xf_book_club | Story 206: "Let's Play House" by Polly Burns

Entry tags:

Story 206: "Let's Play House" by Polly Burns

One of the things that impresses me about this story, is the intensity of the (albeit short) sex scene. It's amazing what an author can do with a few choice pieces of dialogue in the right setting. If you're a Krycek/Mulder fan, and hell even if you're not, you'll find this story very appealing.
~Bright Shiny Objects

I'm not so sure about that, but we shall see.

~~One of the fascinating things to me about fandom is how we're not all watching the same show.~~

Let's try again, shall we?

While we may all be playing the same DVDs (known hereafter as The X-Files), we can have completely different reactions to the same episode. For example, I think "Paper Hearts" is one of the worst episodes of the series but a good friend believes it's the best, and we can both make convincing arguments for our respective positions. Fans can make completely opposite interpretations of what it meant when Mulder told Scully that he even made his parents call him "Mulder." What hooks us into the show (and then the fandom) isn't always the same thing either. For some fans, The X-Files is about Mulder and Scully, two heroic FBI agents who investigate the inexplicable and fight the forces of evil. For others, it's a show about Mulder and Scully, two gorgeous and sexy FBI agents who fall in love, and okay yeah, so they solve crimes sometimes, too. And for some fans of the series, the most important or at least the most fascinating thing about The X-Files is the character of Alex Krycek.

Someone posted to the Confessions from the Basement tumblr that they "wished this fandom wasn't so militantly anti-slash." I can't speak for everyone else, but I'm not anti-slash. I read slash, although less in this fandom than most. Although you've probably already read it, here you go, anonymouse from tumblr, have some great Mulder/Krycek slash.

Read "Let's Play House."

Love it or hate it, please let us know what you think. And please, especially if you want to read more slash, leave us some suggestions in the nomination post for next time.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Argh, I know I came off strident in that first paragraph (I totally rewrote it multiple times, too) but my intention was not to make you feel bad about how you're running your own comm! I apologize.

No, that's okay. You don't have to apologize. I appreciate everything you've said and I'm glad you came and contributed to the discussion of the story. You've been more way more supportive than critical.

When Scully takes Krycek back to her apartment, I think he could have had at least a fleeting thought: the last time he was there he was involved in the accidental killing of Scully's sister. The characters don't have to bring it up with each other -- they both know already. But I felt the author needed to bring it up with the readers -- because then we are reminded that there's this layer to the S/K interaction.

That would have worked. Maybe I didn't notice its absence because the first thing I always think of when Krycek and Scully are in the same story (let alone the same room) is "that bastard killed her sister." It's like Scully-Krycek 101 for me.

If I'd had a gun, and I had been in her place, as soon as Krycek showed up, he'd be dead. End of story.

I really, really liked Melissa. And unlike, Scully, I am not a saint.

I wish I had a "Scully with her gun" icon to post this with.

hesychasm pointed out, slash has been around for a long time, it isn't going anywhere and doesn't really need defending—except apparently when it does.

As a Scullyist, and a feminist, and a woman whose psychic link to any show is through a female character, it even took me awhile to warm up to Mulder. As a gen person, I can see why people like M/M pairings, I can see why people like F/M pairings and F/F, too, but no pairing really hits my buttons, except on a fic by fic basis. Certainly, "Slash is far more than just the desire to see two dudes making out," although there is quite a lot of that, too. *g*

Despite the opinions of a few narrow-minded (I'm going to leave it at “narrow-minded” for now) individuals in TXF fandom, I disagree that TXF fandom is anti-slash. The fact is that well over half of the fanfic posted on AO3 is slash. By that standard, of course a fandom like TXF, which is primarily het, is going to seem “anti-slash.”

"Narrow-minded" seems like an unnecessarily charitable assessment. But getting back to the Tumblr post, what took me aback was the phrase, "militantly anti-slash," and if there were even a few comments like the one above, say at Haven, and no one countering them, I can see why the OP might feel that way about our fandom.

What TXF fandom actually is, is primarily MSR – nothing “anti” about it. I can definitely say that in all my time spent on Gossamer, I’ve seen LOTS of slash, and the comment up-thread is honestly the most anti-slash thing I’ve encountered in the fandom in five years.

I don't hang in forums much so I'm not aware of anti-slash sentiment but that doesn't mean it isn't out there.

The loyal remnant that we hang with here is overwhelmingly MSR. Certainly Haven is MSR and the few people who used to show up at TWOP were all MSR. The Tumblr crowd seems MSR. The group of people pushing for a third movie--MSR again. The small group of Philes at DW is more diversified I think, but other than me, and maybe Amal, I don't think there is anyone there who would say their primary fandom is TXF. Maybe the OP there doesn't know where the slash forums are, maybe they're less active than they used to be, so maybe the audience isn't there anymore for slash. This is all speculative, of course.

But. Fandom in general is overwhelmingly made up of people who slash various male pairings. Slash is the default setting in most fandoms. There are people who've made the argument that Mulder/Scully is a slash pairing. And even in this fandom (as in fandom in general), the most disliked characters are all female, and that group includes Scully.

Back again, having read and digested the story. I'm not one, personally, who sees slash in the dynamic between Mulder and Krycek (though I certainly do see a strong dynamic between the two), so what I like in a M/K story is a strong sense of the characters we see on the show, and that signature tension between the two is very evident here.

I enjoyed the imagery, and Alex's musings and reactions to the situation. It made me think again of something I've had on my mind lately, of how differently one tends to approach writing, and a style of writing, when a piece is short as opposed to one that's, say, novel-length. I know when I write short fic I tend to let myself play with words and imagery more, and am more conscious of style (and, frankly, of me writing, rather than trying to simply be a clear window through which the characters appear), which is something you really can't sustain over the course of several hundred pages... and no doubt shouldn't. For me, this story fell right in some sort of margin-land in this regard, where I was nearing a point of feeling a little weighed down with the cleverness and observation as I tried to make my way forward through the plot. I think this is what happens to me when I read Parabiosis: I love the spot-on observations and the style and the wordplay and the characters, but after a while I start to feel like they've become hip-boots slowing my forward progress through the story. All of which is just my personal quirky reaction as both a reader and a writer.

Wow, what an interesting conversation erupted while I was busy with my shopping kink! Wendy, I think you should allow OT comments; they all circle around to the same place and they allow a certain freedom of expression.

I'm a die-hard shipper--came for the weird, stayed for the sex--and I'm not a slasher. Het porn makes my motor run, but a m/m "smut biscuit" would not. I admit that I find the wide popularity of slash with female fans somewhat mysterious, though I don't object to it at all. I think the "militantly anti-slash" comment might be due to the fact that slash is proportionately less in X-File fic, and the reason probably is that Scully is such a strong presence on the screen and in Mulder's life. She can't be frivolously disregarded, and one reason I like this story is that she is not: she is treated with a respect that is actually poignant in nature. (Scully's bathroom is a safe place for Krycek, where is regresses to a childhood belief in possibilities long destroyed. Eating Scully's toast, he thinks of sainthood-- maybe earlier--and he thinks he might have been a writer. The heart is touched. Well, possibly not Wendelah's heart ;).)

I love the writing, I like the sense of metaphor experiment, but there's no doubt it's sloppy. Should have betaed, or at least carefully reread. See Hesychasm's listing of strained metaphors; I love it when other people do the work. But, like the show itself, we don't always feel words in the same way. I agree that the scuffed suede is ludicrous, but I kind of like the egg-shaped radiator drops. Go figure. One glitch I definitely noticed--when there's a lot of physicality you have to pay attention to who's where and who's doing what to whom--is when Mulder has Krycek shoved up against the wall so hard the screws in the picture frames are shaking. Yeah, a bit much, but intense. So they're back to front; Krycek can feel Mulder against his ass. Then, "All the color is sweated from his skin." Krycek can't see his own skin. He can't see Mulder's skin. Who is observing?

I'm a nit fiend. I would have edited the hell out of this.

But I liked it, truly. Of course the only possible relationship between Mulder and Krycek is sadomasochistic. I did think it was a bit overstated--or maybe I just don't like my Mulder being such a brute--but the sexualization of the violence rings absolutely true. And I do think that Krycek is in love with Mulder, the term "in love" being extremely elastic. He can't love a woman sexually; they're all on the pedestal. He is self-hating, so he takes pleasure in teasing the beatings and the arousal out of Mulder, which I'm sure arises from Mulder's self-hatred as well. (Is this getting me into trouble: linking S and M with self-hatred? Probably.) I think what convinces me of the "love" is that wonderful paragraph in which Krycek describes the sense of freedom and possibility in being with Mulder, the infinite, twisted weirdness that is in Mulder's brain. It's not a healthy love, it's very desperate and edgy, but that's the situation, guys. Desperation saturates this story, which is why the little bits of safety and serenity (at Scully's place) and the brief taste of happiness (after Krycek sleeps with Mulder) are so heartbreaking. Krycek could been friends with both his enemies, but he killed the father of one and the sister of the other. He is truly trapped in the circumstances of his life.

Mulder does come off as a bastard, though the show allows for this. I kept wanting him to cool it. Still, actual torture...is disturbing.

I can't wait for someone to argue with me so I can explain what I mean. Then I will actually figure out what I mean. The twisted weirdness in my brain.

Interesting. I wouldn't describe TXF fandom as militantly anti-slash, really. I've never seen such huge fic archives dedicated solely to slash as in this fandom, truth be told, though admittedly, that may be because my other fandoms are, well, small.
That said, maybe the places for discussion: forums etc. are overwhelmingly MSR or gen. Well, the one forum I sometimes go to is pretty much gen-only so I can sort of see why the commenter thought TXF fandom is anti-slash.

But this: One of the fascinating things to me about fandom is how we're not all watching the same show. This made me LOL. In a very good way. Isn't it wonderful how many interpretations can one thing have? Not that I actually think the whole of TXF, or even part of it, could be interpreted as a Mulder/Krycek love story even though by all acounts I could be called a slasher. There are, however, possibilities. Like the look Krycek gives Mulder after handing him the car keys and knowing Mulder will find cigarette butts in the car's ashtray or the "stupis-ass haircut" comment or The Kiss or... well, you get the picture. Interesting little points of divergence, of roads not taken by the show overtly.

Well, OK, to put it simply, I'm never interested in what's right in front of my nose and that's probably also why I'm not a fan of MSR - Carter made Mulder and Scully a pair on the show, killing such a wonderful friendship/UST/whatever you see *here follows a rant on how I've always liked M & S better as friends etc.* Unforgivable really.

Anyway, the fic. Thanks

wendelah1 for pointing out something I've never read before. Interesting story, though it won't become one of my favourites. Too much angst and Mulder being a sadist. I don't really like seeing Krycek being beaten in fics. I reckon he's had enough of this kind of treatment on the show, so when it comes to fan fiction, I like to see him at least fight back. Or, well, being the "top" as it were since we're talking about slash.
Have I mentioned I've also got equality kink?

I like how the story was written, though - such a verbose prose and even though some of the metaphors or similes may not exactly work. the whole thing is pretty well written.
Also, I like how it isn't about love. Mulder definitely doesn't love Krycek and I don't think Krycek loves Mulder despite him saying so. It's like he says it just to see what Mulder would do - he predicts a beating, gets it and grins that he can also get some sex out of it. It's like a twisted version of his usual screwing with Mulder.

Of course the only possible relationship between Mulder and Krycek is sadomasochistic.

I disagree. A good writer can make anything work (though probably not m-preg *trolol*) and while there's a lot of canonical violence in the Mulder&Krycek relationship, there is also possiblity for something else.

Okay, great, thanks for disagreeing.

I guess the most *obvious* and canonically supported relationship between M/K would be sadomasochistic. True love does spring up in unlikely places. And this is one of the unlikeliest.

Though I might generally agree with "a good writer can make anything work," that would be in the context of original fiction by experts. There are excellent fanfic writers, and I can go with extreme departures from canon because I have an all-too-open mind, but there must be fanfiction limits. I mean, conventional romantic or quasi-marital scenarios between the two are frequently indulged in, but you must put canon firmly out of mind if that's your thing.

There's a lot of obvious hatred there, putting sex to one side. Denial of that would be a fictional miracle. But I admit I've read little slash, so I await correction.

Why am I thinking of "Shakespeare in Love" (one of my favs), in which Queen Elizabeth posits that a playwright cannot capture love on stage and Will manages it in "Romeo and Juliet."

I do think Krycek loves Mulder. But it's a very narrowly defined love, and--Wendelah alert--a doomed ship!

I think she did a great job of getting Krycek's head. And I think the dynamic between the two characters matches up well with what we see on screen.

In my head canon, I can see how Mulder/Krycek could have easily have developed during their initial partnership because of their chemistry; however, after Krycek betrays Mulder, the dynamic changes completely. That attraction might still be there, but acting on it, with everything that has happened between them. It's epic and it's massively screwed up, which is probably what attracts me to this story. It ends badly, but I can't imagine how it could end any other way.

All of which is just my personal quirky reaction as both a reader and a writer.

You're not alone in your reaction to the linguistic exuberance of "Parabiosis." This story doesn't begin to approach that, but yeah.

That said, maybe the places for discussion: forums etc. are overwhelmingly MSR or gen. Well, the one forum I sometimes go to is pretty much gen-only so I can sort of see why the commenter thought TXF fandom is anti-slash.

Gen only because no other discussion is allowed?

There are, however, possibilities. Like the look Krycek gives Mulder after handing him the car keys and knowing Mulder will find cigarette butts in the car's ashtray or the "stupis-ass haircut" comment or The Kiss or... well, you get the picture. Interesting little points of divergence, of roads not taken by the show overtly.

I assume there are au stories written that take off from those points and tease out their possibilities.

Carter made Mulder and Scully a pair on the show, killing such a wonderful friendship/UST/whatever you see *here follows a rant on how I've always liked M & S better as friends etc.* Unforgivable really.

I liked the UST better. I think the RST ruined the show. But it's a canon ship. I just don't like how they ended things in IWTB at all.

Too much angst and Mulder being a sadist. I don't really like seeing Krycek being beaten in fics. I reckon he's had enough of this kind of treatment on the show, so when it comes to fan fiction, I like to see him at least fight back. Or, well, being the "top" as it were since we're talking about slash.

Sorry you didn't care for the story. Yes, Krycek did get beaten on a lot by Mulder in canon, so I can see why a Krycek fan might get tired of that in fic.

Have I mentioned I've also got equality kink?

What is an equality kink?

Also, I like how it isn't about love. Mulder definitely doesn't love Krycek and I don't think Krycek loves Mulder despite him saying so. It's like he says it just to see what Mulder would do - he predicts a beating, gets it and grins that he can also get some sex out of it. It's like a twisted version of his usual screwing with Mulder.

You put that very well. I like that it isn't about love, too. I agree that Krycek doesn't love Mulder in this story: I thought he was just messing with Mulder's head, which seemed in character.

What are your favorite

Ah, but is such a narrowly defined love still love? Though the ship is doomed all right.

Gen only because no other discussion is allowed?

No, I think it's more because no one is really interested in discussing romance, be it het or slash. We do discuss the episodes, plans for further movies, TXF actors other work, and the relationships in the series are just not a point of inerest. Though I do think some time ago there was a thread about a prefect partner/woman for Mulder. I should've just answered with Krycek and watch the resulting disbelief/schock and general unpleasantness emerge *trololol*. Oh well...

I liked the UST better. I think the RST ruined the show. But it's a canon ship. I just don't like how they ended things in IWTB at all.

You and me both. It's annoying that every man/woman partnership on screen eventually ends up as romance. "Dempsey & Makepeace", "Moonlighting", TXF - all went downhill after TPTB decided that they gust have to put the two protagonists in bed together.

You know, it's actually interesting. If Alex Krycek character were a woman on the show, say, Alexandra, there would be no question that the tension between her and Mulder was also sexual in nature. The fans would argue that there's this huge moral dilemma for Mulder: whom to choose etc. I bet the Mulder/Scully part of the fandom would be pretty much equal in numbers to Mulder/Alexandra part of the fandom.

Yes, Krycek did get beaten on a lot by Mulder in canon, so I can see why a Krycek fan might get tired of that in fic.

I think I just like Krycek more than Scully or Mulder because I don't trust people like Scully in real life and I don't like how Mulder allows his emotions take over his mind on occasions. And Krycek is at least honest in his self-serving attitude to life, though that's not really always the case either. He saved Mulder's life at least once. True, he sacrificed his "business partner" to do that, but hey, you can't have everything. Also, one of the jobs my presonality type apparently has a talent for - according to a semi-professional website - is assassin. I feel a sort of kinship with Krycek :) .

What is an equality kink?

I just like equality, e.g. if Mulder beats up Krycek I like seeing Krycek kick Mulder's arse as well. The "kink" is there just for a laugh :)

My favourite stories? I guess "How to Throw a Curve Ball" by Courtney Gray and "The Gift of an Enemy" by Sylvia - calssics really. (BTW, the community apparently doesn't allow links in comments and marks them as spam *sigh*).
Recently though I remembered I used to like David S's fics. Re-read them again and yep, they're still great. In fact I think I'll head down to add them to the nomination post.

That, I would think, leads us into an entirely other discussion entitled "what is love?" It has kept humans in a quandary for centuries.

Would you agree to "continuing infatuation" or "terminal obsession"?

If Alex were Alexandra, would Mulder still be permitted to beat her up? Now there's an explosive question.

That's weird because the community used to allow links and I haven't changed any settings.

You know, it's actually interesting. If Alex Krycek character were a woman on the show, say, Alexandra, there would be no question that the tension between her and Mulder was also sexual in nature. The fans would argue that there's this huge moral dilemma for Mulder: whom to choose etc. I bet the Mulder/Scully part of the fandom would be pretty much equal in numbers to Mulder/Alexandra part of the fandom.

I disagree. What would be the moral dilemma? The mere existence of sexual attraction between two characters hardly implies it would progress to actual sex, let alone love. Assuming in this mythical universe Alexandra still betrayed Mulder's trust, still killed the tram operator, did everything in her power to prevent Mulder from rescuing Scully, and killed Mulder's father, why would Mulder be any more likely to forgive Alexandra than Alex? If anything he would be less forgiving. Moreover, I think if Krycek were a woman, she would be despised by the het end of the fandom as a rival to Scully for Mulder's affections, just as Diana, Marita and every other woman Mulder looked twice at were. The slash fans would all be pushed to pairing Mulder with Skinner.

Anyway, I don't see why Mulder would have to choose any character for a sex partner. Noromos get no love.

Why explosive?

No, absolutely not. Heroes don't beat up on women. Mulder is a hero. Changing Alex to Alexandra would change the dynamic between the two characters completely.

That's why I love eliade's "In a Dark Time"--it's a doomed ship.

I'm a nit fiend. I would have edited the hell out of this.

Hee.

I don't think Krycek is in love with Mulder, but I love the phrase "terminal obsession."

I why is it that we can't call that love?

That's because you're not looking for any. ;-)

(Damn, since the comment I left yesterday is still marked as spam and probably invisible, let's try this again)

Okay, great, thanks for disagreeing.

You're very welcome. The pleasure is all mine, as they say.

I guess the most *obvious* and canonically supported relationship between M/K would be sadomasochistic.

See, to me it's not obvious at all because I don't see Krycek as being particualrly masochistic - no more than I see Mulder as a sadist. Unless you mean the other way round (though, frankly, I don't really see that either). Also, M&K friendship is canonically supported as well. They were partners and Mulder even warmed up to the extent of calling Krycek by his first name.
Saying the M/K realtionship that's canonically supported is a sadomasochistic one is like saying Mulder&Scully platonic friendship is canonically unsupported. And they were friends before the MSR was shoved down the audience's collective throat. It all depends - on the point in canon timeline, on the viewer's perception and interpretation. As it should be. It would be a ~~peaceful~~ ~~less frustrating~~ boring world if we all saw things the same way.

I mean, conventional romantic or quasi-marital scenarios between the two are frequently indulged in, but you must put canon firmly out of mind if that's your thing.

There is no need to go from one extreme to another. There really is something between hatred/sadomasochistic relationship and buying curtains together for Mulder and Krycek. Since you say you haven't read too much slash, I would suggest "How to Throw a Curve Ball" by Courtney Gray or "The Gift of an Enemy" by Sylvia. Neither story is about easy romance and neither is all about hatred. And both are quite plausible within TXF canon.

Oh, "Romeo and Juliet" is certainly one kind of love. The woe-is-me, angsty, rendering-garments kind. Perfect for the theatre. Well, no that's not fair, but I tend to be a bit cynical about those things :)

Because obsession is not love? I do like the phrase, though. Fits rather well. Better than "continuing infatuation" because I can't see the infatuation there to save my life.

Yeah, I wonder how that particular aspect of their "relationship" would be handled.
Hm, maybe he wouldn't beat her up and if he tried, she would - I don't know - kung fu him into the next week? Could be interesting.

I meant that the fans would totally make up the moral dilemma for Mulder, just as they do now, only maybe more so because as a het pairing Mulder/Alexandra woul be sort of sanctioned by the canon.

And whoa, wait a second. There's no evidence Krycek killed the tram operator nor that he killed Mulder's father. In fact, the latter is really unclear if you look at the episode. I mean, why would Krycek loiter around the house in which he'd just committed a murder. It doesn't make sense - he's supposed to be a professional.

And Mulder wouldn't be more likely to forgive female Alex than male Alex - and that's the dilemma. There's an attraction, but the person Mulder would feel it to, makes said attraction unacceptable.
Huh, so het fandom is so dogmatic? Who would've thought.

The slash fans would all be pushed to pairing Mulder with Skinner.

I wonder if the Lone Gunmen pairings would be more popular then. I've just traumatised you, haven't I?

Anyway, I don't see why Mulder would have to choose any character for a sex partner. Noromos get no love.

True. He did so in canon, though. And for that I could gladly kick Carter's arse.

Why is obsession not love? I don't want to come off here as, well, obsessive, but you don't favor gentle, marital love and you dismiss R&J innocent passion, and you don't like infatuation... Love is a word that famously eludes single definition. Still, it seems to me if one persists in deciding what isn't love, it might be good to come up with one.

Personally, I'm inclusionary. (Is that even a word?) There are thousand kinds of love. (I also feel that way about science fiction.)

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 2 of 3

Story 206: "Let's Play House" by Polly Burns

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject

(frozen comment) no subject