a real goody, as it not only looks at the pre-tension weeks of the Ship but was written when that was canon reality. Mulder heads off for some R&R with old friends in Philadelphia, and Scully later follows on a whim. They wander toward each other through the streets of hippy Philly, encountering a bisexual lady who takes a glance at Scully and puts Mulder in his place for objecting. And there's a Wicca coven and an evil presence in a brownstone basement which embroils M in a serious downer from which S releases him with her redheaded normality. This fic is almost lost, but I find its youthfulness endearing and enjoyable so long as one doesn't raise the question of unused cell phones. Also, I traveled those mean streets, which weren't really so mean.
I warned that I would break the rule for Kel, as she is sooo good: humorous and tragic on order, which indicates soul. The most perfectly constructed comic vignette I've ever read--including pro fiction--is RICOCHET, a Mulder/Langley co-conspirator imagining in which L provides the means for M to perform the FBI tourist weapons demonstration, a sure and tightly guarded attractor of female humans in heat. While L joins the audience to try his beta-male luck, Scully enters, incensed! So, so funny in such a neat package. Contrast this with HOLLOW DAY, in which the Mulder family babysitter ponders confusing memories. A painful picture of manipulated children who are deprived of an important piece of their lives. The title is, IMO, a perfect double pun. Or maybe triple.
I'm so glad Finisterre's THE FLEXIBLE CONCEPT OF TOMORROW has been mentioned. This is a fabulous crossover (and how many are there?) An aged (and presumably widowed) Mulder is taken adventuring by a redheaded lady of Dr. Who fame, Donna Noble. Their story flickers back and forth in time, and Mulder is given the heart-pinching opportunity to see Scully again as a young Quantico graduate. Mulder must die as we all must, theoretically sooner, but--given the power of the Tardis--theory means little.
At least two others of my favorites have been mentioned, so I'll go for one that hasn't: HALF A WORLD AWAY by Jane St. Clair. The very idea of a Scully/Krycek pairing will drive off many, but this complex and maturely written story manages to humanize a warped individual and make the roughest and least likely sex meaningful. Rescued from unexplained evil men by Krycek for unexplained reasons, Scully is confined with her captor long enough to establish a psychic link by which they share painful dreams. This forced intimacy--a brilliant writer's idea--provides an understanding between the two that justifies a relationship of sorts, if not a lasting one. There are flaws, but this is nevertheless a wonderful piece of work.
Shutting up now. Thanks for your patience and for the many suggestions of fics I've not read or--if so--have forgotten.
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Date: 2015-10-14 11:21 pm (UTC)Technically still a WIP, but parts I and II are complete, and III is supposedly getting posted in the near future. This is a incredible colonization story told from William's point of view and it's spectacularly well done. I can read it over and over which is unusual for me. I'm dying to discuss it for book club, though I know wendalah has a thing about WIPs. Heading to the nom post anyway.. maybe we can do one part at a time. ;)
2. Fathoms Five by penumbra
Oh my heart.
3. 20 by syntax6
20 years of Mulder and Scully. Syntax6's beautiful writing. What more is there to say?
4. Six Times Someone Learns About William by bugsfic
Fill in the blanks for everything I needed to see from the William arc. Lovely.
5. The Birthday Stories by syntax6
One of the first fanfics I ever read and it has stuck with me. Canon in both content and tone, if that's possible. Syntax6 just gets these characters and these birthday snippets are perfect.
6. Home, Home by onpaperfirst
Adorable. Sad. Hilarious. The language is perfect and this is how I want to imagine them pre-IWTB.
7. Machines of Freedom by Amal Nahurriyeh
Amazing in so many ways. The ending is perfect.
8. Parabiosis by penumbra
Yup.
9. Ghosts Series by Anjou
Three stories in a post-The Truth AU that deal with Mulder and Scully on the run with William and how they eventually make a life for themselves. I have small children and find this story totally relatable despite the visions of dead people and other typical post-The Truth x-files danger. Ha.
10. A Winter's Tale by Anjou
I'm not exactly sure why I love this story so much, because honestly it goes a little off course somewhere in part two and I can't read that part, but the first part left such a mark that I had to include it anyway. I love the way this story deals with all the possibilities that could have been within the Emily arc. And I love that there are so many tropes that this piece could be used to make a statement about what embodies much of XF fanfic, haha.
And of course Arizona Highways, Iolokus, and Life During Wartime are classics that can't be left out of a rec post. There are so many more that I love, but this will have to do for now. Also, I apologize profusely for not having linked my stories, which I feel terrible about, but I have a nursing baby in my arms and this comment has already taken far too much time. (If anyone is looking for a link I'd be happy to track it down for you. Most have been discussed here at the book club.)
I love love love this post and can't wait to read some of the other recs.
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Date: 2015-10-15 04:18 am (UTC)1. Miracle by Tesla. http://fluky.gossamer.org/display.php?
the casefile is intriguing and the UST is so sexy.
2. Song of Experience/Song of Innocence by Christy http://fluky.gossamer.org/display.php?
I love this novel and the sequel so much. It's basically what might have happened if Scully had kept Will and when Mulder comes back 6 or 7 years later.
3. I have known a boy named Fox and a Man named Mulder by Penny Daza http://fluky.gossamer.org/display.php?
one of the strangest and most beautiful pieces. I like it because it's unlike anything I've ever read (and I've read a LOT of fic) and is a new angle to their relationship.
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Date: 2015-10-19 08:31 pm (UTC)1. "Fugue" by
2. "The Sin Eater" by Jane Mortimer. This one has gorgeous writing, time travel, and another doomed ship.
3. "The Beginner's Guide to Tight-Rope Walking" by Kel. This has my favorite original character, a fix-it for a dropped 1013 plotline, humor, angst, dramatic tension, and did I mention it's a love story? Kel really can do it all.
4. Arizona Highways" by
5. "Instructions" by
Since I get five more, I'll be back.
EDITED TO ADD:
6. Blinded by White Light by Dashakay. It's another amnesia fic, post-colonization. This one just hits me where I live. I break down in tears every time I reread it.
7. This House is Burning by
8. Above Rubies by Rachel Howard. The MSR is nicely integrated into this excellent thriller. Hot, short sex scenes. (I only like short sex scenes.)
9. Bait and Switch by
10. The 13th Sign by prufrock's love. An AU for season nine. Mulder POV. It's romantic and sad and funny, too, in places. I must reread it once a year at least. Another story about loss and love and identity.
There are so many stories I love that choosing ten was nearly impossible.
13th Sign <3
Date: 2015-11-09 12:45 pm (UTC)Re: 13th Sign <3
From:Well, here are mine.
Date: 2015-10-26 10:51 am (UTC)Parabiosis - Penumbra. Takes season 7 and weaves more of M&S's evolving relationship into it. Much like was said here before, this was the most mind-blowing reading experience of my life. The closest most-engaging text I've read was Jonathan Coe - House of Sleep. But Penumbra's work is so much more than that. It grabs you by the heart and squeezes. It makes you laugh, think, cry and wonder. There's even a sub-plot: a casefile involving a mummy. She had a few more amazing pieces, but this is THE one. I think she's the one who brought me back to XF fandom, after all those years; though the actual series pales in comparison to this masterpiece. She's my favorite writer, not just in fanfic.
Best lies - Julie Fortune. Mulder faces a serial killer he locked up again. Fortune was exposed long ago as a professional writer, and you can tell by the quality of her work. While this casefile isn't really an X-File per-se (nothing supernatural about it), it's a very well constructed short story. The suspense, the atmosphere and the characterization reminds of me Thomas Harris' Silence of The Lambs. And the UST bittersweet ending is absolutely beautiful and heartfelt.
Ceremony - Darwin. Your first thought might be, eww, sex in your period, gross, painful, awkward. I was surprised too. Ignore a plot hole or two (location inconsistency) and focus on the beautiful prose, yummy erotica and accurate characterization. And her ability to find joy within all that angst too, I guess.
Point of Origin - Rachel Howard. She has better stories, I know now (see Antidote), but this one I read when I was 16 and in high school, so I have a soft spot for it. It's an intriguing alternative storyline that resolves Scully's cancer in different way than the series. I remember printing this and keeping a copy under my pillow. It was a huge turn-on for a UST story.
Universal Invariants - Syntax6. What if M&S consummated their passion early on - but Scully loses the memory due to her abduction? Syntax6 explores that option, and I won't spoiler it for you. I never got around to reading her seriously till last week, when she was mentioned here, and this story was so enjoyable to read that it made it straight into my list. Look for the sequel too. They're long but never tedious. I liked how she added Scully's boyfriend, Ethan, to season 1-2 without breaking my suspension of disbelief for a moment, or betraying the characters' true nature. Her descriptions of sex are much more realistic than any fanfic I've ever read.
Bridge - Maria Nicole. Excellent dialogues, intelligent humor. Reminds me of Connie Willis (especially "The Bellwhether"). I like the way she plays with the whole mind-reading thing, I'm surprised more writers haven't - our OTP sharing each other's most intimate thoughts, so much potential there. Probably the only MS friendship story I like.
Khyber - Reach. Angsty, thought-provoking conspiracy-flavored casefile. I read somewhere that Khyber was a male. I'm not sure if it's true, but if so - his ability to describe Scully's thoughts and feelings so well on paper is impressive.
Malibu Sunset - All That is Dark And Bright. Malibu writes feel-good, heart-warming, happy-ending stories. There's always great dialogues and a happy family. While I'm not a fan of the genre itself, it's excellently written, funny and mostly true to the characters. Great escapism, especially after the horrific things CC did to M&S on later seasons. Even if this isn't your thing, good writing is good writing.
Ambress - The Leap and its sequel, Landfall. Fun and smut with happy ending, if you can accept the story build. You will never be able to look in your co-workers' eyes after you sneeze.
Starbuck - Agents of Change: Return from Antarctica - suspected to be a Penumbra lost story. It fills in the gaps in FTF. The research and scientific accuracy is inspiring. Hardly anyone ever read it and it's not indexed on Google. Try googling "zuffy x-files archive".
Re: Well, here are mine.
Date: 2015-11-06 03:00 pm (UTC)I also like "Reach" (especially the ending) but its sequel, "Sokol," is mind-blowing.
I read somewhere that Khyber was a male. I'm not sure if it's true, but if so - his ability to describe Scully's thoughts and feelings so well on paper is impressive.
I love his writing, too. I have it on good authority that Khyber is a man. Writers of all sexes can have great imagination and profound insight into human nature, don't you think?
If you like, I'll add you to the community roster so that your comments don't have to be unscreened.
A cursory look around the web leads me to think that "Agents of Change: Return From Antarctica" might well have been written by Penumbra. Very early Penumbra, I'd say. From the title, it sounds like she'd planned a series, too.
Re: Well, here are mine.
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2015-11-10 03:25 pm (UTC) - Expandno subject
Date: 2015-11-05 10:03 am (UTC)2) Inhaling the Different Dawn, aloysia virgata. This was my favorite of the iwtb-era fics. It set the right tone and hits all the right notes, I think. Even more poignant now in light of revival speculation.
3) Brought to you by the letter x, stablergirl. I don't even know how I found this one. It's an Office(US)/XF crossover set at the height of UST for both series. It is possibly my favorite fic of ANY fandom. It is the fluffiest, most hilarious casefile. Mulder and Scully's talking heads are perfection. The romances are sweet. It's a little rough around the edges but it just puts a giant smile on my face whenever I read it. I come back to it again and again. It's archived here: http://mtt.just-once.net/fanfiction/
4) Satellites, tree. I really love this little Firefly/XF crossover. It's so pretty and so sad. It's always stood out to me.
5) Expiation, johnie. This is a pwp I've always liked. It's hot. Post-Never Again.
no subject
Date: 2015-11-09 02:52 pm (UTC)