Comments | xf_book_club: Story 250: "Compass" by Seema

wendelah1 in xf_book_club

Story 250: "Compass" by Seema

Jul 27, 2014 07:00

This fic wasn't on the nomination post; instead, an earlier story of Seema's, Where the Heart Is was the nominee. After reading, I resisted posting that fic for a number of reasons. The person who nominated the story wasn't a member, which was fine, but she had no interest participating in the discussion, which seemed odd--at the time. It's not a ( Read more... )

post series, pg-13, msr

Comments 25

rainatlas July 30 2014, 22:58:20 UTC

I love almost anything that can fill in that gap between the finale and the second movie. I hadn't previously read anything from this author and thought this was excellent writing. It was also perhaps the best story I've read to fill in that time gap, though I haven't read the other two you mentioned. This felt very real to me and like it could transition seamlessly to the situation and characterizations in the movie ( ... )

tri_sbr August 1 2014, 13:06:37 UTC

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I also thought the writing was good, liked the details and imagery, and felt like it could very well be what happened post-series & pre-IWTB. But, like you, I don't like the idea that their relationship is this fraught or that Mulder runs around the country for months on end leaving Scully with no idea where he is or when (or if) he is returning ( ... )

wendelah1 August 22 2014, 02:15:56 UTC

But, like you, I don't like the idea that their relationship is this fraught or that Mulder runs around the country for months on end leaving Scully with no idea where he is or when (or if) he is returning.

But given the stress of being on the run, of giving up William and leaving her family and work behind, of every that happened in canon during seasons 8&9, how could it not be difficult?

But Mulder running around the country for months on end is exactly what he did during season nine. How is this any different, except that "Compass" attempts to explain how he got be that guy we met in IWTB? The guy with the beard who hangs out with the clippings and the computer and the messy house while Scully does a residency in whatever specialty field she was re-qualifying in.

1) I did not find it believable that Scully would have thought there was even a chance of her getting a job at the stem cell place.That's a fair criticism, although Scully doesn't get the job, she does apply. I thought Seema was trying to explain how Scully became ( ... )

tri_sbr August 22 2014, 13:23:58 UTC

how could it not be difficult?

I agree, it has to be difficult for Scully if it's going to follow from S8&S9. But (insert small tantrum, "waaah") I don't want it to be that way. ;)

I guess this is why I like a lot of AUs. Although I will reiterate, I did think this story was well done.

Thread 17

Thank you! anonymous February 6 2016, 22:30:05 UTC

I just re-found this thread while searching for fanfic post-revival (not ready to re-enter fandom myself!) and I appreciate the comments made in this thread about my story. I actually don't disagree with some if the criticism -- I just found the movie itself perplexing abs how on earth did Scully go from pathology to pediatrics and know so much about stem cells? I really wanted the movie to work for the characters as I remembered them but... It didn't.

Now I am trying to figure out how Mulder and Scully got from their rowboat to the revival... Even more broken now than they were then.

Anyway, I appreciated the thoughtful discussion here. Thank you.

Seema (didn't want to post anonymously but I honestly cannot remember my LJ info)

Re: Thank you! wendelah1 February 6 2016, 22:57:47 UTC

That's not a problem. I screen anon comments now because of spam and so forth. And I disagreed with everyone here. LOL. I still think your story bests accounts for the changes in Mulder and Scully that I saw on screen. "Compass" is a terrific story.

I have no idea what to make of Mulder and Scully right now. We're three episodes in and Anderson doesn't even have her voice right. She sounds like that awful character from Hannibal. Bedelia something or other? She sounds nothing like Dana Scully, which is frustrating the hell out of me. David's Mulder sounds like Mulder; he's just not acting like Mulder. They are broken beyond repair, I fear.

RE: Re: Thank you! seemag February 7 2016, 02:47:19 UTC

I found my account :-)

Thank you, you are very kind. That was one of my favorite stories to write.

I am having a very hard time with Mulder and Scully right now. I am not even sure what to make of them, who they are and where they are going as characters. I am hoping someone out there has written a good explanation (the reason for my return to LJ, to be honest) because they were seemingly in a good place when we saw them last and now...

Re: Re: Thank you! wendelah1 February 7 2016, 03:02:24 UTC

There isn't much in the way of fandom happening here at present, apart from the book club. Fandom moved on: to DW, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit. There are still people posting to Haven. I'm a hold out. I still post here in my journal and also at DW and Tumblr.

We discussed leiascully's pre-series fic, Visitor which has predictably been jossed since the miniseries began.

There is a list of fanfic being compiled here: http://adieangel.tumblr.com/post/138663663156/x-files-season-10-fanfiction

I'm waiting until the series is over to try to puzzle it out. I'm hoping we'll get more information than just "Mulder was depressed" to explain their breakup.

Is it okay if I add you? I have posted reviews of two out of the three episodes and would love to hear more from you about them, if you're interested.

Thread 6

bmerb December 25 2017, 05:17:52 UTC

Never saw the movie, never saw The Truth, but I’ve read enough reviews and enough fic to have a basic understanding. Compass is a perfect piece for bridging the two. Depressing as hell, but honest and gritty and realistic. Really, what the hell would the two of them do anyway? No jobs, no credentials, no security, no badges or gunman in the wings to open doors.

Again, depressing but perfect, and well written. Thank you!

wendelah1 December 26 2017, 18:47:00 UTC

Thank you! It's good to know that I'm not the only one who loves this fic. Plus it makes me happy knowing that people still read and comment here--well, it's maybe just you now--we seem to have fallen off the fandom's radar since the mini-series and Tumblr.

There is a fair amount of new fic being written (See Tumblr: https://today-in-fic.tumblr.com/) but alas, I don't see much to get excited about.

I was thinking about posting an old fic to the new place at DW, maybe in the new year. Have you any interest in reading "Letters of Transit" by Loch Ness? It's a post-colonization X-Files/Casablanca fusion. It was recced at crack-van back in the day by cofax and I trust her judgment. After seeing the movie (in a theater!), I remembered the rec and reread the fic. I thought it was very well done.