Story 221: "In a Dark Time" by eliade

[wendelah1]

"In a Dark Time" by eliade is one of the first Mulder/Krycek stories I read, and it's still one of my all-time favorite XF fics, in any genre. It fulfills every requirement of mine for good M/K: it's set during season two, prior to Scully's abduction, it's by turns violent, twisted and passionate—and so is the sex. If you haven't watched "Sleepless," "Duane Barry" and "Ascension" recently, this story will let you see the episodes in an entirely different light. I have reread this compelling story many times, because it is just that good.

The link is to her X-Files fic page, way-backed; the story links are on the right. You can also find this at the Basement but I believe this is a more recent version, plus it includes a unfinished sequel.

The X-Files fanfic of Anna S

You can try sending feedback to the author via her LiveJournal address. Please let us know what you think of the story. The nomination post is always open for your suggestions.

Comments

[andrea-deer.livejournal.com]

I read that story now and it was a really weird experience, because it turned out I've already read it once. This time around, while obviously reading a fic, I was still more focused on my messed up memory of it. First of all I did not remember the actual plot, just the witty dialouges. I had no idea how it goes, where it ends (or that it sort of doesn't end, because only the Sleepless part ends properly Duane Barry one is only started). Then I started to wonder why do I remember certain parts, while I completely didn't recognize the fic after title, summary or even plenty of paragraphs at the begining. And the answer is pretty simple: I don't really like this story.

I admit that the author has a good, well practiced style, but it is also a specific style. She writes realistically, with brutal, coarse descriptions and dialouges. I know it is what some people look for in fiction, but I'm afraid I'm one of them. I'm not a fan of overly sweet, utopic, domestic bliss in fiction either, but some sort of a balance between the two. Around the level of the show, actually. Hard times mixed with good ones. Even if something is drastic, it's never shown in too drastic way. Interactions are often violent, but rarely crude.

As I said, some may look for something like this style. I know plenty of people who prefer it, usually argumenting that it's more realistic. Perhaps. But I usually don't come to fiction to find reality, that would be a bit redundant in my opinion.

So, yes, the style puts me off. Also, Krycek in second season. I've read some good stories about it, (Ha, I recomended one here, ages ago! XD) but in general I'm not a fan of stories put in this place on the timeline. I usually read stories set around Tunguska/TERMA or The Red and The Black. Prefer to write them then as well. Perhaps it's easier to get them together, when Alex is still young and as innocent as we can get him, perhaps it's more believable as well, but I hate how always the future we already know of hangs over their heads. For some reason I prefer, when it's all out in the open and they have to get through it (yes, I'm a sucker for a happy ending, rare and unbelievable as they are), than when it's this darkness they're heading towards to.

Also, I really don't like the way Scully is shown here. I usually suffer through Scully portrayals in slash fics, because I am a slasher, but my favourite character is still Dana Scully, which makes some stories really painful to get through. (And I've been known to abandon promisingly looking slash story, because I couldn't stand the way Scully was shown.) In this story she seems so jealous and constantly angry and mean. I think Scully was in a way jealous through Mulder's partnership with Krycek, simply because she couldn't be there and the whoel situation was difficult for her, I don't doubt that. But I think it belittles her to show her so petty. Was she irritated with the way things went? Sure. Was she taking ot out on almost everyone, but especially Krycek? Highly doubt so. As far as I recall she only really snaps at him once and to be fair to her Mulder is than dealing with Duanne and she's scarred for him. I don't think she was so bitter and angry because Alex as it was shown in this fic, that's all.

Still, the story has some really great dialouges and is and interesting show of Sleepless episode. It just isn't what I like in the stories and it's not by far one of my most liked ones.

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

I have never read slash, and I'm kinda scared. Is this something I might like even if I don't already like slash?

I think I'm just chicken sh--

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

Okay, I've finished part 1, officially, and kinda skimmed it a long time ago and I know it's fabulous writing and W says it's the best and I assume she's telling the truth. The problem is that I don't enjoy slash, normally. It's not my kink--I'm old school, you shouldn't know how old--and I feel that I can't possibly make a judicious judgment.

Well, fuck that. THIS IS GREAT. I was seduced. By the prose. Just as Krycek was seduced by Mulder, although he thought HE was in the driver's seat.

As things stand now, I think that Mulder--older, wiser, but so much more frustrated--has impressed our callow villain-in-training by simply admitting to a needy humanity. They're both hot and all, but sex doesn't have to go deep; it's an effective manipulating machine, as K knows well. Yet he is confronted by a complex, suffering, SMART man who eludes not manipulation, but his own desire to manipulate. Krycek is at present undone.

This writer, whatever she calls herself, does lust description better than anyone except two or three shippers. Khyber springs to mind.

Part 1. I'm not asking you to wait for me to finish part 4. Maybe I'll change my mind. Maybe it isn't the masterwork W claims. But remember that I don't do slash and, well, I think it probably is too.

[wendelah1]

I just found out the title is from this poem by Theodore Roethke:
In a Dark Time.