Story 238: "Telephones" by cucumberspy

[wendelah1]

This is probably one of those stories that got recced everywhere back in the day. It's so good I wish I'd written it. Cucumberspy has a lovely, spare style, plus an ear for dialogue and an eye for detail. Season nine, AU, thank God.

There are warnings on the author's header. Heed them.

Summary: She thinks there's nothing anyone can take from her now.

Read Telephones.

SPOILERS IN THE COMMENT THREADS.

Comments

[firefish.livejournal.com]

For some reason I feel really confused by this (it's late & I'm very tired).
I feel like I don't understand what's happened in this story or perhaps I am right and it's simpler than I think...
Anyone care to gimme a synopsis?

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

This is SO sad. Although firefish's comment has me wondering if I misunderstood anything, still. Jeez.

I'll be interested to read if others interpret the story differently. I thought the small memories (?) of William interspersed were very emotional, once I got to the end and figured out what had happened. I wonder what the telephones mean. They're pivotal to the story, but I wonder about the significance.

[tri-sbr.livejournal.com]

I agree that Scully is planning to kill herself. But, I'm not sure by the end that she will end up following through. Mulder's reaction to her confession is absolutely in character, I thought. As he begins to understand what she is saying, he pulls away from her, but almost immediately reaches back out to her like he is never letting go.

He doesn't touch her and she waits to be unmoored. Soon, she thinks. Inside, the telephone squalls.

She strikes him once on the sternum and starts to crumble. His hand stutters against her shoulder and she backs down, mumbles, "I have to go," but he snares her. "I have to," she says.

"No. Scully," he says then, his voice stretched and hoarse as he begins to understand. His embrace is hollow, first, then fierce enough to choke. "Scully, Scully," he whispers.

I feel like you can see the burden of the pain shifting, not that that makes it easier. So sad.

[(Anonymous)]

Gosh. I read this when it was first posted here but I just couldn't bring myself to comment. I was paralyzed with grief, I suppose. This is absolutely the saddest story I've read, to the point where I felt numb for hours after reading it and then again when reading through the comments here.

I'm thankful for this group for confirming my thoughts about what was happening - it's swimming in so much emotion it was perhaps it took a little too much effort to wade through the clues? I'm not sure if I would have wanted it to be any clearer, though. Perfect details, perfect imagery, and just enough negative space. Exceptionally well done, but I'm so glad there wasn't any more to read. Heavy on the heart.

[discordantwords.livejournal.com]

Haunting. Gorgeously written. The author is not afraid to let us fill in the blanks for ourselves.

Maybe it's just my own optimistic filter on things, but I see this ending on a hopeful note. Scully teeters on the edge of despair for the entirety of her journey, shouldering the aftermath of her decision alone. She wants to succumb, but forces herself instead to reach Mulder. She has to know on some level that he will not let her go, and that they'll be able to share the burden of grief together.