Story 214: "Never" by Allison Kinney

[wendelah1]

I hope we haven't discussed this here already. I searched diligently but if it's a repeat, blame my brain. This post is a belated birthday present to a dear friend, who liked this story quite a bit back in the day. I hope she still does. It is also an unsubtle attempt to lure back our other moderator. I miss you, amyhit.

"Never" is an MSR smut-biscuit, pure and simple, in the venerable under-the-covers while undercover genre. It's sexy and cute and better written than most of the genre. Naturally, I wish she'd gone ahead and written the undercover story that sets up the sex scene... Predictable Wendy is predictable.

If you can find her, send the writer some feedback.
The nomination post is always open for your suggestions.
Hate it or love it, I want to hear what you think of this story.

Read "Never".

Comments

[newo-fic.livejournal.com]

I am an absolute sucker for undercover fic. And not only do I wish she would've set up Mulder's undercover story more, like you said, but I am also curious to know what would've happened next. How long does Mulder stay with the group? Does Scully head back to DC the next day?

As a shipper, I loved how hot it was written, both the foreplay in the bar and the actual sex in the livingroom. And the actual narrative leading up to the smut was interesting. I'd say the only thing that struck somewhat negative with me is that I thought her Scully was slightly off. But the author freely admits that the characterizations are a bit off so I guess my criticism is moot.

[wendelah1]

I'd say the only thing that struck somewhat negative with me is that I thought her Scully was slightly off. But the author freely admits that the characterizations are a bit off so I guess my criticism is moot.

It's hard sometimes to know what readers mean by that, maybe because it always seems OOC to me for Scully to sleep with Mulder. Just kidding. Is there a line of dialogue or a paragraph or anything more specific you could give to help me out in this?

I am a sucker for anything resembling a decent plot in fanfic or profic for that matter, especially a casefile. I want her to make this longer and tell us what happening. It's almost as bad as a WIP with no chance of being finished.

[newo-fic.livejournal.com]

It's hard sometimes to know what readers mean by that, maybe because it always seems OOC to me for Scully to sleep with Mulder. Just kidding.

lol, no I can understand that. I guess it was just the general tone of Scully's voice. There were times where it seemed a little too desperate. Maybe that's a bit harsh. I guess I just don't see much Confident!Scully here. And there a just a few things that I'd never imagine her saying...

How many other weekends has Mulder spent in this bar chatting up the ladies?
Why does it hurt to think about it?

You noticed, I tell myself. You were just in denial. You've been in denial
for years. Welcome to the 12 Step program. My name is Dana and I'm addicted
to my partner.

But besides some slightly out of character moments, I did enjoy the narrative and the shipper in me loved the sexytiems :) And I totally identify with you; I love great plots and interesting stories behind Mulder and Scully and I'm always secretly hoping for various WIPs to come to completion (ex: amalnahurriyeh's Mulder/Scully undercover snippet)

edited b/c I fail @ teh lj

[obviousanswer.livejournal.com]

I really liked this.

I agree with both you guys above: my main criticism of the fic (which is actually a compliment) is that it's a victim of its own success. I'm happy to read some plain old smut now and then, but for this fic the set-up is just too compelling, I also wanted more story than (/then) sex. And more character-congruent story. To me Mulder was most out of character, him hitting on Scully so overtly and feeling her up within a few minutes when supposedly he hasn't picked up anyone else for ages (so it's even out of undercover character for him!), and typically he'd be thinking she's just there to check that he's OK, nothing romantic, like usual. It was a much quicker way to the sex, but the scenario and double-meaning dialogue was great, I'd have loved a more awkward/flirty/UST-y dynamic between them.

[write-out.livejournal.com]

This has always been one of my favorite smut biscuits. Yes, I would have loved a longer story with more plot, but for what this is, I think it's hot and sexy and well-written. It totally sucked me in at the time and still does. I'm glad this was selected- I hadn't read it in a long time.

On a completely unrelated note, it's so unusual to see real names attached to fanfic these days (assuming this is the author's real name). It was so common with XF fic, though. Maybe with most fanfic back in the day? I only read XF fic back then, so I don't know.

[obviousanswer.livejournal.com]

According to wendelah1, this one doesn't seem to be a real name. But yeah, there's so many name-y sounding author names on old fic, a lot of them are real names, yes?

I suppose they must be since I've even seen some provided emails which are "[real name]@[well known university].com", which is awesome.

[obviousanswer.livejournal.com]

I just googled Allison Kinney, looking to see what other clever scenarios she might have written. Was this really the only fic she ever wrote? Very impressive given how good this is (and disappointing since I was hoping for more).

[wendelah1]

This was written by Suzanne Schramm. Allison Kinney was a sock. I can edit the post to add that. Sorry. I assumed that was common knowledge.

[obviousanswer.livejournal.com]

Ah brilliant! I am unfortunately lacking in some common knowledge :( Thanks!

[write-out.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize (remember?) that they were one and the same. I know a lot of authors back then were under a few names.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that. Then again I seem to be pretty clueless in the Who's Who of fanfic, maybe I just don't pay enough attention.

I found out only last year that V.Salmone is Punk M. and that Cici Lean is DBKate. Oh and Sabine is a bunch of people too right?

There should be a list of these things for fanfic lore posterity. I always assumed both Prufrock where two sides of the same coin for instance (I say that because I saw Wen's comment about that from last thread.)

[wendelah1]

V. Salmone is the penname of Punk and Sabine writing together. If Sabine has another name in XF fandom, I am unaware of it.

Maybe there is a list somewhere. I know on AO3 people can list all of their socks, or at least the ones they're willing to lay claim to. Fanlore pages will list all of the writer's socks but not everyone has a page yet on Fanlore.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Ah, my mistake. So Sabine is one person but V. Salmone is two. Ah, fandom you make things confusing!

And CindyET is aka_jake apparently.

Fanlore doesn't have much in terms of specific X-Files lore, I thought.

I found a link to a place called Fandom Wank (http://www.journalfen.net/tools/memories.bml?user=fandom_wank&keyword=Xfiles&filter=all) and I realised there are various stories and flame wars that completely passed me by, back in the days. I mean I knew wwhat the Ordover War was about but have no clue what "Debilmice" is. I guess I was too focused on the British newsgroup in those days to pay much attention to what was going on on ATXC and the likes.

I think the fandom could do with some sort of "vault" hosting various aspects of X-Files history.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, I know I read that many years ago, like, back before my hair turned monochrome. *g* My memories of it are pretty vague, all I remember is that it was pretty damn hot. I usually enjoy undercover stories. I'm trying and failing to remember the title of another one where M&S investigated White Supremacists.

[newo-fic.livejournal.com]

Ooooh I hope you remember, the short description already sounds intriguing. Perhaps the Lost and Found board may help?

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

I'll go ask on Haven and yeah, failing that I'll go to the lost & found.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Thanks to Haven I got the title it's Caught In The Act III by Parrotfish.

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

I like 'wildly out of character' stories! Really most fic is wildly out of character, especially Scully. I have read, maybe a handful of stories from her POV that seem believable.
Truthfully I realize that there are lines and then There Are Lines
That was great.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

Out of town, guys, but oh what a nice thing to come back to. I can't reread Never now (which is not to say I never will, heh) but I've read it to death already.

I don't suppose I'd argue with any of the criticisms made here, but I always think of this fic as a kind of "day off" pleasure, and the perfect example of a (well-written) smut biscuit: there's the set-up and then there's the sex. Story is optional, which of course is frustrating to conscientious genfic folks like our Wendy. I love undercover fics, and think of them as kind of Halloween (!) experiences; you get away with your bad self by dressing the part. Mulder gets to be macho crew guy and Scully gets to be his suspicious girlfriend with big hair. Of course they're OOC--even I say that--and it would make future paperwork days in the LBO tense. But this is occurring in an alternate universe. The thing about fanfic is that Mulder and Scully get to have first-time sex over and over again.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

Hi again. I'm posting this in two parts because LJ telling me my cookie was gone and--oh, never mind. Tired of typing.

As for the sexing, I look at it this way. If Mulder doesn't get laid any minute he will be expelled from the male bonding. So Scully is helping him out as a good partner. She is telling herself.

Scully is an independent, highly intelligent professional and she could climb out of that basement office at any time--at least at that time. But she stays. Oh yeah. She's addicted.

My thanks to the management. Needed a lift.