Story 99: "Aguinnah" by Anjou

[wendelah1]

I'm bypassing the queue again, and I don't even have the excuse of a funny story. I chose this for personal reasons.

Following Teena Mulder's death by suicide, Mulder and Scully travel to his childhood home on Martha's Vineyard, bringing his mother's ashes. Despite its unhappy premise, I found it beautifully written, and to my surprise, ultimately a very healing story to read.

"Aquinnah"

If you prefer a Christmas story, you could try Anjou's "The Ghosts of Christmas Present," her sequel to "Ghosts."

As always, give feedback to the author, then come back and let us know what you think. Leave suggestions at the nominations post.


To all who celebrate the holiday, have a very Merry Christmas.

Comments

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

How can it be that this story came out NINE YEARS AGO?! I wish I still had the feedback & response I sent/got at the time.

I have to skip all the lovey dovey stuff at the end, but I still do love this story. It feels like yesterday that I was "visiting" this place and so desperately wanting to go there. You can practically smell the water.

I love the sense of history. On the show it seemed we knew more of Mulder's background and family than we actually did. We knew some facts, but very little as far as emotions and memories, the things that really make you who you are. Having these original characters reliving memories was wonderful in adding that depth.

I love this bit:

He spends the meal telling her how the Aquinnah Wampanoag believe Martha's Vineyard was created. Even though she has spent the day reading these tales, she lets him tell her again without interruption. In his voice as he relates the genesis tale of this place that seems enchanted, she can hear the how of the man he has become, this seeker of myths and oddities.

That's our Mulder. I could listen to him tell stories all day long.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and put in an episode. This made me miss these people more than I already do. And that's saying a lot, a lot.

[wendelah1]

How can it be that this story came out NINE YEARS AGO?! I wish I still had the feedback & response I sent/got at the time.I have to skip all the lovey dovey stuff at the end, but I still do love this story. It feels like yesterday that I was "visiting" this place and so desperately wanting to go there. You can practically smell the water.

By love-dovey stuff, I assume you mean the sex. As NC-17 endings go, this one is very well-done. It feels inevitable and right, tinged with the tragedy of Mulder's life-story.

It is very vivid in its descriptions, with a genuine sense of place not often found in fan fiction.

[leucocrystal]

Aww, this one has a big place in my fic-reading heart. I still remember it as one of the very first ones I read in the fandom, and I still adore it. Anjou is one of my very favorite writers in our fandom.

(On that subject, was "Ghosts" the series that was never finished? I really shouldn't have started reading it knowing it was unfinished, because I loved it, then had to forget about it as promptly as possible. Never breaking my WIP rule again.)

[wendelah1]

I thought the "Justice" series was the unfinished one. I've read everything she's ever written, I think, and this is by far my favorite. It creates this elegiac mood, but laced with expectation, and sustains it through out the story, from beginning to end. Very impressive. I can see this really happening, minus the sex scene, of course. It gives much more closure than the writers for the series managed.

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

I hadn't read this before. It's not a Christmas story, but it seems like a very appropriate story to read at this time of year. It has a very still, peaceful feel to it. And Christmas itself is not just a time of joy, it's also a time of sacrifice.

[wendelah1]

It did feel appropriate, at least for this reader. I'm always thrilled to know I have turned someone on to some great fan fiction.

[wendelah1]

I feel bad that this story got such a tepid response from the members. I guess the end of December is a difficult time to post anything and expect to have it looked at, let alone read and discussed.

"Aguinnah" is one of my favorite stories and it is also one of the first that I read when I was first exploring The X-Files fan fiction.

It is meticulously researched, as the author's notes illustrate. More than most fan fiction, it has a real sense of place. Anjou vividly conveys the physical beauty and the spiritual essence of Aguinnah. I also like this story as a post-ep for Closure probably better than any other I've read.

The only line that feels wrong for me is the one from Scully's POV about Teena Mulder. "In death, she is no different than she had been in life in her lack of consideration for her son." That seems excessively judgmental to me; whether it represents the view of the author or not, I couldn't say. As a cancer survivor herself, it is hard for me to imagine Scully thinking that poorly of another person who was suffering. But that's a minor point and doesn't spoil the story.

The first-time sex scene seems a little overlong too, as well as a tad sentimental and idealized, but I'm sure that's a minority opinion. It is beautifully written and maintains the tonal purity of the piece. I just read it on fast-forward.

As long as people are reading fan fiction, I would expect this story to be read and loved. It is a true classic of the genre, yet it feels as fresh and life-affirming as it did when I first read it years ago.

[bmerb.livejournal.com]

Wow what a vivid and beautifully written piece. I like the present tense writing, the OCs, and the keen attention to detail. And of course, as always I appreciate the way the indigenous people of the island are presented, with some accuracy as to history etc.

I too could have skipped on most of the first time sex scene, since I generally prefer inferred sex over blow by blow description (unless it's hot. Then yes please, and oh man am I over the simultaneous orgasm with first time sex. Pffft). But this was truly a beautiful read. Thanks for recommending it, it was new to me and I actually learned something reading it!