The sex was certainly consensual--but at some point, Mulder's emotional IQ plummeted and he misinterpreted her responses. Things went rapidly downhill. I never would have read that as rape--but it still could be traumatizing for both parties. That seemed right to me. Things were too emotionally fraught between them for sex to go well. And Mulder knew it--that's why he refused to go along with her emotional blackmail request to begin with.
They're both emotional wrecks in this version of season five. It's the worst possible time for them to become sexually involved, which is why I don't find the story's resolution of the romantic complications very believable. I do understand why Syn felt it had to end that way. Her readers would have been grievously disappointed if they hadn't gotten their expected hit of MSR. But in rereading, I've concluded she needed a third part or a longer buildup. Something. It doesn't work.
I like the first story better as well, maybe because I've always thought they had a better shot at a viable relationship early on, before all of the damage is done. There should be more early season fanfic, period.
Edited to add--it is understandable that the scene was disturbing. I'm sure it was meant to be--she conveyed to her readers the emotional turmoil the characters were experiencing. Damn effective writing.
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winterfish
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Date: 2016-06-19 07:10 am (UTC)emotional blackmailrequest to begin with.They're both emotional wrecks in this version of season five. It's the worst possible time for them to become sexually involved, which is why I don't find the story's resolution of the romantic complications very believable. I do understand why Syn felt it had to end that way. Her readers would have been grievously disappointed if they hadn't gotten their expected hit of MSR. But in rereading, I've concluded she needed a third part or a longer buildup. Something. It doesn't work.
I like the first story better as well, maybe because I've always thought they had a better shot at a viable relationship early on, before all of the damage is done. There should be more early season fanfic, period.
Edited to add--it is understandable that the scene was disturbing. I'm sure it was meant to be--she conveyed to her readers the emotional turmoil the characters were experiencing. Damn effective writing.