Story 198: "five things that never happened to dana scully" by threeguesses

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

The next fic was nominated by lightlack and enthusiastically seconded by myself. It’s written by threeguesses, who is one of my favorite writers to come out of the pre/post IWTB era. Her writing in this fandom was not prolific, but her stories have always stood out (at least for me) for their powerful concepts, enthralling emotional currents, and the deceptive simplicity of threeguesses’ writing. Undoubtedly you know how "five things" fics work, in which case you also know the title of this week’s fic tells you just about everything that can be revealed about it without spoiling the sense of discovery that comes with each new segment.


five things that never happened to dana scully

The author is still around and writing up a storm (though sadly not in this fandom), and I’m sure she would appreciate feedback. There’s lots to say about this fic, so please do let us know what you think. And, as always, the nomination post is open for new suggestions.

Comments

[wendelah1]

#3 See, I don't buy Scully not knowing how to be a mother. We've seen many times that Scully is great with kids. As much as I loathe baby fic I do see why people would want to write about Scully with kids in tow. She's got this all emcompassing compassion and kindness coupled with this no bullshit attitude that is the trademark of great motherhood. And besides I don't buy her losing touch with Mulder, not like this. So to me, this "what if" just feels pretty pointless.

Looking it over again, I have to agree, 100%. There is nothing in character about anything that happens in this one. Scully is great with children. I don't think Mulder or Scully would allow themselves to lose touch with one another. I think to say otherwise implies that the only thing that they have between them is the work, and by this time in the series that's just not the case. This starts in fifth season with "Emily." They've been together six years. It's an au, sure, but it's one that must fundamentally change their characters for it to work, which in effect obliterates the series as we know it completely.

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

I can't disagree more. I find the idea of Scully adopting Emily to be OOC, but allowing for that bit of canon stickiness, I find the way this fic has it playing out extremely believable. I think this is just about exactly what would have happened. As much as I hate, hate, HATE the idea of Scully and Mulder losing touch with each other, if Scully had left the X-Files to live another life, I have no doubt that's what would've happened. The work was the medium and the impetus for their relationship at that point. They loved each other, but in leaving the work she would have severed the bonds of alliance, ideology, and propinquity that bound them together. Never ones to do things by halves, Scully would have adapted to her new life as best she could, and Mulder would have readapted to his old life as best he could, and there would have been no room for each other. No room for a rash, obsessive, and exceedingly empty man with a dangerous, all-consuming quest in Scully's life, and no room for Scully's normal life with it's normal vulnerabilities and normal needs in Mulder's life.

When she’s finished (she had a spiel, she’d planned) he just says, Okay Scully. He helps her carry the boxes to her car, shuts her trunk. They say goodbye in the parking garage, Scully’s heels sinking into a puddle. He waves as she pulls out.

This is written exceptionally well. The first time I read it I remember knowing, before reading any further, that this was the end for them. That after this whatever was between them would wither away. It's right there in the writing, in the way things are phrased. They don't "part company", they say goodbye. And there's this seperation already, the way they see themselves in relation to each other: Scully in the car, pulling away, and Mulder standing there in the parking garage, waving goodbye.

Mulder knows, of course, because Mulder would know, the way bonds are broken and people change. He would know that his life is not compatible with the one she's leaving for, and vice versa. As I see it, that's what his quiet, "Okay Scully," means. It means there's nothing for him to argue about or barter for. He knows how this will go, and he understands.

To me it all makes perfect sense.

[wendelah1]

It's very well written as far as it goes, and I'm not saying I don't like the story overall, it's not at all how I see either character behaving at this point in the drama.

So there we are.

The work was the medium and the impetus for their relationship at that point.

So, at what point do you think that did change? Because it must have changed somewhere along the way for them to have ended up together at the end in IWTB, without the work to keep them together. Or do you just leave canon behind entirely after Requiem (a perfectly understandable choice, by the way, given the canon we were given)?

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

So, at what point do you think that did change? Because it must have changed somewhere along the way for them to have ended up together at the end in IWTB, without the work to keep them together. Or do you just leave canon behind entirely after Requiem (a perfectly understandable choice, by the way, given the canon we were given)?

Well, I do completely disregard IWTB canon, and I usually attempt to disregard all but the most basic elements of S8 and S9 canon. However, I think your question is still entirely valid, and it was something I asked myself while I was typing up my previous comment.

The trouble is, I think the work is an absolutely fundamental aspect of both their relationship, and of who they are as people. In my headcanon quiting isn’t really a possibility. Technically they’re both at liberty to quit at any time, but it’s just not something either of them could find it in themselves to do. So for me, the question isn’t so much “When did the work stop being the medium and impetus for their relationship?” because I don’t think it ever really does stop being that. But as time goes on something kind of paradoxical happens, where more and more their relationship becomes the medium and impetus for the work, as well.

Short answer: I think by the end of FTF their relationship was capable of sustaining them when they needed it to.

(I should perhaps make clear that by "the work" I never just mean their FBI cases. I mean the whole epic experience of the work, the quest for answers, and the war they find themselves embroiled in.)