Story 186: "This Humming Meadow" by DB Kate

[wendelah1]

"This Humming Meadow" is a gracefully written look at Mulder and Scully and the X-Files as they were in the early seasons. There's a mostly-harmless x-file, some fly-fishing, a walk in a meadow, and a lot of UST. It's a perfect antidote for those back-to-work Monday blues.

Summary: Wrapping his arms around her helps and there's nothing surrounding

Comments

[wendelah1]

You are welcome! This rec was actually from me. I put it in the queue, wow, awhile ago.

I love it, too. Except for the kissing scene, which was, okay, adorable, it could have been an episode, if it was fleshed out a little bit more. But as a story, it was just like falling into a nice warm frothy bubble bath. You know the bad things and bad people are still out there, but you don't have to think about them for at least a little while. It was like one of the funny episodes, minus the problematic aspects of, say, "Small Potatoes," to mar your enjoyment.

So, was it the plot, the characterizations, the dialogue? Do you have a favorite line? Favorite scene?

[infinitlight]

I really liked that line you picked out, too. Sometimes I find Mulder difficult to understand and that line really opens him up for me.

[mosinging1986]

Oh, I just loved this! I've been in an XF mood lately and this early-season setting and feeling was exactly what I needed. It reminded me of how much I love these two people and this entire universe.

I loved that it was lighter, very much before all the angst that much fic has to offer. Fic tends to magnify all the aspects of the show, if that makes any sense. That's not a bad thing necessarily. We get to see the behind-the-scenes emotions and thoughts that the show couldn't or just didn't focus on. But that does get a bit dreary after a while. It was nice to be with Early M&S, when Mulder was childlike in his wonder for all things that no one else believed in, and when Scully was marveling at this wonder called Mulder.

And I loved that they finally got to see the birds! I agree that this reminded me very much of an episode. I loved "watching" it, as it were.

Great rec. I don't think I'd ever read this one before!

ETA: This line was perfectly Scully. I just laughed:

"I'll do my best not to miss it." Her eyes are open very wide,

[wendelah1]

I loved that it was lighter, very much before all the angst that much fic has to offer. Fic tends to magnify all the aspects of the show, if that makes any sense. That's not a bad thing necessarily. We get to see the behind-the-scenes emotions and thoughts that the show couldn't or just didn't focus on. But that does get a bit dreary after a while. It was nice to be with Early M&S, when Mulder was childlike in his wonder for all things that no one else believed in, and when Scully was marveling at this wonder called Mulder.

That's why I prefer season one. I wish there was more great season one fic for us to read. I'll keep looking. This almost could be a late season one story. I feel like the show got much DARKER as it progressed, and in a way that was inevitable, but it does get magnified in fic. Does it ever.

Where is your icon? It's showing up fine on this end.

[mosinging1986]

Where is your icon? It's showing up fine on this end.

It is? The IWTB one? Ok, now that is freaky indeed! All I see is... an empty space where it should be.

O.o

[estella_c]

I loved "The Humming Meadow" too. It's not as boffo hilarious as Jess M's medium-sized adventures, but it has the same airy youthfulness. Also,quite funny enough. "The slightest thing might push her over the edge into sanity." "A live wire planted in J. Edgar's virtual underwire." Funny enough for me, and I'm voracious

[infinitlight]

I don't know that I'm really sold on the romance. It's a little too wistful for me.

Unlike estella_c I liked the spy camera thing. I think it grounded the fluffiness in show-realistic terms. I also liked that there wasn't really any resolution to it, that it was just another occurrence in their lives and part of some bigger, mysterious plot we don't get a chance to understand.

I really liked the dialogue. "And with that, gentlemen, I'm going fishing." is very Scully.

[wendelah1]

I liked the spy camera, too.

I think it grounded the fluffiness in show-realistic terms. I also liked that there wasn't really any resolution to it, that it was just another occurrence in their lives and part of some bigger, mysterious plot we don't get a chance to understand.

That was my thought, too. It provides balance, too.

[badforthefish]

This was sweet. I loved that they get to see the bird in the end and Scully's explanation was great.

I'm always a little annoyed by characterizations of Mulder where he comes across as a little too needy and/or plays to his loser stereotype (actually I have the same issues with Needy!Scully in This House Is Burning at the moment.)

But although there are whiffs of this here, it didn't bother me too much.

I liked that they have a diner where they are regulars.

I thought this was a nice way to sum up Scully:

She became a doctor, but made sure her patients were already dead and her only nod toward extreme possibilities is tied to a silent, faraway deity who watches as she anchors herself to the rock solid comfort of science.

*Soft* core porn, Mulder? Seriosuly? *Eyebrow*

I like that they go fishing. (I know, I know, I'm sooo predictable. *G*)

"If this bird is so rare why aren't there ornithologists all over this?"

"They don't believe it exists,"This line cracked me up. This is such a typical Mulder VS Scully line

[wendelah1]

Anyway, I enjoyed that, it was a peaceful and sweet story. It's hard to do this right without drowning in mush. I didn't even mind the kiss, it just felt right in this context, because I don't think it was a "let's have a relationship kiss" it was a "we just saw something extraordinary we need to mark the moment" kiss.

I think the kiss was perfect. But I think it was a little bit more than that for both of them; otherwise why did Scully need to give her little speech at the end.

Putting her bag on the floor, she sits. Her hands are folded in her lap and there are lines of tension around her mouth that Mulder wishes he could kiss away. But he can't - not while they are watching. He won't give them that, it doesn't belong to them, it's his and Scully's alone

[badforthefish]

I think the kiss was perfect. But I think it was a little bit more than that for both of them; otherwise why did Scully need to give her little speech at the end.

Good point. I guess I chose to ignore those lines you quote, because I can't see them having a romantic relationship this early on and these lines kinda suggest this is where this is heading.