Story 17: "Night Song" by Zuffy

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Our next story was also nominated by lsugaralmond. It's another all things missing scene, because she suggested that it might be interesting to compare and contrast. So, go to it!

Night Song
Author: Zuffy
Email: zuffynuffy@yahoo.com
Website: http://Zuffy.tripod.com/index.html
Rating: PG-13
Classification: V, MSR
Spoilers: *all things.
Summary: A woman awakens on a couch.

Comments

[wendelah1]

I really liked "Nightsong" and in many ways this story works better for me than "Confirmation." I like the whimsical references to different episodes starting from Mulder's glasses in the pilot, moving to Phoebe, that "English tart," (are there Americans who use the word "tart?" it isn't in my spoken vocabulary), then to the mysterious appearance of a bedroom, not merely a bed, but an entire room in "DreamLand." The dialog between M&S about the bedroom is just so classic.

"So, what's your best shot, Scully? Hypnosis?
Hallucination?" His voice was low and seductive.

"Unlikely," she said, "although some hallucinations seem
uncannily material to those experiencing them. But, no."
She turned and saw that he wore his smug look, the one
reserved for his wildest fantasies. "What? You want me to
say that aliens installed a bedroom in your apartment when
they got tired of flattening corn?"

"I like the way you think."

"But it's insane."

"Your theory." His eyebrows shot up once, quickly.

Mulder thinks his bedroom is an X-File!

"So..." he was saying. "The living room here is the world
as we know it. While that room either occupies another
dimension or possibly an alternative universe that bumped
against ours and wrinkled along its edge. And yet..." he
stepped forward into the bedroom, "the docking is
seamless. Try it."

She is not buying this story. On the other hand. . .

There had to be a hundred reasons why men
shaved but she could think of only two. One -- because
they had to -- didn't apply at midnight.

She may be interested in pursuing further inquiry into another sort of extreme possibility. (And there's another little episode reference, this time to "3.")

They get to dance to Mulder humming "Starlight Ballroom 1939" (another episode reference) and they get to kiss, while the moonlight shines through the window that doesn't exist in their universe.

This is so good, because there is sexual tension, and yet the romance is light and playful. Every little move they make is foreplay, and it's verbal foreplay, which is so very them. To me, this story is much more in character than "Confirmation," but then I thought "All Things" was pretty OOC, too.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

(are there Americans who use the word "tart?" it isn't in my spoken vocabulary)

Not that I know of. Then again, it's not used all that often in England anymore either.

To me, this story is much more in character than "Confirmation," but then I thought "All Things" was pretty OOC, too.

Hmm, yeah. I think that "Confirmation" was closer to the mood of "All Things," but that this story is closer to the mood of the show as a whole. Or at least to the mood of seasons six and seven, which is where this is clearly situating itself.

[wendelah1]

I think that "Confirmation" was closer to the mood of "All Things," but that this story is closer to the mood of the show as a whole. Or at least to the mood of seasons six and seven, which is where this is clearly situating itself.

So, do you think if I had liked "All Things" more I would have liked "Confirmation" better? I agree, it is in some ways a better fit with the episode. This story feeling more like it belongs in season seven makes sense to me, too.

Both of these stories are so good that I want to re-watch the episode now. Maybe "Dreamland," too, to check out that closet/bedroom of Mulder's.

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

So, do you think if I had liked "All Things" more I would have liked "Confirmation" better?

I don't know, I didn't adore "All Things" myself. It was one of those episodes that was fascinating but terribly flawed. I like this story because it takes the basic feel of the episode and does something productive with it, rather than deciding to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I think that "Confirmation" was closer to the mood of "All Things," but that this story is closer to the mood of the show as a whole.

You basically summed up my feelings right there.

all things

was very somber and thoughtful, and Confirmation played into that, but I like the return to dialogue, banter, and...intimacy? I don't know, it just felt like a much more organic coming together. Loved it!

And you know I love the sap, so I adored Mulder's little confession there ;)

[idella]

(are there Americans who use the word "tart?" it isn't in my spoken vocabulary)

Canadian, if it can count, and I do use it, though possibly it is because my life is overrun with English people. I wouldn't say I use it often, but thinking about it, I'm more likely do so when referring to an English person (no matter whom I'm talking to). So I don't know that I take it all that seriously as a word, more of a joke, really, or a word association, which is how I see Scully using it here, I suppose.

All of which is to say I bought it, it didn't pull me out of the story.