Story 181: "The Waterskiers" by Khyber

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

Well everyone (I'm not sure how numerous you are at the moment, but I'm going to be bold and say 'everyone'), we've reached the end of the road - the point where the narrative pavement turns to gravel turns to a beaten dirt path trailing off narrowly into the uncharted wilds of the great and sometimes terrible WIP territory.

By waybacking Khyber's website we get what seem to be conflicting accounts of what the future of KvsS7 was to be. In early 2008 there were five fics meant to follow "The Waterskiers," three of which were to be "full episodes" and two were to be vignettes (as seen here). This outline complies with Khyber's notes for "Amnesia" which he judged to be the "late beginning/early middle" of the story. Yet by late 2009 the titles of four of these five fics had vanished, and only the one titled "Parabola" remained. It was initially indicated to be planned as a vignette, but later seemed intended to have been a full episode.

In summary, the fate of the KvsS7 universe remains largely a mystery, and anyone participating in the comments thread should feel free to speculate on the future of the story, as well as share their thoughts about the fic itself.


TITLE: The Waterskiers (Mod note: You may have to c/p the URL, or find the fic on Gossamer.)
AUTHOR: Khyber
E-MAIL: khyber@khyberfic.net
DISTRIBUTION: Ephemeral, Gossamer, please ask for anywhere else.
RATING: R for mature content.
CATEGORIES: XR KEYWORDS: Withheld.
SPOILERS: Pbbblffft.
SUMMARY: Missing scenes... okay, a LOT of missing scenes... from "Hollywood AD."

Author's Notes: This story is part of "Khyber Versus Season Seven" and takes place during "Hollywood AD," specifically, following the end of the famous bathtub scene. The rest of the episode takes place a week or more after the end of this story.
Remember that the premiere of "The Lazarus Bowl," according to the episode, is "eighteen months later," sometime in late 2001.


Sadly the summer is over. That does, however, mean a return to something resembling a normal posting schedule at some point in the near future. Remember the old days (July) when a new week meant changing up the plot, style, and characterizations with an all new fic? Well those days are returning along with coats and scarves, so if you have any suggestions for fics you'd like to read this fall the recommendations page is always open.

Comments

March 9, 2009

[wendelah1]

Dear Khyber,

You accomplished the near impossible when you posted "The Waterskiers." You made me re-watch "Hollywood A.D." I even kind of enjoyed it that time. There were many funny, even classic Mulder/Scully moments, although it kind of peters out at the end, doesn't it?

So, "The Waterskiers."

It was fun watching Mulder and Scully do the dinner party scene, acting like normal people, telling funny stories on each other, the way married people do. Scully is three sheets to the wind from drinking the "good wine," which she can no longer identify as anything more than "red," and unconsciously holding Mulder's hand at the dinner table. I liked Thomas and Katja, too. Your original characters always seem so real, and for a change, these two didn't have to die.

It'll probably seems strange for you to hear this, because well, I'm a noromo, and you are a dyed in the wool Mulder/Scully shipper. But your personal canon for these characters and mine have so much overlap. That's at least part of the reason why I love your stories. The other reason is the writing itself. I like your prose style. It's not fussy, or romantic, or overly concerned with the language, although it is clear you love words. You just have a gift for choosing the right words for the story you are trying to tell.

Mulder and Scully are adorable in this. I love the scene at the beginning where Scully entices Mulder into bed with her (smart woman). Presenting a guy with a naked woman underneath the covers is pretty much a sure thing, assuming the guy has any real interest in the girl.

The scene at the end, where they have "the talk" or as close to it as Scully is able to manage, is wonderfully truthful to what these characters are really like. Don't get me wrong, I love fluff as much as the next fan. Hell, I've written fluff. But I don't see how it could be easy for Scully to let her guard down, to get closer to Mulder, even if she wants him that way, even if she needs him, the way it is clear Mulder needs her, and has for a long, long time.

The scenes with Skinner are--disturbing--but given how he has been in Kv7 up to now, not unexpected. He just participated in another covert operation with the CSM, where American soldiers are shot and killed. How must he be feeling about that? I think Skinner still sees himself as one of the good guys, despite the part he's been forced to play in the drama so far, both yours and the series'. Spender is a snake, so I am a little worried about how this is going to play out, for M&S, and for Skinner, too. I am starting to get a feeling for where you are going with this, so it will be interesting to see if I'm right. Assuming you are going to finish it, this time.

I fervently hope you do.

All best,

wendelah1