xf_book_club | Story 187: "Relic of Tough Weather" by Jesemie's Evil Twin

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Story 187: "Relic of Tough Weather" by Jesemie's Evil Twin

For Thanksgiving three years ago

wendelah1 posted JET's widely loved holiday fic, "Small Lives Awake." It happens to be the first fic I ever commented on, here at the book club, which makes me feel rather delighted to have the privilege of posting my own choice of Thanksgiving fics this year, this one also by JET.

"Relic of Tough Weather" was written and is set in November, 1999, shortly after the events of TSE:AF. Though it doesn't have the length or popularity of "Small Lives Awake," it is a distinctive blend of JET's signature style: evocative prose and compassionate characterizations.

Relic of Tough Weather

JET's still around, to some extent; I'm sure she would appreciate the feedback. And, as ever, our nomination post is open for recommendations.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating the occasion.

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I knew it was a risk posting this fic, given the style of its prose, but A. I've only read two Thanksgiving fics that I can think of, and we'd already read the other one, and B. I love it. I'm glad to see that at least a couple of people who'd never read this fic found it enjoyable and beautiful. Needless to say, I'm entirely in that camp myself.

I think JET's writing is particularly difficult to discuss, if you like it. For me, trying to explain why I love it - what it means to me, what it speaks to in me - is difficult. Her writing is like a charm, an invocation. The writing is complicated, but the final product is simple enough, in the way things seem simple when one goes from being deeply afraid to no longer being so very afraid.

Which could be considered a synopsis for most of JET's stories: Mulder and Scully go from being deeply, painfully afraid of something (losing each other, losing themselves, etc.) to braving their fears with all the strength of their best qualities.

In ROTW, Mulder overcomes whatever remaining threads of cautious fear are causing him to stay away from Scully on Thanksgiving. He tries to tell himself he wants to be alone, and there does seem to be a spare kind of enjoyment in it for him:

However, he likes the tarnished temperature, the brash sleet that has begun to patter like metal shavings against the windowsill. These pewter clouds seem custom-made for him.

He will go outside for a minute and let the ice slivers liquefy in his palms, let the sweet chill seep and quiet his mind.

He tries to tell himself: He does not miss Scully today. Not even a little.

My reading of this is that he's managing his desires, trimming them back before they can overwhelm him. It's a day for giving thanks for all the good in one's life, so of course Mulder misses Scully. She's the very best thing in his life. She is what he's thankful for, and who he's thankful to.

To go to her on Thanksgiving day would be to acknowledge that - to accept it as the blessing it is, a blessing that carries with it an almost infinite potential for pain. After all, he could loose her, she could vanish again, or die:

He feels he could sit at her bedside for the rest of nights, forever, as long as it takes until sleep slides into his mind like a knife, a burst of crimson pain and then a blessed black depth, a lightless glacier.

In the outwardly uneventful but internally fraught course of ROTW's narrative, Mulder goes from baking a rather pitiful pie and trying to savour his loneliness, to being intimate with his dearest family.

He still does not know the words, but he knows they must nonetheless be said.

I think JET's writing is particularly difficult to discuss, if you like it. For me, trying to explain why I love it - what it means to me, what it speaks to in me - is difficult. Her writing is like a charm, an invocation.

I understand that. I think

dashakay's "Blinded By White Light" is like that for me. There's a scene that resonates for me on a deep level because of who I am, because of my personal experiences.

Since I don't think I can separate out my feelings about this story from the story of my own life, I won't even try.

The truth is I identify in a perhaps not entirely healthy way with the premise of this story. While I don't objectively think that there is just one person we are meant to be with, and if we miss that opportunity we will never achieve true happiness, I do know what it is like to feel as though you have found that person. I also know firsthand what it is like to fear losing them to a horrible, meaningless death. When I reread the scene in the woods, where Mulder and Scully are both dying from the plague and know that the end is close, I just break into tears. I can't help it. I don't know if the writing is good or bad, I just know that it affects me on a deep level that not many stories have. Sorry to get so emotional here.

Mulder's voice is low and pleading as he wraps his arm
around her. "Not tonight, Scully. It's not time. Let's
just keep each other warm. Please, for me, one more night..."

Slowly, she puts the gun down and she hears him let out his
breath in relief.

He pulls her closer to him and his breath ruffles her hair.
"I just want to see one more morning with you."

For me that is the emotional climax of the story. Because the only way they could end up together meant hurting their families, I think I felt ambivalent about the ending. Still, I don't think DashaK could have ended this fic any other way and still satisfied the readers.

Anyway, back to "Relic." I want to be clear on this. I don't think the main problem with this fic is her style, although it's not helping matters any. The problem for me is the plot. When she has all of the elements of good story-telling working together, the results are magnificent. I think "Night Giving Off Flames" is one of the best stories in this or in any fandom. It's powerful, it's unforgettable. I love "Things That Lie Outside" and "Small Lives Awake" nearly as much.

Yeah, but the way she writes plot is a big part of her style. I'm actually not wild about NGOF. It's good, but I probably connect with it the least out of any of her fics, including the vignettes. I do love SLA and TTLO, though.

Why a risk? If you only posted stuff we all agree on, it would make for a very boring book club.

Easy for you to say. It's not one of your favorite stories being so easily dismissed.

It's okay, it's all part of being a mod. All I can do is hope that people comment, one way or the other, and be happy when they do - which I am.

But this fic is dear to me, and I'm not going to pretend it's fun to hear it criticized for several pages.

Easy for you to say. It's not one of your favorite stories being so easily dismissed.

But Fish has had stories of her own discussed here and critiqued, which is surely a comparable experience? And she also shared her difficulties with understanding the story, as did I.

It's not easy to say to a group, hey, I didn't understand this. Is it me or is it the story? Can you help me out here?

It's okay, it's all part of being a mod. All I can do is hope that people comment, one way or the other, and be happy when they do - which I am.

I'm glad you are okay with it. Posting our opinions out in the open anywhere is a risk; I can't disagree with you. Regarding my opinions on fandom and fic, I've been flamed for mine in my personal journal and trolled and de-friended, too.

Anyone who puts a story in the queue is taking a risk, though maybe not quite so publicly as we do who post and comment.

But this fic is dear to me, and I'm not going to pretend it's fun to hear it criticized for several pages.

I see that. I'm sorry this has been such a negative experience for you. Thank you for sharing this rec with us despite your reservations about doing so.

We all bring our unique pov and experiences to the table here. I hope you know how much I appreciate your contributions and look forward to reading them; even if I disagree with your reviews, I always learn something new about the stories from reading them.

But Fish has had stories of her own discussed here and critiqued, which is surely a comparable experience?

I think having your own fic discussed is another thing entirely, a whole other kind of painful(when the fic gets criticism) and rewarding (when it gets praise).

It's not easy to say to a group, hey, I didn't understand this.

But this week you have two vocal participants agreeing with you. And you seem to be saying, "I didn't get it because it's not there to get." That's different. It's like - I think "Blinded By White Light" is trite and kind of schmaltzy. For you, its value is right there. Well, for me, ROTW's value is right there. I don't have to squint, I don't have to labour, it's just a really beautiful, moving fic.

I see that. I'm sorry this has been such a negative experience for you.

It hasn't really. I mean, two people who'd never read the fic before read it and loved it. That's wonderful, and has made me really happy.

Not to mention that articulating and writing down what this fic means to me has solidified it's place in my head, and made me love it all the more - which is a really rewarding thing when it happens, as perhaps you know.

I'm just tired, and this is the fourth week I've been arguing against the vocal majority. I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people.

This week I did have two vocal people agreeing with me, but there's never a guarantee about it. E.C. disagrees with me at least as often as you do. So does Fish.

And you seem to be saying, "I didn't get it because it's not there to get." That's different. It's like - I think "Blinded By White Light" is trite and kind of schmaltzy. For you, its value is right there. Well, for me, ROTW's value is right there. I don't have to squint, I don't have to labour, it's just a really beautiful, moving fic.

Yes. Well, I do think ROTW's particular weaknesses keep it from being a completely successful story--for me. I can see why it would work better for other readers, who bring something different to the story. Ultimately, nothing works for everyone. Fish dissed "This House is Burning." She didn't like her characterizations or even her writing! Tesla is a very smooth stylist, one of the best we have, so I don't even know. You know? Zellie on the other hand loved it, which, yeah, made me very happy. Carol loved it the first time around, had some major issues with it the second. EC and I loved it pretty much unreservedly—although she didn't like the ending as much as I did.

It hasn't really. I mean, two people who'd never read the fic before read it and loved it. That's wonderful, and has made me really happy.

Not to mention that articulating and writing down what this fic means to me has solidified it's place in my head, and made me love it all the more - which is a really rewarding thing when it happens, as perhaps you know.

Yes, I totally do. I look back sometimes when I need a lift at the things I've written about stories I like. A good, well-reasoned bit of analysis usually cheers me up, even if no one agreed with me. *g*

I'm just tired, and this is the fourth week I've been arguing against the vocal majority. I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people. No guarantees there, I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

I need to go look at the queue...

No guarantees there, I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

Whatever you decide will be fine. If I get too tired of being the voice of dissent, I'll just comment less for a week. That is always an option.

Fish dissed "This House is Burning."

Yeah, we all have our unpopular opinions. I think THIB is very good, and I enjoyed it a lot, though I do agree with Fish that the Scully characterization was fairly weak.

Fish dissed "This House is Burning." She didn't like her characterizations or even her writing! Tesla is a very smooth stylist, one of the best we have, so I don't even know. You know?

OY! Quoting myself here: "I won't deny that the style is fluid and the story rather well written,"

I had issues with the characterisations and thought the descriptions of their feelings for each other lacked subtelty and I stand by that. But there's nothing wrong with Tesla's writing. She writes well, just not in a way that appeals to me.

I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people. No guarantees there, I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

I need to go look at the queue...

Or, you know, we could review "The Sound of Windchimes". I'm sure we could all agree on that one. Nekkid Mulder and Scully in space rape fantasy with mysteriously materializing hamburgers. What's not to love? *sniggers*

Just kidding.

Hey Babe, be of good cheer, we've all been up against it at times. I have a peculiar fondness for Jess's Bombardier Boy, and *no one hardly even posted.* It's wacky, and wacky is hard to defend to those who aren't vulnerable to it. But I love laughing, and I think that gives me an instinctual understanding of what creates comedy. Theory, however, doesn't get the giggles.

It's funny how it's possible to bond with a fic to the extent that any criticism of it scars your very soul! That's how I am with THIB.

Geez, I'm afraid to *mention* Jess's Hog Heaven. And yet I consider it sublime.

I have a peculiar fondness for Jess's Bombardier Boy, and *no one hardly even posted.*

Couldn't we have some sort of catch up sessions? Like sometimes when the discussion on the current story is wrapped up quickly, we could have a tiny note in a corner refering to one of the fic that got few comments in the past, so people could go back there and catch up or add new things? I know I missed discussions I would have loved to participate to because I was away at the time or otherwise engaged.

Just an idea in passing.

Edited 2011-11-29 18:43 (UTC)

What a nice idea. I defer to the power of the mods to make it so (channeling Capt. Picard).

I was just rereading the stuff on "Other Night" and I found myself posting. And I'm thinking, "What are you, nuts?"

Of course, there's always the grim possibility of Nobody Posted, Part Two.

It's wacky, and wacky is hard to defend to those who aren't vulnerable to it.

Yeah, I get that. Poetic is hard to defend as well. It's so often one of those "you either see it or you don't" situations.

It's funny how it's possible to bond with a fic to the extent that any criticism of it scars your very soul! That's how I am with THIB.

Haha, yes. It's a physical distress, like people are saying bad things about the person you're in love with.

But Fish has had stories of her own discussed here and critiqued, which is surely a comparable experience?

I think having your own fic discussed is another thing entirely, a whole other kind of painful

*laugh* you got that right. This said I welcomed the critiques on my fics, even the negative ones because they made me think. My only beef was with HC, when the discussion seemed to focus mostly on that one controversial scene and that was a bit frustrating. But other than that, bring it on, I say.

I guess seeing Madeleine Partous "The Pact" which used to be one of my favourite stories back in the days - ripped to shreds was in a way more painful, so I know where Amyhit is coming from. But then the comments made a whole lot of sense. It is a deeply flawed story with OTT characterization and a rubbish plot. But the M&S interaction still cracks me up. It's like Missy Pennington's The Tempest. Boy, it hasn't aged well, but I have an irrational fondness for it.

I think Blinded By White Light is schmaltzy trite too. And way overrated. :)

I'm just tired, and this is the fourth week I've been arguing against the vocal majority. I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people.

Vocal yes, majority no. To my count it's a 4 to 3 against. Or a tie since Lighlack didn't say what she thought but reading her post I assume she's a JET fan.

Edited 2011-11-29 18:33 (UTC)

Easy for you to say. It's not one of your favorite stories being so easily dismissed.

I'm sorry darling I thought the only person I might offend here was the writer. It didn't cross my mind that you liked this story so much, criticizing it would affect you.

But I'm blunt in my opinions, alays have been. "Merciless, brutal criticism involving burning smartassery" Aloysia used to call it. And years of being on Haven where you couldn't voice a single criticism makes me enjoy the freedom of speech I have in this book club like you wouldn't believe. So I guess I just took the ball and ran with it on that one.

It didn't cross my mind that you liked this story so much, criticizing it would affect you.

People's opinions on things always affect me. That's why I'm here, that's why I like this place so much. There's no need to apologise, Fish. Like I said, what's important about this community is that people get involved, and post their opinions as honestly as they can. But yes, I love this story.

Vocal yes, majority no. To my count it's a 4 to 3 against.

Yeah, I noticed that too, but my saying so would've been kind of a tacky way of validating my argument, I think.

Or a tie since Lighlack didn't say what she thought but reading her post I assume she's a JET fan.

She's a HUGE JET fan. ROTW is not her favorite of JET's stories, but she's definitely in the "like" camp on this one. (She and I have talked about this in RL, which is why I'm comfortable speaking for her in this case.)

I knew it was a risk posting this fic, given the style of its prose,

Why a risk? If you only posted stuff we all agree on, it would make for a very boring book club.

I find it interesting to read about people's experience of a story when they differ so much from my own.

I agree you, Fish. For discussion, the more opinions a story generates, the better. If we only read "safe stories" this place would close down for lack of traffic. I always enjoy reading other people's takes on a story, more so if they don't agree with mine.

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Story 187: "Relic of Tough Weather" by Jesemie's Evil Twin

Themes: Fear and Love

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