Story 262: "Visitor" by leiascully

[wendelah1]

With the miniseries a mere two weeks away, I thought it might be the right time to discuss "Visitor," leiascully's new revival speculation fic. The premise is the one Chris Carter so blithely bestowed on the fandom: Mulder and Scully are no longer a couple. How could that have happened? "Visitor" is her attempt to understand and portray this new reality. The

Comments

[mosinging1986]

Just read the first chapter so far, but wow, that holds the weight of the years!

[wendelah1]

The first chapter is...devastating. It is the only word I can use that feels right.

If you keep going, let us know what you think. If you don't, I'd be interested to know that too, and why.

[themooselet]

Wow. First chapter is beautiful and beyond heartbreaking.

Off to read the rest. Thanks for sharing!

[wendelah1]

Yes. Beautiful and heart-breaking describes it well.

You're welcome. Let us know what you think, anywhere along the way. It's not novel-length but it's a solid read, and a lot to digest.

[wendelah1]

Fortunately, other than the spoiler that was posted everywhere, including my issue of Entertainment Weekly, there isn't anything about season ten. It's all about the time from IWTB through whenever the miniseries is supposed to be taking place.

It was a very emotional read for me, too.

[infinitlight]

I usually have trouble with stories focused mainly around Mulder and his inner life, but this is lovely. I really like the insight into Mulder (and the Hollywood AD references! I bet no-one expected me to say that

[wendelah1]

I don't know if I know the spoilers we're referring to (I've been avoiding information about the new series so I don't get too spoiled) but it's maybe to do with the status of their relationship? (A guess.) Which has always been a work in progress: I think the happiest/most consistently "together" we saw them was in IWTB, and ...well.

They were together in IWTB but you're right, "happy" is a stretch. A work in progress describes them very well.

I usually have trouble with stories focused mainly around Mulder and his inner life, but this is lovely. I really like the insight into Mulder (and the Hollywood AD references! I bet no-one expected me to say that :).

No, I did not expect that.

I don't know if I do have trouble with stories told from Mulder's POV. I've written a half dozen at least, and I love "The 13th Sign" which is all Mulder, all of the time. Maybe it depends on who is doing the writing? It's clear that leiascully thought long and hard about both of these characters and their pasts, whether before she began or during the

[infinitlight]

I liked the 13th Sign too, now that you mention it. I have exceptions, but mostly when I think of my favorites they are general focus or more centred around Scully.

I think it is dependent on the writing (which is not to say that there are not great writers writing Mulder, just that for whatever reason it's harder for me to click with them).

I'm generally pretty comfortable with looser interpretations of canon, if the story's well-written (which it is here). The few things I can think of in the story that may not be canon compliant, to me, are issues that are open to some debate in canon anyway. And yeah, I like the way their relationship works here, and that it is not either always fraught or magically perfect.

Not sure if I want to start reading the sequel until it's finished, but it sounds interesting.

Ah, I can see why people were upset about that spoiler. I'm fine with a little conflict between them myself.

[leiascully]

What a lovely surprise to discover! Thanks, everybody, for your kind words, and I'd be happy to answer questions if you have any.