Story 7: "Tikkun Olam" by RivkaT and MustangSally

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Since we had a rather long interlude with no story at all (my fault!), wendelah1 and I have chosen a special bonus story. So here it is, "Tikkun Olam" by RivkaT and MustangSally, one of the controversial classics of the fandom. Hopefully it will provoke some discussion.

This story is rated NC-17 and is not for sensitive or impressionable souls. I'm not kidding. But it's really good.

"Deaths and disclosures, universal and particular, denouements both unexpected and inexorable, transvestite melodrama on all levels including the suggestive. We transport you into a world of intrigue and illusion ... clowns, if you like, murderers -- we can do you ghosts and battles, on the skirmish level, heroes, villains, tormented lovers -- set pieces in the poetic vein; we can do you rapiers or rape or both, by all means, faithless wives and ravished virgins -- flagrante delicto at a price, but that comes under realism for which there are special terms."

Interesting discussions:

Usenet thread on prologue

Spoilerific Usenet review thread

Comments

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

(i maintain that no story with time traveling or alternate universes--let alone both--ever makes sense)

Sounds like you're not instinctively a sci-fi fan!

i may be biased (i'm a hopeless shipper), but after all that cruelty i wanted to see a little more warmth. the mulder and scully of the first and final scenes--theoretically, the "real" mulder and scully--were far too mean-spirited and self-centered to be the characters i know.

I suppose it depends what sort of MSR you're looking for. I agree that it wasn't an all-out MSR love-fest, but I liked the subtlety of Mulder's change of heart in the final scene. RivkaT and MustangSally's view of the X-Files universe in general is always a dark one, and it doesn't necessarily ring true for everyone. But for me, that quiet shift in the final scene said more than a big, dramatic love scene would have. Mulder and Scully are never going to be perfect, but at least Mulder is trying. It's the trying that's interesting, at least to me.

[dictatorcari]

Sounds like you're not instinctively a sci-fi fan!

haha, that's the first time anyone's ever said that about me. it's not that i minded the alternate universes, it's just that there are paradoxes about them that really just can't be explained. so parts of this story just won't make sense no matter how you think about it.

I liked the subtlety of Mulder's change of heart in the final scene.

oh, me too. but after many hours of reading, a couple of subtle paragraphs weren't enough for me. besides that, scully was still mean. why were they that way in the first place? the canonical mulder and scully would never treat each other with such disdain for such an extended period of time, at least in my opinion.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

oh, me too. but after many hours of reading, a couple of subtle paragraphs weren't enough for me.

I suppose it depends where you're looking for the emotional payoff. I'm a shipper, but not a huge one, so for me the appeal of this story lay elsewhere than in the Mulder/Scully closeness. I suppose I can see how if that was mainly what you were reading for, you might be disappointed.

why were they that way in the first place? the canonical mulder and scully would never treat each other with such disdain for such an extended period of time, at least in my opinion.

Oh, I don't know, "Never Again"? They have their moments. I wouldn't describe it as disdain so much as a gulf of communication that they have a lot of trouble bridging.

[dictatorcari]

i see what you're saying about "never again," but i got the impression from this story that mulder and scully had always been this way towards each other. i don't know, it didn't feel truthful to me. and that's totally fine, but it's not what i like in a fic.

as for the payoff, it was partially that i wanted mulder and scully to profess their undying love for one another (when do i ever want anything else?), but mostly that after what felt like an oppressive few hours reading about all this torture and cruelty, i wanted to feel something a little fuzzier. i'm sure the intent was to leave the reader feeling unsettled, and i get the merit in that, but it doesn't mean i like how it feels.

still, i'm glad i read it. it was nothing if not interesting.

[wendelah1]

I think that anytime you mix time travel and/or alternate universes, you are in for a world of hurt trying to have it make sense. That being said, I thought the multiple universes were a structural as well as a thematic device that the authors used to create their story.

I am more of a noromo, so I am never bothered by the lack of MSR. I would rather have the story end in a way that was consistent with the tone of the rest of the story. I think the story came to a perfect end. It came full circle, right back to the beginning, and yet left this reader feeling hopeful about the MSR.

scully was still mean. why were they that way in the first place? the canonical mulder and scully would never treat each other with such disdain for such an extended period of time, at least in my opinion.

The canonical Mulder and Scully aren't ever shown on screen getting up together on Sunday morning. We don't really know what they are like together, do we?

They are both adults, with established lives and habits, and separate households, who have finally come together in a sexual relationship. I think that might be a hard adjustment for two people who have been together- yet not- for so long.

Mulder has often been openly disdainful of Scully's religious beliefs. That is canon. It is natural for her to feel a little defensive about heading to mass, hence the remarks that to you seem mean, just seem to me like she is being protective of herself. As Mulder said, they need to work on her trust issues. They aren't starting from scratch here and they both have brought a lot of baggage with them, both from their years together, and before.

I agree, this was not a happily ever after sort of story, but I found it a stimulating, entertaining read none the less. You may like our next story quite a bit more. I applaud you for sticking with us!

[dictatorcari]

definitely. the use of parallel universes was very good here, but it does leave the story vulnerable to a lot of illogical situations. and the story did come full circle, and in context it was a good ending, but i still feel that after all of the pain and sadness, that tiny glimmer of hope wasn't enough to make me feel better. basically, i'm saying that it was a good story but i didn't like it. does that make sense?

just to be clear, i never meant to insult anyone. it was a very good story, but it left me feeling a little unsatisfied. sorry if anyone took my criticisms personally. :)

and i'll absolutely stick with you! if everyone wrote exactly the same thing over and over, it would get boring. i like having new things to read.

[wendelah1]

I am never insulted by people disagreeing with me about fic. I meant that I am happy you read the story all the way through and then told us what you thought. Communicating via the internet is hard, sometimes, isn't it? I am fine. So, we're okay?

I like having new things to read, too. Here is a pretty shippy icon that a friend made me. Just for you!

[dictatorcari]

of course we're ok! i was never upset with anyone, just paranoid they might be upset with me. :)

thanks for the shippy icon. haha. i appreciate it.

[wendelah1]

You can take it if you like. I have about six more shippy ones I have never used. She made me 30 icons after my mother-in-law died to cheer me up. This is another one of them. I even got the artist's permission to use it. Just credit untasted. She has an amazing icon community lecollage, too. You might get a kick from checking that out. I saw that you did theater, are you still doing that?

[dictatorcari]

wow, thanks, i'll definitely go check that out.

i do, actually. i'm the communications director for a theater company called rogue artists ensemble, and i love it. are you in california? you should come check it out sometime.

[wendelah1]

I am in California. I live in Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley. Your company is based in Orange County. Not a short drive but hardly impossible. Do you all put on anything in the summer? My husband is a high school teacher, so summers are a better fit with his schedule.

[dictatorcari]

actually, we're based in los angeles...i just live in orange county. this summer, we're actually doing a remount of our last show, "mr. punch," which is based on the graphic novel by neil gaiman and dave mckean. it's pretty cool...i'll let you know when it gets closer. :)

[wendelah1]

That would be terrific, thanks.