Story 191: "At Your Feet, His Emblems Fall" by M. Sebasky

[wendelah1]

I thought it would be good to start the New Year off on a cheery note. This is a post-ep for "This Is Not Happening," told from Frohike's point of view. Yeah, it's pretty sad, but at least now we know Mulder wasn't dead. I think I said in an earlier post that it takes talent to pull off first person pov. She has talent. This story works, and works

Comments

[amyhit]

Things I didn’t like:

I was pissed off now. "Scully loved him more than any
of us. She would believe anything if she thought it
would bring Mulder back. If I were you, I wouldn't put
a lot of stock in what Agent Scully thinks right now.
After all she's been through, she's probably half out
of her mind."

On one hand, I like that in this fic Scully sensed there was something different about Mulder’s death - that there was the faintest chance he somehow might not be entirely, permanently dead.

But I’m not buying that Frohike of all people would be the one saying something like this about Scully’s state of mind. I could see it if the roles were reversed, with Skinner suggesting her grief was clouding her judgment and Frohike arguing that he believed in Scully’s judgment, whether she was grieving or not.

I’m also not really buying that Skinner breaks down in front of Frohike. I just don’t see that happening.

I’m not sure if I believe that Scully would ask someone else to make the funeral arrangements. In the fic she says she doesn’t want her last memories of Mulder to be the business of death, and that makes sense, but even so, it would be one last thing she could do for and, in a way, with him. I’m not sure if she would give that up. However, if she did give it up, I definitely think the only person she’d be willing to ask is Frohike.

As to the scene with Doggett, I just don’t understand where the fic is getting this idea of his character. Frohike acts as if Doggett has as much reason to be grieving Mulder’s death as anyone, and suddenly they’re getting grief-drunk together and agreeing that Skinner isn’t really Mulder’s friend? Um, what? Okay, fair enough, Skinner may still be more of a boss and sometimes protector of Mulder than a friend per se, but who the hell is Doggett? Doggett doesn’t even know Mulder except for what he knows about Mulder. Again, I feel as if the roles are switched: Frohike should be having this drink with Skinner not Doggett. They can discuss whether they should invite Doggett to Mulder’s funeral.

Suddenly, I was angry. I mean, homicidal angry,
The way you can get when someone cuts you off in
traffic.

Comparing road rage to the anger of having a loved one taken away? Not a good comparison.

Things I like:

The last time Mulder died, I got drunk. Really,
really drunk. I ended up over at Scully's place
thinking I was some sort of tragic hero when in the
hung-over light of reality, I was just tragic.

Continuity, yes!

I kept waiting for her to say something else.
To say something that sounded real.

But she didn't. At least, not on that day.

I like the short, fragmented sentences, and the hook at the end that leads you on to find out what she says later.

"Mulder's suits won't fit you," she mumbled, gazing
around the apartment like she was looking for something.

This was my favourite part of the fic. It makes it evident that Scully can’t really fathom that Mulder is dead and his body needs to be laid in a coffin. She can’t quite make that leap to the reality of his death.

I just finished watching TINH

[wendelah1]

Some thoughts on the episode. Scully looks like she's on the verge of tears every time Mulder's name is brought up. She's clearly on the brink of emotional collapse. Skinner doesn't look much better, but I think it's his feelings for Scully and also survivor's guilt that are driving him. I don't see him as Mulder's friend. He's Mulder's boss. He feels responsible for his death in the way that any commanding officer feels responsible for the deaths of men under his command.

I like John Doggett in this episode. He's standing in the role Scully used to get to play: the voice of reason. It's pretty thankless, since he just gets to be wrong all of the time like she did, but he does it well. I'd also forgotten that this is the episode where we first meet Monica Reyes, and where we first find out that John has lost his son. So that's the canon informing this story.

I think it's important to note that no one is at their best right after someone they love dies. So I don't have a problem with people saying and doing stuff that seems a little off. Mulder is dead. Everyone's off balance. Scully is crying all of the time. Skinner is losing it. Frohike is saying shit. Doggett is over-identifying with everyone here: Scully in TINH, and Frohike in this story.

The discussion with Skinner. I think what Frohike starts out saying is that nothing could be done to have prevented his death. I think he means well, but knows he's saying shit.

"Agent Scully isn't..." I was going to really have to
watch myself here. "She isn't the best person to
listen to where this is concerned."

It was a lame answer and Skinner jumped on it.

But Frohike isn't done.

I was pissed off now. "Scully loved him more than any
of us. She would believe anything if she thought it
would bring Mulder back. If I were you, I wouldn't put
a lot of stock in what Agent Scully thinks right now.
After all she's been through, she's probably half out
of her mind."

I think what he's saying is pretty clear: that she would have believed anything or anyone who offered her some hope of Mulder's return. She's playing Mulder in this episode. She's also blaming herself for not saving him, and I don't think Frohike can hear that from Skinner. Skinner is blaming himself, too and I understand why Frohike is angry. Who wants to listen to that crap, from Skinner of all people. I agree, under normal circumstances, Skinner would have kept it together, although he did break down in front of Scully in Requiem, which also seems pretty un-Skinner-like. But overall, this seems like it flows out of the emotional tone of the episode to me.

The conversation with Doggett. I like Doggett. I think he's really there for Frohike, just like he says, because he knows it's hard to bury someone you care about. Mulder is a fallen comrade in arms, a fellow law enforcement agent. I think he's allowed to drink to Mulder. Maybe he doesn't know Mulder but he sure thinks he does; in fact, he says as much to Scully in the season 8 opener. I think she throws water in his face.

As far as what he says about Skinner not being Mulder's friend, I think that must go back to other stuff that happened in the season, which I haven't seen in years, except this episode, because I don't like season 8. So I don't know. I don't see Skinner as Mulder's friend either.

More to come later: My headache must be attended to now.