Story 164: "Human Credentials" by Scarlet Baldy

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

Recently, while reading Human Credentials for the first time, I had such a strong desire to discuss it that I knew immediately I was going to post it here at some point. Then, while going through our recs page, I was pleased to find it had already been recced quite some time ago by tiger_bay.

Human Credentials picks up after FTF, in an AU season 6, when a mysterious lead prompts Mulder, Scully, and Diana to set out on an adventure that will challenge their humanity and take them to the ends of the earth, possibly in more ways than one. The fact that this fic is over 400K tends to suggest it's a story with a fair amount going on. That's an understatement. There's not a lot that isn't going on in Human Credentials. It incorporates the mytharc in a way that makes a powerful and surprising amount of sense, and it makes excellent use of nearly every major secondary character from the show, as well as bringing in at least one intriguing original character. On top of that, it has the kind of dark, controversial Mulder and Scully characterizations that are sure to spark discussion. And there's a fair amount of hot sex too.


Human Credentials


A Few Specifications and Caveats:

Regarding Diana Fowley: Her role is mainly in the first third of the fic, so if you aren't a fan of her character and you just can't see yourself making it through 400K of her presence, don't write this fic off! Human Credentials does give Diana her due, but it's still very much Mulder and Scully's show.

Regarding the sequel: There is one, and it's called Lendemains. It's an unfinished WIP, and it was written about a decade after Human Credentials. You may discuss it in the comments if you want to, but the 'official' rec is Human Credentials only. It's just easier that way.

Regarding our schedule: Because this fic is so long, we might spend more time on it than usual. If discussion is still going on after seven or eight days, or if people start posting saying they fully intend to comment but they need a little more time, then wendelah1 and I will hold off on posting a new fic for a few more days.

Regarding the content warnings: Heed them. Characters do some very troubling things in this fic. Things that will make excellent points for discussion, I think, but I don't want anyone getting blindsided.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Oops, Fish posted. I am deliberately not reading her.

I respect the hell out of Human Credentials. The writer announced her infatuation with a new and argument-inspiring example of fanfic--I told Wendelah that Iolokus "blew the doors off" expectations--and proceeded to display the sincerest form of admiration by trying to write in its nontraditional "tradition." This made her vulnerable to all sorts of accusations, including those of character-assassination and blatant imitation. Screw that. I don't intend to pile on.

For one thing, amyhit is right in pointing out that this is a nifty story-line. Few have dealt so well with the mytharc artifacts that CC left in such disarray. The lake of black oil is a wonderful passive villain. Character assassination? Got it right here. Complete rationale thrown in for free.

Mulder is drawn a bit outside the guidelines, though, predating modern feminism as I do, I'll leave the rape issue to others. Diana is sympathetic, which makes for a nice change, and the hard time that Scully gives her in claiming her lover is our first hard hint that the iron, as they used to say, has entered into her soul. (Where do I get these expressions? Haven't a clue.) Walter was great: the camel, not the AD, though he was okay too. Ali was a most fascinating sacrificial scientist. Krycek--ah, Krycek. Turning noble, and where did it get him? A cold, cold hell.

My primary problem with HC is in the area of tone, which is an extraordinarily hard thing to talk about. The combination of dire circumstance, self-hating behavior, and wisecrack is one that Iolokus pioneered, but it's really, really hard to do. Trying as I was to empathize with Scully's quest for normal happytimes, I was repeatedly thrown off by lines like "she now had the vital statistics to enter a Miss Dachau 2000 competition. His pity was not a crown she was willing to wear" or "She liked that. A lot. Although it would probably take the nation's supplies of Pentholotal (sic) to get her to admit it." Then there's "I needed that asshole to kick my ass." Exaggerated metaphors and the like can sometimes capture that agonizing link between pain and hilarity. But it's a fine, fine line, and failed hilarity can cause pain. And can leave the reader thinking that it's not a good idea to
flaunt what you don't got.

The sex? Pretty good, though I've found that reading carefully kinds of kills it for me. But the one thing that I can't forgive is Mulder and Scully fucking against the wall of the parking garage. Never! Dumb, distasteful, morally and physically questionable, totally nonerotic. Walter should have fired their asses! Yes, the camel too!

Guess I have piled on a bit. But I do consider Human Credentials a brave, exciting, and historically interesting piece of fiction.

[(Anonymous)]

Um, that post up there? It was I, Estella. Guess I got in the side door.

[wendelah1]

You're still not signed in, babe.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

I got shoved off Livejournal! It was none of my fault. There was an electrical outage.

I'm back. For better or worse.

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

I understand what you're saying about the writing style of HC, Estella. There were definitely lines that were flippant in ways and at times that I wasn't comfortable with. But for me I think that's part of what makes the fic such an experience all its own, and in that way so enjoyable. Because while I'm reading it, it changes me a little bit. By identifying with the characters' darker states of mind, I can read things that are insensitive, a little bit nasty, and instead of wincing internally like I usually would, I like it. It's like getting hurt while anesthetized - there's a thrill to it, even if it's kind of messed up.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

That anesthesia must be really good stuff. But I think you misunderstand me somewhat. I don't object to dark, nasty, insensitive--my God, Iolokus is powered by such dialogue. I object to clumsy and unfunny, whether unexpectedly hostile or metamorphosed even more unexpectedly into light "romantic" banter, complete with playfully thrown objects.

I object to laugh lines that don't come off. "Agent Scully's cheeks were currently trying to do chilli pepper impersonations." Trying too hard, ya think?

I also don't like the tendency--a very common one--to explain the intent/result of every exchange to the reader. Fish actually does it with parentheses.

But I believe there is genuine insight into the plight of her characters. "The depth and exclusive nature of their friendship made them wary lovers because they both were acutely aware of what they would lose if they failed." Few have put this better.

One last, meaningless nit, since I'm here and caffeinated. There's a reference to the "ridiculous pittance" Skinner's father made back in the day working an automotive line. That would have been when when the United Auto Workers were making historic contract gains that put their postwar guys into solid, middle-class suburbia. I'd like to think an American would not make that error, but, these days...

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

I object to laugh lines that don't come off. "Agent Scully's cheeks were currently trying to do chilli pepper impersonations." Trying too hard, ya think?

Okay, yes, that line did stand out to me as being particularly clunky. There were quite a few that were. But in a game of hit and miss, there were still enough hits that I enjoyed the overall effect.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Trying as I was to empathize with Scully's quest for normal happytimes, I was repeatedly thrown off by lines like "she now had the vital statistics to enter a Miss Dachau 2000 competition. His pity was not a crown she was willing to wear" or "She liked that. A lot. Although it would probably take the nation's supplies of Pentholotal (sic) to get her to admit it." Then there's "I needed that asshole to kick my ass."

Arghhh, typo on Pentothal! How did this end up spelled this way? It's the same word in French!!!

Yeah, I agree these lines were OTT. Blame the newbie writer that I was for that. I'm not sure I get what you mean by "flaunting what you don't got" though.