Story 8: "Five Years and One Night" by Shalimar

[wendelah1]

This week's story, nominated by finisterre, is "Five Years and One Night" by Shalimar. This is from the author's website:

"This story was originally a short post-Kitsunegari vignette. Then, at the request of a couple people who'd read it, I started adding parts. The result was posted in 26 parts as a serial. Summer/Fall '98."

Rating: NC17 This story contains adult language and sexual situations that are inappropriate for those under seventeen years of age and may be inappropriate for some adults.

Genres: AU, MSR, Angst, Myth-arc. "This starts post "Kitsunegari" and is full of spoilers including all of US 5. It deals with the events in "Emily".

This is one of the first stories I read in The X-Files fandom, after I read everything by cofax7, and everything recced at crack_van. I remember not being able to sleep until I finished it. I can't imagine what it would have been like to read as a WIP.

Although, the rest of her site is intact, this story is not. I am linking you to her Author's Page at Gossamer, where you can find the story in three parts.

Five Years and One Night

This is a long one, and I haven't read it in a couple of years, so I will be back later with more detailed comments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Comments

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Voila!

http://web.archive.org/web/20060629144134/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/alcus/five.txt

[wendelah1]

Valley Central Railroad? Is that in the story? I am lost here. Help me out.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

How bizarre. I think the link is being truncated somehow. The full link will take you to a text version of the whole story.

[wendelah1]

You must have fixed it. Now I get her story when I click on the link. Well, cool. Did you check the formating? She said she was having problems with the formating on her site, but maybe this was from an earlier version. I have not been able to find a valid email address for her. I tried two, both failed.

[ikielove.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this story a lot. That being said, I didn't really feel like I was reading a fanfic. I didn't actually get a lot of the Mulder/Scully vibe if that makes sense.

[wendelah1]

I didn't actually get a lot of the Mulder/Scully vibe

I am interested in this. Can you tell me more about it?

[ikielove.livejournal.com]

I don't exactly know how to explain it. While I was reading the story I just felt that I could have been reading about anyone. I sound stupid...

Maybe it's that there were a lot of character traits that I wouldn't normally associate with Mulder and Scully.

[wendelah1]

You don't sound stupid at all. I am just interested in hearing your opinion. You will not be alone in this opinion, either, I am sure. I haven't finished the re-read quite yet, but I have to say, I see many very familiar character traits from the show. Of course, these have been translated into a completely unfamiliar setting: an AU in which M&S are no longer partners, and they have been living far apart for six months. They separated with unresolved, complicated feelings between them. So, there is now a certain amount of freedom to act, and then suddenly they are together, and well, stuff happens. I don't want to make too many observations here until I have read the whole thing. This is a long, complicated story. Don't go away. Tag the post, so we can talk more when I finish. Okay?

[finisterre.livejournal.com]

Hello. I nominated this story because I love its slightly out of control feeling. However, I do think it's in character. It's from an extremely tight Scully point of view, six months after Mulder has, to her, inexplicably severed their partnership. Scully is hurt, furious and scared but if you contrast what she is thinking -- which seems out of character in its vehemence, turmoil and confusion -- and what she actually *says*, she's very much the Scully we see on screen.

She gives away very little to Mulder, even during the most intimate moments, until under almost intolerable emotional pressure -- at the airport when an angry Mulder wants to walk away with Liam, and then again, when she realises she can't possibly go with them because she is bugged.

The stream of consciousness narrative is at odds with the outer projection of Scully but it is that very contrast which works for me

[ikielove.livejournal.com]

Hi,
You know, I understand what you are saying. I don't even disagree with you, but I still feel like the story could have been about just anyone. Maybe that is a compliment to the author; the story is universal. I did enjoy reading this story very much as I am new to fanfic and had never read anything like this. Thank you for nominating it.

[wendelah1]

One of the big plot holes of The X-Files that was never addressed by the 1013 writers was the fetus, created from Scully's egg, that Mulder discovered during the episode "Emily." Nor was the emotional fallout of that episode, and its startling revelations, on their partnership ever dealt with during the series. "Five Years and One Night" is a very successful attempt at addressing both of those issues, through the creation of an alternative universe that begins in the aftermath of "Kitsunegari", and then takes off into its own complicated plot-line six months later, when Mulder arrives to disrupt the carefully reordered life that Scully has created for herself across the continent, away from him and the X-Files.

The entire story is told from Scully's point of view, which allows us to experience with her all of the horror she feels about what was done to her, and the anger she feels, not just toward the Consortium scientists for stealing her fertility and using her eggs for their unholy experiments in creating human/alien hybrids, but also toward Mulder for unwisely hiding from her the truth.

Trust is one of the big over-arching themes of The X-Files. It is the big theme of "Five Years and One Night." We watch Mulder and Scully attempt to repair and rebuild the partnership that was shattered by the events of fifth season, and then again by the revelation that Mulder has found another of Scully's children. In this universe, Mulder didn't just let go of that clue, he kept investigating, until he discovers where the baby has been brought to, and decides to buy this child, for Scully. And for him. It was clear to this reader that Mulder did want to use the child to get Scully back and he as much as admits that to her. He also wants to give her this child to make up for all that was taken from her, because of her association with him and with the X-Files.

The plot is fascinating and convoluted. It takes us through the emotional journey that the characters make to come back together as a partnership, as a romantic relationship, and as parents. From the moment that Mulder appears on her doorstep, you know that they will make love. She is free to do as she chooses now, and she wants him. Really, she can't resist him, and he can't keep his hands off of her either. The sexual tension in this story is pretty unbearable, and it doesn't go away, even after they have sex. Several times. The sex itself is electric but surprisingly non-graphic. This story also has the best kissing scene ever.

I have had two people tell me that they didn't find the author's characterizations of Mulder and Scully to be consistent with the series. I thought they seemed very consistent, given that we never see M&S have sex on the show. Seriously, they fight about the facts of the case, they argue about how to pursue the case, Mulder tries to hide information from Scully to protect her, they both try to pretend they aren't in love with each other. This sure sounds like the series to me. With the addition of a lot of hot sex. What's not to love? I am not even a shipper, but I have to say I loved this story as much as I did the first time I read it. Well? Anyone else care to disagree or agree, or add to this?

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Having got through about half of part one, I sympathise with the people who are complaining that Mulder and Scully seem out of character. On the other hand, I don't think it's quite OOCness that they're complaining about. It's something in the writing style, which is very flat. When I look past the prose, at Mulder and Scully themselves, I can't see anything in them to complain about. On the other hand I feel a lack of the quirky little asides and details of characterisation that the show did so well, and it kind of stops me from making an emotional connection with the characters as they are depicted here. If I were going to be really harsh I would say that I almost feel there's a sort of zombie quality to them. They behave correctly on the surface, but they don't seem right somehow. I can only blame the writing style. Apologies for criticising a story that you enjoyed so much, but I thought it would be worth trying to articulate what difficulties I had with it.

Now that I think back, I've tried to read this once before but I don't think that I got through it then either. Do you think that I ought to keep going? I'm happy to read the rest of it for the sake of the discussion but I don't think I'd do it on my own account.

[wendelah1]

Hey, suit yourself. It doesn't make me like it less. I disagree with your assessment of the writing, but that isn't a reason for you to keep reading it. We do have rather different taste. I think what we have in common is an openess to read outside our comfort zone. So, no. Don't read it if you don't like it. We can just read something else.

[finisterre.livejournal.com]

I find this story to be a bit like JK Rowling, in as much as I am not there for the glory of the writing but by god, she can tell a story. It kicks off with the quarrel in the office and it never lets up for a second until the last scene, and that too is a skill. An underrated one, but one which is more elusive.

I don't know how much XF fiction you've read but the writing here is absolutely consistent with that period of fanfiction. Karen Rasch, who was writing at the same time, also uses the very short sentences as paragraphs, very concrete descriptions rather than floweriness, snappy, short dialogue and so on. I think these are sort of the second wave of writers, who started writing about the third season and largely stopped by the seventh, and (huge generalisation alert!) many tended to stick to this punchy style. I guess you would stick early MD1016 in there, Dianora and a few others in the same category. Things changed as MustangSally and then Penumbra gained admirers, and people were more ambitious with the language they used (occasionally with horrible results)

What might improve your ability to enjoy the story -- and part of what I really like about it -- is this: check out how much Scully actually *says* versus what she's thinking. Internally she's a total mess: knackered; overwrought; hopelessly in love, and fearing that 'hopelessly' is all too accurate a description; in despair at how she has been used; and she's had two of her dearest wishes fulfilled in horrible ways -- she finally knows how far Mulder would go for her and she has her own child, and yet still it's not a happy situation.

Yet if you look at the actual dialogue, until in extremis she's the Scully we see on TV. Measured in what she says, controlled, frustratingly opaque. It's that tension between outer control v inner emotion that I love.

It's also the fact that reading this story, like reading Harry Potter, is akin to riding a bicycle down a steep hill with your hands in the air. The momentum is glorious, as is the knowledge that you're one narrative pebble away from a godawful pile-up!

[wendelah1]

I agree this story was a wonderful, wild ride. The first time, I think I stayed up until three in the morning on a workday night because I couldn't stop reading it. I had to find out how it ended. I like her style, too. It is very straightforward, without the need to have the reader resort to using a dictionary. I think the comparison to JK Rowling is an apt one. But then, I had a really hard time with everyone else's all time favorite X-Files fan fiction story, Parabiosis. Maybe we should discuss that one next, emily_shore?

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

I missed this comment completely the first time around! We certainly could discuss Parabiosis (it might bring in more commenters), although I would hate for you to have to discuss something else that you had a lot of trouble with.

[wendelah1]

Parabiosis seems so universally loved. I would like to have someone explain it in such a way that I could understand it too. I can dig out my dictionary. And re-watch season seven, again. I am sure my lack of love for the MSR doesn't help. Even the title annoys me. Although, I am not fond of Ulysses, either. I liked Dubliners. Her shorter works seem more accessible. Many people want to write like this, most without Penumbra's talent. I agree with finisterre, there are some real disasters out there. At least, we don't have to read those. (;

You get to pick next unless someone else nominated a story. We don't have to read it if you've got something else up your sleeve.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

You've explained the appeal of the story very well. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of JK Rowling, for exactly the same reasons--I'm not much of a plot reader, and the flatness of the writing style just doesn't carry me along sufficiently. As for the characterization, I can sort of see it, but not feel it, if you see what I mean. It isn't to say either Rowling or this author are bad writers, just that they're not my kind of writer.

It's very interesting that there are distinct genres and periods of X-Files fanfic. I'm a new fan, so I wasn't aware of any of this. Personally I fall much more into the Penumbra camp, certainly as a reader and potentially as a writer though I wouldn't want to opine on whether my style is successful or not.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to read all the big recs here and this was next in line, after "Blood and Breath" which I didn't much care for.

It's been long enough since my first reading of it that it was new and exciting while also being overwhelmingly familiar. I would hit a line or scene that I clearly remembered reading before, but forget where it ended up. This was just as enjoyable the second time around. I adored it.

The scene where Scully breaks down on the beach just blew me away. The stream-of-consciousness writing there was really powerful and swept me up so I couldn't possibly put it down. Of course the rest has amazing glimpses of each of them as parents, and their strangled attempts at honest communication, and of course devastatingly hot sex. ;) I could easily start this one all over again, I loved it that much. Fabulous rec, here!

[wendelah1]

I am so glad you enjoyed it. I certainly did, both times through. I guess I had better go over to the "Blood and Breath" post and explain why I loved it so much as well.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I think it's a personal call on "Blood and Breath". I personally don't like overwhelming angst, pain, and breakdown without a healthy dose of hope and happiness thrown in. Where they break down the characters and end in ruins with a hint of hope. It's too depressing for me. But I see why it is an impressive character study.

[wendelah1]

Where they break down the characters and
end in ruins with a hint of hope. It's too depressing for me. But I see
why it is an impressive character study.

I admit I love pain and angst, with just a bit of hope at the end. I thought there was plenty of that in this fic as well, in between the hot sex. I was crying my eyes out, so convinced was I that they wouldn't end up together at the end.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

Oh, there was certainly plenty of that in this one! But there was also a healthy dose of good times, so it all evened out to a delicious angst-and-sex pie. *LOL* I think it helped that having read it before, I knew it didn't end in ruin.

[(Anonymous)]

Just Googled Shalimar and X-Files and found everyone's wonderful comments! It seems like a million years ago, but I really loved reading what everyone had to say about Five Years and One Night.

Writing a story in installments when everyone was clamoring for the next part was insane! Glad you enjoyed it.

Love,
Shalimar
mmckalcus@yahoo.com