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

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree, I think it's left unresolved whether she will follow through. I actually really like that it's left ambiguous whether this is a hopeful ending or not.

[wendelah1]

The fic is a great example of how to tell a story without over-telling it. There is just enough revealed to get the story across but it's never overdone or overwrought. What's not said is just as important as what's on the page.

Damn. This is good. Where did this writer go, I wonder? Her email address bounced right back.

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

Where did this writer go, I wonder?

The author's notes on another of their stories, "Most Frail Gestures", say they were on scullyfic. Old scullyficcers might know where they've gone. (I mean "old" in terms of the list being old, not the members ;) I'm surprised at how many former XF writers have been turning up on AO3, writing in other fandoms. The listed pseudonym feature was a good idea.

[tri-sbr.livejournal.com]

As an aside, "Most Frail Gestures" (thank you for pointing to it, I had not read it before) is a lovely story as well. I feel like I go down a rabbit hole where I get led from one fic to another to another - it's a good thing, but there are so many and I am so far behind!

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

I really liked that story too. I hadn't read anything by this author before.