Story 116: "Ceremony" by Darwin

[wendelah1]

There is still plenty of time to read and comment on the "In Dreams" trilogy.

I first heard of "Ceremony" at the late lamented fictalk, where it was posted for discussion as a one-hit wonder, which it isn't really, since the writer wrote two other fine stories. You can find them at her author's page at Gossamer. As a post-ep for Orison, this story deals with its emotional fall-out in a realistic and moving way. However, what is most memorable to me about "Ceremony" is its depiction of adult sexuality as both carnal and transcendent.

As always, please send feedback to the writer, then let us know what you think. Suggestions for next time can be left at the nomination post.

"Ceremony"

Comments

[bachlava.livejournal.com]

In general I quite like "Ceremony," despite some of the problems noted above (i.e., some points are a bit flowery or overly romantic). For me, these are relatively small issues in a terrific fic. It really rings true to me that Scully would have to find new ways to be comfortable in her own skin, as it were, after the cancer and barrenness and virus exposure. Darwin, I think, does a fairly skillful job of building this up subtly and avoiding making Scully seem like she's having a second adolescence. I also give her credit for having Scully wish in an almost abstract way that she and Mulder had gotten together earlier while realizing that there were good reasons that the reality was different. It may just be that angsting over lost time/"Oh, what fools we've been" tends to annoy me, but I like this method handling the issue.

There are lots of little high points that also work well for me. Mulder being a bit of an exhibitionist? 100%. His way of coaxing Scully around to his point of view? 100%. Scully's use of "pocket shape-shifter"? Best slang term ever. And, of course, Mulder would try to pretend he has plenty of sheets.

One thing does nag at me, though: am I reading wrong, or do they drive all the way into Amish country and then back to Mulder's apartment? That seems time-consuming and unnecessary, especially given how much time those two spend in the car anyway. Okay, another thing nags at me: in the sex-bent-over-the-desk reminiscence, Mulder has his hands on Scully's shoulders. Given their absolute and relative heights and the height of the desk (why yes, I have spent too much time watching this show)... it's anatomically possible, yes, but the mental image I'm getting is of an awkward and rather uncomfortable position. Or maybe I'm just nitpicking...


Edited because clarity is our friend.

Nit-picking: it's a way of life

[wendelah1]

One thing does nag at me, though: am I reading wrong, or do they drive all the way into Amish country and then back to Mulder's apartment? That seems time-consuming and unnecessary, especially given how much time those two spend in the car anyway.

Unnecessary in what sense? Yes, they could have spent the whole day in bed again, but they're in that stage where just being in close proximity to one's love object is enough. What one is doing is irrelevant. Um, I google-mapped this as well as I possibly could given that I didn't have a destination, and it's not quite two hours to Gettysburg. Of course, they drove until dusk. Well. Maybe this is an impulsive drive to get away from everything that reminds them of their everyday lives?

Okay, another thing nags at me: in the sex-bent-over-the-desk reminiscence, Mulder has his hands on Scully's shoulders. Given their absolute and relative heights and the height of the desk (why yes, I have spent too much time watching this show)... it's anatomically possible, yes, but the mental image I'm getting is of an awkward and rather uncomfortable position. Or maybe I'm just nitpicking...

Ha ha! I love this. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who tries to figure out if the sex in the sex scenes actually works. My husband and I are very close in height so I regret to say my research must remain strictly theoretical. *g* Now, how high is that desk again?

Re: Nit-picking: it's a way of life

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

This is all amusing; fans seem to return, over and over, to the problems the height difference create during coitus. I am always quite unsatisfied when they do it against a wall. Even shower sex seems a little unnecessarily complicated. What's wrong with a nice bed with clean sheets?

Yet I have grown to hate the "one bed" scenario with all it's passive lusting. God, there's no pleasing me!

Scully did mention that a woman-on-top position with Mulder leaning on the headboard worked well with the eye contact and everything. So obviously the author has given coitus requisite thought. Haven't we all.