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

[(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.

[wendelah1]

Gosh. I'm sorry this had such a negative effect on you. I tried to warn people it was a major downer but I guess that wasn't enough. I agree that this is by far the saddest story I have ever read in this fandom. For better or worse, analysis helps me keep a certain distance--usually. Didn't work with "Fathoms Five" but I have different triggers.

Perfect details, perfect imagery and just enough negative space.

That sums it up well.

Thanks so much for commenting.

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

For me it definitely took me some concentration to be able to figure out exactly what was going on, or maybe to confirm what I thought was. I didn't think it was written vaguely, just layered like a puzzle, so the reader had to do a little work.

It is very sad. I think it's the details of William that make it sad for me--here he seems like a real little person, rather than in several other fics I've read about him dying he doesn't have much personality beyond alien miracle baby.