Story 15: "How to Fake An Orgasm" by V. Salmone (R)

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Our next story, nominated by threeguesses, is How to Fake An Orgasm, in which we learn that there may be women in the world other than Scully. Or maybe not.

TITLE: How to Fake An Orgasm
AUTHORS: Punk and Sab, writing as V. Salmone
CLASSIFICATION: S, M/O, MSR
DISCLAIMER: Mulder, Scully and the X-Files are the property of Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox. No money has changed hands, nor do I expect it to. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy writing it.
RATING: R for sexiness and language
SPOILERS: general for season six
CONTACT: punkm@teleport.com, iamfrequent@gmail.com
WEB: http://home.teleport.com/~punkm/punkandsab.html

SUMMARY: Mulder, Scully, and the other woman.

Let us know what you think, and let the authors know what you think. Also, remember that next week is our Short Story Week. Do you have something that you'd like to nominate? Let us know about that too.

Comments

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

So, let's start by talking about the genre of Mulder/Other stories. In my opinion, these are really, really hard to pull off successfully. Writing compelling original characters in fanfic is always difficult, and you have the additional danger that your original romantic interest is pretty much automatically under suspicion of being a Mary Sue. It's a thankless genre. Either Mulder ends up with Scully in the end (in which case why are you even bothering?) or Mulder ends up with the other woman (in which case the Scullyists are probably going to kill you).

The best Mulder/Other that I've read is probably Syntax6's "Isometry," because the romance isn't the whole point of the story. Punk Manuverability's "Venture Forth" was way too Mary-Sueish for me. And Tesla's "Flying Under the Radar" was very interesting, but we've discussed its Scully-bashing ending already. Enough said.

As I recall from my last reading of this story, it is a pretty decent example of the genre, certainly better than average. Now I'm going to have to re-read it and see whether I have any more specific comments. But it seems to me that you can't talk about a story like this without talking about the genre too.

[leucocrystal]

It's been a looooong time since I've read this one, and for some reason, when I think of it, I always think of this one and only section (and I honestly do NOT know why, seriously, considering how little it has to do with the main portion of the fic itself):

"Okay then, let's walk me out," he said, grabbing her hand and smiling down at her as they bumped through the doorway that was too narrow for both a Mulder and a Scully.

At the front door, Scully went to find Mulder's coat while Mulder lingered against the doorjamb. He'd worn his leather jacket, and picking it up from where it had fallen to the floor, she noticed its smell again, a brown scent that always reminded her of new shoes and Mulder.

Handing the jacket to him, she watched him put it on and then resume his lazy pose against the doorframe. He was stubbly and rumpled and supposed to be leaving, but leaning there in her doorway, he looked like a Calvin Klein ad for something expensive and fantastic and she wanted to try him on.

I think the reason I remember it is the two bits I've emphasized; they're just, to me, two lines that stuck out to me the first time I read it, and stuck with me. It's funny how random quotes can do that in fic, isn't it? (Even regardless of the overall quality, which I find especially strange! I'll often remember lines from fic I didn't like at all, and I'll have that sad moment of "too bad the rest was so mediocre" realization.)

Anyway, on subject, I think you're definitely right that it's "a thankless genre". I also agree that overall, this fic fits into the "pretty decent" section; in my more generous moods I might even say "pretty darn good." I don't think I've reread the full thing since the first reading, though. Parts, yes, but it never quite grabs me enough to pull me completely back in again.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

The first phrase I really love. It's so them. It makes me think of the scene in, I think it's "Field Trip," where Mulder is standing with his hand against the door frame and Scully just ducks underneath his arm to enter the apartment. It shows how comfortable they are around each other, touching in little ways like that.

The second phrase grabs me less. It reminds me a little bit of the scene from "Humbug" which ends up mocking his physical perfection. It's probably just me--I don't tend to find Calvin Klein ads all that hot. I'm weird that way.

On the broader question of quotes from fic, my experience is the same as yours. It's funny how lines from stories will just float into my head out of nowhere. There are certain ones that I find myself pondering from time to time without fail.

[leucocrystal]

Yes, exactly! Which, in turn, of course reminds me of Penumbra's "Contact High":

Appearing surprised to see her, he holds both the door and the jamb, leans his fine high cheek bone against his forearm, and studies her thoughtfully.

"You know what they say - North Carolina is a state of mind." he observes reflectively. He isn't exactly granting her entrance, but Scully walks in right under his arm - it isn't her fault that he's such a tall drink of water.

(LOL, this is like fanfic ping pong! How many back-and-forths can we do?) I do really love that little moment in the episode, though. I love all such little moments that give glimpses like that.

It reminds me a little bit of the scene from "Humbug" which ends up mocking his physical perfection. It's probably just me--I don't tend to find Calvin Klein ads all that hot.
Heh, I'm weird that way too (in regard to Calvin Klein ads); I think it's more the metaphor of wanting to "try him on" that grabs me. It's a unique phrasing. And having just recently watched Humbug, I have to laugh. What strikes me as so funny about that comment is -- for all the love I have for him, and for as attractive as I find him -- David's features are hardly perfect. They're... an unusual mix. I've been attempting XF portraits lately, and JESUS is his face hard to capture, because of this.

[ex-dashenka.livejournal.com]

Another good one in the Mulder/Other vein is Blair Provence's "Banging Your Head Against a Red-Haired Brick Wall." Wonderful, non-Mary Sue original character. Plus, I am total sucker for third-party views of Mulder and Scully.

[basepair.livejournal.com]

I highly doubt Mulder would ever take a two-hour lunch.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Agreed...

[basepair.livejournal.com]

Maybe if he were searching for the paranormal and "forgot" to tell Scully, but even then, he'd be doing something X-Files related.

[ex-dashenka.livejournal.com]

Well, if he were getting some, it might be another story. But for some reason I just wasn't buying Dating Machine Mulder.

I've always been a big fan of Punk and Sabine's work and was excited to read this, because I'd missed it the first time around. It was an enjoyable read and I liked the original character. I really felt for Sue (was her middle name Mary?)--she was a big, excitable puppy and seemed like a very nice person, but she just wasn't Scully. Loved the part where it turns out that she and Scully have the same dentist and she knows the dentist's whole personal story and Scully has never bothered getting to know him.

As mentioned before, the story had some memorable lines. However, as a whole, it didn't do much for me. Maybe I'm just not a fan of Jealous!Scully and Mulder and Scully both felt out of character at times.

[wendelah1]

I guess I am going to swim against the tide here to say that I enjoyed reading this very much. I am also a fan of the the authors and I was not disappointed by this at all. I am clearly in the minority in enjoying Mulder/Other and Scully/Other stories, whether they lead to MSR or not, as long as there is no Mulder or Scully bashing taking place. I suppose the point of writing and reading these stories is the point of any fan fiction: to enjoy the ride. It is clearly not that popular a genre, but I like it.

I like the idea of portraying Mulder and Scully as more like normal people, who date other people, and try to have a social life. It makes sense to set this story during a time when the X-Files has been taken away from shut them. I agree that X-Files Mulder would not be taking two hour lunches. However, Shit Detail Mulder, who is hating working for Kersh, and doing those background checks, seems like a good candidate for a two hour lunch and some serial dating.

The story is full of delightful Mulder/Scully banter, with many classic moments, like this one, when Scully catches Mulder playing computer games.

Scully reached a hand around and pulled Mulder's monitor to face her.
The wrong Tetris shape slid down the screen to balance inappropriately
on a growing center tower. "Well, thank god you're taking care of the
Tetris portion of our assignment," Scully said, spinning the monitor
back toward Mulder. "I was really hoping you'd take it off my hands."

One of the things I like best about this story is that Mulder doesn't get all of the funny lines.

I like the little running joke that Scully is having trouble with her phones. Her answering machine isn't taking messages from "Doug," who appears early on and then conveniently disappears into thin air. Her cellphone keeps calling Mulder's cellphone, which makes Susan Anthony giggle and say it must be lonely. Nice bit of foreshadowing there.

It is pretty clear almost from the start that Mulder is more in love with the idea of being in love with Sue than he actually is in love with her. I don't feel sorry for her. She knows what she wants from a relationship and when it is clear that Mulder isn't going to give it to her, she dumps him. She can take care of herself. A cute, funny woman like her will meet someone better suited to her in no time. Since deshenka brought it up, I can contrast Sue Anthony with Cassidy Neill in Blair Provence's "Banging Your Head Against a Red-Haired Brick Wall," who just doesn't get it, and spends a lot of time planning her wedding to Mulder and wondering why he isn't confiding in her and acting like a normal boyfriend. I don't feel sorry for Cassidy either, but by the story's end, I do want her to wake up and get a life, the sort of life she deserves. A life she is not going to get hanging around waiting for Mulder.

Sue Anthony is a fun, likeable original character. It is easy to see why Mulder was attracted to her. But as he confesses to Scully at the story's end, she was both too easy and too demanding. She does serve her purpose: to bring our hero and heroine into closer proximity to each other, so that Scully can make him tea that he doesn't really want, and so that Mulder can kiss Scully, which she does really want.

I also love the ending with Mulder in the laundromat taking off his jeans to add them to the washload while Scully watches him through the window, her nose pressed against the glass, like a little girl looking wistfully at a department store mannequin wearing an outfit she knows she will never own. But Scully can have Mulder; in fact, by this point she has had him, so she is no longer on the outside looking in.

She started to dial his number again, but changed her mind. Grinning at
the Santa, she crossed to the door of the laundromat. Inside, Mulder
was dialing, and Scully's phone rang from her pocket, but she didn't
answer it. She didn't need to, anymore, didn't need to stare through
foggy glass at the wonderful man with no pants who was her best
friend for life. She was right here. And she wasn't going anywhere.

Taking a deep breath, freezing her lungs, tasting snow and smiling, she
reached up and opened the door.

Her best friend for life. Ah shucks.

[pam-casso.livejournal.com]

I agree, I really liked this story.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I do love that "best friend for life" thing. Awwwww!

SO, I finally got to this one since I needed a bit of light-hearted humor. I certainly enjoyed it, and loved the humor and characterization while I was reading it, but overall it somehow just doesn't grab me enough to save. I feel like partially I'm missing something. I feel like it's saying something about what Scully has that no other woman can fill, but I'm missing what. That's actually quite a high compliment for Sue because she was extremely likeable and fun and spunky. I almost hated her for it. ;) It made me wish Scully could bring out that light-heartedness in Mulder, and thankfully they did show how fun and light-hearted their interactions can be. I almost felt like it was good for the MSR in the end, reminding them both how to just have fun with each other.

I wasn't very thrilled by Mulder's explanation for why he wanted to get with Scully in the end - "I noticed you were jealous and flirty so I figured I'd give it a try?" At least that's the way it came off to me. So, I feel like I'm missing something.

However, the joy in this story is in the details - the witty dialogue and banter and moments (like Scully in Mulder's bathroom, smelling him on her after using his shower) that are written so well. And they really, really capture both the thrill of infatuation (in Mulder) and the sorrow of being left behind (in Scully) in ways that we can all sympathize with.

[wendelah1]

SO, I finally got to this one since I needed a bit of light-hearted humor.

It has been a bit of an angst fest here lately, hasn't it? I am glad you enjoyed this. I think the Mulder/Scully interaction in this story is so adorable that I forgave Mulder for being slow on the uptake. I thought his reasoning for deciding to see whether or not Scully was interested was very plausibly male. Scully was such a goner by that time that she just didn't care! One of the things I really liked about the characterization of Mulder in this story is how recognizably a guy he was. In so many MSR stories, Mulder is romanticized to the point of absurdity.

And they really, really capture both the thrill of infatuation (in Mulder) and the sorrow of being left behind (in Scully) in ways that we can all sympathize with.

I agree. This is a universal experience and there are not that many of those in The X-Files universe. It was a lot of fun for me to read.

[bmerb.livejournal.com]

Shit Detail Mulder, who is hating working for Kersh, and doing those background checks, seems like a good candidate for a two hour lunch and some serial dating.

Oh yeah. Pretty sure Shit Detail Mulder was taking half day lunches to shoot hoops in at least one episode...

[wendelah1]

Snort! That is right. But which episode?

[bmerb.livejournal.com]

Hmm there were two Mulder-playing-indoor-basketball scenes (where Scully was there anyways), I know at least one was in the Two Fathers/One Son episodes. Seems likely that's when he was shirking his work?

[22by7.livejournal.com]

this story would have rubbed me off the wrong way if the Scully characterisation had been a little off. i found it agreeably balanced and appreciated the evidence of her sense of humour.

the 'best friends/partners' angle always gets me. well, practically without fail. that, i think to myself, is as much of the truth that anybody can ever touch, never mind the little green (or grey) men. (oh soppiness!)

[wendelah1]

I am with you: this was very carefully written and yet doesn't feel over-written or forced. I think it is just as hard to write humor as angst but it just doesn't get the love, unless it's NC-17 humor.

[hooves.livejournal.com]

Hm. I don't have much to say about this. Despite its length it seemed too wholly focused on using Mulder/Other to get to MSR, and that doesn't quite sit right with me. However, Sue was a likable enough character to start with; my issue was their rather abrupt break-up. I think it could have been written better, more in line with what we've seen of Sue in earlier parts of the story.

That said, Scully's jealousy was fairly low-key and I could appreciate that. It's not often that jealous!Scully makes an appearance and feels at all like a reasonable interpretation. In the canon her jealousy is obvious (to the viewer) but it's clear she makes an effort to try and chill out with it.

The other thing about this that didn't sit right with me was probably Mulder cornering Scully in the kitchen to kiss her the second time; her constant war at wanting it and not wanting it just...rubbed me the wrong way. It's not Scully's behavior here that bothered me so much as Mulder's, though; while I think she's generally a do-or-don't kind of person I understand the war in her head; what I didn't like was Mulder pushing her when it seemed obvious to me that she was hesitating. Like all of her physical responses were written in ways that made me picture her as small and cornered and I think if Mulder had her like that he'd probably back off, afraid he was acting like some kind of predator. This is especially important considering everything else that's happened to her in the years they've known one another. I couldn't picture him being so sure of her feelings for him that he'd push obstinately through that very obvious kind of barrier.

(And honestly, I was disappointed that he didn't hug her in that scene instead.)

I'm jumping around again, but I did enjoy the banter between the characters, the bit of flirting, Mulder happy in a relationship and leaving Scully behind to her lonely existence (so to speak). I kind of disagreed with Mulder's reasoning for wanting to be with Scully, but I have my own personal opinions about that, and why they might end up together (disregarding whatever canon will tell me later, of course--hah!), so that might be personal bias peeking in. Still, the writing was fairly solid, the characters were mostly IC, and Sue fell into the story charming and energetic. I think young!Mulder would have really loved her well, but S6 Mulder needs something different and specific in his life.

A bit confused about whatever happened to Doug, but I suspect that might be intentional on the author's part.

One last comment about Scully that I think needs to be said: the way she realizes she's not used to sharing, the way she feels about sharing in general? I liked that. It felt really in character and I think it's the kind of thing that she would definitely do. :D

[bmerb.livejournal.com]

Nice to read recent comments! I liked this one but something in it felt... A little forced. Eh maybe I'm a grump but too much vehicle for MSR I guess. I did love some of the dialogue, the banter, the humor that Punk does so well, and the insights into Scully but it's probably not higher ranking on my list of Punk writings that I like.

[hooves.livejournal.com]

:D!

Yeah, I think you're right. I mean, we know the "Other" is a vehicle for MSR, but...it's the writer's job to make it not *feel* that way to the audience/reader(s). A decent story to pass the time, but certainly could have been better, at least IMO. Still, I guess at least I didn't feel like I wasted my time reading it. So that's something. XD

Also, if you're a grump, what would that even make me? The Salt Grandma? :P

[bmerb.livejournal.com]

Haha! Salt Grandma? As in, with a grain of salt? ☺️

[hooves.livejournal.com]

Nah, just naturally very salty--it's like loose slang for "bitter" except you're not bitter...just salty. Haha.