Story 213: "Undying" by Elanor G

[wendelah1]

This story is told from Tooms's POV and it's just as creepy as that suggests. Elanor G is better known for her well-plotted casefiles, and they are excellent too, but this story is darkly original. The author rates it R but I would give it no more than a PG-13 for violence.

Please send the author some feedback and then let us know what you think.

Read "Undying".

Comments

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

They never really developed the Tooms character in the series, and somehow he is a huge part of XF lore. I like stories that explore previously unexplored avenues. I particularly liked the part where he was laughing at Nosferatu. It makes sense that he would find the consumption of blood weak and trivial compared to his hunger for livers.
Not sure about Scully being undying though. I've always thought Clyde Bruckman was referring to her not dying of cancer. I never been a fan of Tithonus, I just thought the writers were being lazy with that one.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

See, I loved Tithonus, I thought it was a very creepy tale , and I think Scully's 'death' is one of the most potent scene I've seen on the show. I mean you can see the life fading from her frikkin' eyes! How does an actor do that???

This said I agree that the ending smacked of lazy writing and I agree with your Clyde Bruckman's theory. That he would mean she survives her cancer makes sense.

But I'm glad this "Scully is immortal" trope exists, because if it hadn't, Penumbra wouldn't have written Fathoms Five, which is amazing stuff.

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

I love Penumbra but I hated disliked Fathoms Five. Scully would never even attempt to kill herself, she is Catholic and we just don't do that. Even if you are not officially apart of the faith, once you have been a Catholic you never consider it (suicide).

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Are you telling me that no Catholic has ever committed suicide? If this were the case there wouldn't all those issue of being buried in unconsecrated ground.

I know Scully's attempt to kill herself is one of the most controversial point of this story.

I myself find it plausible that Scully would not want to live forever, that the burden of eternal life would be too much for her to bear.

However, I have a hard time buying that she would try to off herself while young. But at the same time it looks like she's experimenting - what a bullet through the head will do to her. She hopes she's going to die but deep down she *knows* she's not going to.

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

You're right, I'm sure lots of Catholics off themselves. I just didn't buy that from Scully. She is not the type to let her emotions overwhelm her.
Lol, Penumbra is so awesome we talk about her work in other writer's threads.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

I know right? *laugh*

Yes, I agree, Scully would bite the bullet (AH!) and not let her emotions get the better of her. But that scene was so wonderfully written that I can suspend my disbelief just for the amazing experience it was to read it.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

So agreed! Fathoms Five isn't easy to take, but it's one of ficdom's authentic tragedies. I'd add The Other Man by Jess and Fata Morgana by Julie Fortune. I'll bet Wendy could think of others, but there aren't many.

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

The Other Man really knocked me for a loop. I thought I saw where it was going and then WHAM! I think I laughed a little at the end.
I haven't read the other one you mentioned.