xf_book_club | Story 3: "Hard as Hell" by Torch

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Story 3: "Hard as Hell" by Torch

This week's story was nominated by

andrea_deer.

"Hard as Hell" by Torch

Rating: NC-17 [this is my own estimate and not the author's]
Pairing: Mulder/Krycek

Let us know what you think; let the author know what you think; and please, let us know your suggestions for next time.

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Well, the obligatory disclaimer is that I don't usually like slash. I did like this story, though; most of it, anyway. As

andrea_deer said when she nominated it, it is certainly a refreshing change from the idea of Krycek as the big bad seducer. This was a Krycek with whom I could actually (God forbid!) empathize with a little bit... a Krycek who wasn't always cool, wasn't always assured, and wasn't always in control. This version of him interests me a lot more than the others that I've seen, either in fics or onscreen.

The story's portrayal of Mulder also rang true for me, or at least I was willing to accept Krycek's take on him. It does a nice job of building up characterization points.

I wonder if he had to take a pay cut when he stopped being division head, and if he did, how did he dress back then, for God's sake? No wonder people think he's arrogant, what with that manner and those suits. I thought so, too, before I got a glimpse of what goes on inside his mind.

There is even some good humor in there, like this little snippet...

If Mulder started to take me into his confidence, my boss might forgive me for overlooking his orders. On the other hand, maybe it meant that he was getting suspicious and was planning to pry some information out of me, using the pizza as an interrogation tool. Tell me all you know, or I will stuff an anchovy up your nostril!

"Sure," I said, hoping I hadn't been silent too long. "No anchovies, though."

Nerves! Awkwardness! This part of the story manages to be both funny and somehow touching. It seems to me that people on first dates often feel like this, even if they belong to the same sexual orientation as their partner, and even if they actually fancy them. Maybe women do this more than men, trying to gauge their partners and react in the right way. In any case, I was definitely with Krycek here...

I have no idea who won. Hell, I have no idea who played. There was so much else to keep track of. Pizza, Coke, inventory of the apartment, Mulder. Mostly I was wondering how I would have been reacting if I'd been who I said I was. Would I be more shy, or more chatty? Would I actually like Budweiser? Would I think that this was a natural development, or would I ask Mulder what was up and if he was over his hostility? Would I be a baseball fan?

In a sense, this is a good slash story for non slash readers, because we are strangers in a strange land just as Krycek is. I liked this...

I wondered for a moment if pizza, beer, baseball and the Marx brothers were a normal prelude to a seduction between men, or if this was just Mulder being his endearingly wacky self.

And by the time that we got to this point in the story, I was willing to believe this too...

"Mulder, you're a pervert," I blurted out.

After that, we get to the sex, and frankly this is the bit where I will never be a slasher. It's not that I thought it was badly written or anything--I probably didn't read it closely enough to be able to offer an opinion one way or the other. Just not that interested. Just not my thing.

I did want to discuss the bit at the end, though. This bit:

My boss would approve of this, of all of it. I don't want to think about that. I can't explain to him that this was not a job well executed. I can never tell him just how it all went wrong.

I want to cry. Instead, I fall asleep.

How did it go wrong for Krycek? Is the implication that he really didn't want to do it? That he was disgusted by the fact that he actually enjoyed it? That he enjoyed it physically but still wishes he hadn't done it? Or what? Very interesting.

I'm glad the story I recommended worked out. And I think I got the glimpse of "not-slashers" view on the slashy situation ^^

I agree that in this story Krycek creation and his whole nervousness is the most important point. that's why I thought it would be good to read even if there is a sex scene some may not enjoy.

I have to say this was one of the first stories Mulder/Krycek I've read... Earlier I've read Krycek/Mulder and switch roles was hard to imagine for me. But it worked. Now I read almost only Mulder/Krycek, altough that innocent Krycek we see here is still something I can't totally believe. And, I must confess, I don't want to believe...

I have to say this was one of the first stories Mulder/Krycek I've read... Earlier I've read Krycek/Mulder and switch roles was hard to imagine for me.

Huh. Interesting. Now there's a concept that we don't have in het. I suppose psychologically you could point to stories that were Mulder/Scully or Scully/Mulder, in terms of who was more forward in the relationship or whatever, but it just isn't discussed that way. Different languages.

I will get the standard disclaimer over with first. I am a noromo, who liked the show as it was written, up to but not including Requiem and Seasons 8 and 9. I accept the show as it was written as canon, even if I personally didn't like it. I have read and enjoyed stories in all genres, including slash. I do not enjoy reading lengthy descriptions of sex acts, of any sort. I find them- boring. There are very few writers of erotica who can keep my eyes on the page. I will just fast forward through them once my eyes start glazing over, if the story is short enough. If it is long, and the sex seems really egregiously out of character, I bail.

I agree with

narrahttbbs that the most interesting part of the story was its characterization of Krycek. The other interesting characterization, though, is of Mulder. I am prepared to believe in a Krycek, who is dedicated enough to The Cause to take one for the team. Or the other team, in this case.

This is not the worst moment of my life. It just feels like it. I stare at the ceiling and try to erase even the memory of pleasure from my body, my mind. I don't do guys; this was work, nothing else. Something I had to do.

My interpretation of the last lines may differ from other readers. I think Krycek felt used and dirty. I think that Mulder knew he felt used and dirty.

"Maybe I'd better go," I said.

He shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "You look too tense, Alex. You look like you're going to go home and brood and regret things." And he tossed the washcloth aside and leaned forward to kiss my forehead, my eyebrow, my eyelid, my temple, cheek, jaw, the corner of my mouth. "I know all about that." Chin. "And it's not." Throat. "A good." Light, fleeting touches. Shoulder. "Idea." The hollow by my collar bone. Then he looked up briefly. "Try smiling," he suggested and went back to planting kisses down my body.

That "try smiling" makes me feel a bit ill. I think Mulder knew exactly how he felt. That didn't stop him from picking up where he had left off. Mulder forced him to respond, again, and nearly against his will, Alex does. I think because this is a slash fic, we are inclined to give Mulder a pass on this behavior. Why don't you substitute a female character, for Krycek, and read the same scenario. Substitute Scully into this story. I like it a lot less. Because it definitely isn't okay to seduce your female subordinate. It certainly isn't okay to ignore her clear signals of discomfort, and tell her that she shouldn't go yet, and then f__k her again. It just isn't, at least it wasn't when I was dating, and it wasn't when this was written in 1998, and I am pretty sure it isn't today. I didn't feel turned on by this story, I felt angry at Mulder.

This is not the only Sexual Predator!Mulder story in the fandom, by any means. This is subtle compared to some of the M&S versions I've read. The elements are always the same, though. They all make me uncomfortable about what they reveal about Mulder. Because, he is kind of relentless when in pursuit of something that he wants. And, he can be conveniently oblivious to the feelings of other people, even those he cares about. I don't think he is very worried about Krycek's feelings. I don't like what this story reveals, but, leaving aside the whole issue of- is he or isn't he- the characterization does seem just this side of plausible. Unfortunately.

Good story. Yes, I did fast forward a bit through the more graphic parts, more due to psychic discomfort, than boredom. Creepy, but good is my final verdict. Definitely worth discussing.

Edited 2007-12-18 04:11 (UTC)

I'm afraid I do not agree with you about that Mulder didn't give a damn about Alex's discomfort and just went ahead with what he wanted to do. That he used Krycek.
I think he can be read like that, but I also think it's not feelingless just the way Mulder seems to be. He's not good with expressing his feelings and when he noticed that Alex is feeling bad about theirs encounter and the fact he enjoyed it so much, Mulder tried to stop him from brooding and getting used to the fact that he may like it. When I read this story I was under the impression that maybe Mulder went through something simmiliar, when he was younger.

but, apart from this I'm glad you enjoyed the story and find it worth discusing, 'cause I must say I was pretty nervous while recomending it ^^

When I read this story I was under the impression that maybe Mulder went through something simmiliar, when he was younger.

Yeah, that is quite possible. It is also possible that he is letting his memories of his own experiences blind him to the feelings of Krycek (who after all may react quite differently to the same scenario).

I am prepared to believe in a Krycek, who is dedicated enough to The Cause to take one for the team. Or the other team, in this case.

Laughing out loud! Literally! :)

My interpretation of the last lines may differ from other readers. I think Krycek felt used and dirty. I think that Mulder knew he felt used and dirty.

I agree with part one; part two, I am still on the fence about. Mulder certainly has the potential to be amazingly insensitive about the feelings of those he's closest to. He can get inside the minds of serial killers and victims alike, but beyond that he can be really blind. Like you say, it is partly because he's so relentless in pursuit of what he wants.

If I squint at the story I think I can see it the way

andrea_deer does as well. Partly this is because I missed the "try smiling" line the first time around, due to skimming though the sex stuff. Putting that line to the side it is far easier to see the story in a different light. But yeah, there it is. Hmm.

I don't want to believe that of Mulder, even of this Mulder. I wonder why so many people write him in this way?

(I was also going to address your comment on the gender differences between how the story reads with a slash and a het couple. Need to muse on that further.)

I know I'm normally lazy and do not comment or even do not find time to read the stories, but since I nominated this one, I felt obliged to express my opinion and why I found it worth discussing.

First of all - I Am a Slasher.
I read everywhere (in every fandom) and have really little boundries that I do not cross. When I joined this community and I noticed that there's possibility to discuss slash I made it my mission to find a slash short enough to not bore the not-slashers, innocent enough to not disgust them and good enough to worth discussing.

And I remembered about this fic I read some time ago and found one of the most interesting I've ever did. (Not my favorite tough, my favs are far too long ^^).

Anyway. Back to the story and my opinion.

I think this fic is worth reading, because of different way of showing Alex. Even if the pairing is Mulder/Krycek and Alex is more submissive in the relationship, he rarely is shown as someone unsure of situation. And - forgetiing for a moment about the slash - he rarely shows it, even, when he is unsure and lost in the situation. That's why this fic is something different.

I personally can't buy Alex being this innocent and unsure and I'm not sure if it's because of the fanfiction I read or maybe that I always liked in him that attitude he's oviously lacking in here.

Still I enjoy different creation, and I very much enjoy Mulder's character. Even if slash suggested in the series* was always with Krycek being too much interested and Mulder not being interested at all. But, that's what we have fanfiction for, right? :)

* Oh, come on! Even Nick Lea said that Krycek is gay.

PS. There's a kind of story I would like to find for this community and it's again a slash. The problem is I can't found any good and short one. But I will keep looking and let you know.
If you want to know I'm looking for some fic with very well pictured Scully's reaction on Mulder/Krycek slash. (Well, not neceserilly M/K, but that's my favorite ^^). I hope I'll find something worth discussing.

PPS. It's awfully quiet in this community. I hope you won't mind if I'll advertise it on couple of communities or pages... I just hope we won't have tha sudden wave of slasher later ^^

When I joined this community and I noticed that there's possibility to discuss slash I made it my mission to find a slash short enough to not bore the not-slashers, innocent enough to not disgust them and good enough to worth discussing.

I think you succeeded in that! Thanks for recommending it, because I know that it's something I wouldn't have sought out on my own.

If you want to know I'm looking for some fic with very well pictured Scully's reaction on Mulder/Krycek slash. (Well, not neceserilly M/K, but that's my favorite ^^). I hope I'll find something worth discussing.

Hmm yes, that would be interesting. Scully is my favourite character so that is one reason that I am reluctant to read X-Files slash... so much of it leaves her out completely, or keeps her in but somehow belittles her.

It's awfully quiet in this community. I hope you won't mind if I'll advertise it on couple of communities or pages... I just hope we won't have tha sudden wave of slasher later

Please, please, advertise it wherever you want. That would be great!

I don't mind a little slash fic, or PWP fot that matter, but I confess that I've never seem Mulder/Krycek as a pairing. Mulder/Skinner yeah, but not Krycek.

Still, I enjoyed it. It's interesting the way that Krycek is the passive character in this fic - if a little OOC, as I'm sure that even if Krycek were playing the innocent, his internal dialogue would be far more calculating!
Saying that, I enjoyed the conflict in Krycek, very endearing - not normally a feeling I'd associate with Krycek *lol*

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Story 3: "Hard as Hell" by Torch

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