Story 34: "The Unfinished Universe" by Revely
This week's selection is The Unfinished Universe by Revely.
Classification: S/MSR/ This story wasn't AU when I started it,but now it is. Spoilers: Through Badlaa ( Read more... )
Classification: S/MSR/ This story wasn't AU when I started it,but now it is. Spoilers: Through Badlaa ( Read more... )
I did enjoy reading this story. It is very well-crafted, effortlessly weaving in events from seasons one through eight into the story's framework. It moves back and forth in time and changes in point of view seamlessly. I am quite impressed. Revely makes this look so easy.
She wanted so much to set the clocks back that she was half-convinced it was possible. People claimed they found rifts in space and time, didn't they? Why couldn't she? She'd take them back to that morning and she'd grab his hand and head toward Ohio. Or she'd hold herself over him on his bed for much longer, drown him in their tidal coupling, make him forget the plane he had to catch with Skinner.
This road trip feels like a rift in space and time. It is a deliberate attempt on Scully's part to ease Mulder back into life, to give him time to read through the year's cases, and to read her of course, like the good profiler that he is. She keeps a very close eye on him as well. It is a rocky road back, full of little missteps. They keep stopping at rest stops with swing-sets even though Mulder doesn't like having his feet off the ground and Will can't even hold his own head up. Mulder keeps looking at Scully, but only when he thinks she won't notice. She keeps herself awake watching him sleep, filling herself with memories so that she will have something to hold onto when they get back to Washington. She can't bear the thought of a another night without him. He talks to Will but only when he thinks Scully is out of earshot. She thinks that if she will be diminished in his eyes if he sees her as a mother. Of course, she is unconsciously mothering Mulder.
"We've seen something like this before," he says, trying to capture his straw in his open mouth without looking.
"I know." She reaches across her plate and steadies his straw until he finds it, holding it while he drinks, letting his lips press against the edge of her fingers. He rests against her hand for a second and she closes her eyes.
On her part, it is just sweet nurturing gesture, but Mulder turns it into a sensual caress. He looks like a concentration camp victim so she keeps trying to stuff him full of pie. They are sleeping in different beds until Mulder has a nightmare that propels him out of bed, shedding clothing and inhibition, in his rush to try to shower away the dream. She can't just say, do you want to sleep with me so that I can comfort you, and he can't ask. Sex seems even more unlikely than sharing a bed which is funny, considering the evidence of their sexual history is sitting in the carseat or sleeping in the portacrib, right in front of them.
She is sure of one thing - they are past having a normal relationship. It was never going to be defined the way others' define things, as either good or bad. Instead, they were forced together by both circumstance and preference, and they moved toward one another in a slow tumble, like captured asteroids toward a black hole.
This might be my favorite season eight story. I recommend it without reservation.
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In a sense I think it also reconciles us as viewers with the trauma of season eight. It places it all in the appropriate context--namely, firmly in a flashback--and begins with the work of reconciling both us and the characters to what happened. If you see what I mean.
Sex seems even more unlikely than sharing a bed which is funny, considering the evidence of their sexual history is sitting in the carseat or sleeping in the portacrib, right in front of them.
Good point. Very amusing.
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What sweet comments on my little story you guys! It really did my heart good to hear that people remember it and have read it again--you have no idea.
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