Story 111: "Melancholia" by Jeylan

[wendelah1]

"Melancholia" is one of the most unabashedly Romantic stories ever written in this fandom. It seems like it shouldn't work: an old, abandoned house, a graveyard in the rain, Mulder reading Marvell and Shelly and weaving a wreath of flowers for Scully's hair. Her Mulder is mercurial and Byronic, her Scully more earthbound. It's a love story for the ages.

Or is it?

Suggested by estella_c, seconded by me.

By all means, send the author feedback, and then let us know what you think. Suggestions for next time can be made at our nomination post. There is still plenty of time to read and comment on last week's Gutless", too.

"Melancholia"

Comments

[wendelah1]

Thus, I have to disagree with the description introducing this story as "unabashedly romantic." I'd describe the story as controversial at best, and disturbing at worst.

Okay, but in my defense, my introduction describes the story as Romantic, with a capital "R," which I think it is. I mean, Mulder is wandering around a graveyard and a "haunted house," brooding, reciting poetry in his head, and occasionally out loud, feeling sorry for himself, doing a wonderful imitation of Lord Byron at his--melancholy--best. Not only that, I think the plot in some ways follows the conventions of a romance novel, except usually the romance writer likes her heroine a little better than Jeylan likes Scully. No one much likes the MSR in this fic, including yours truly, so you are in good company there. It's a shame, because Jeylan can write. I love her prose style.