Story 203: "Living with the Dreaming Body" by Punk M

[amyhit]

After the considerable word count of our last fic, now seems like a good time to take a bit of a breather with a nice short read. This week's fic was recommended by lightlack. It takes place sometime not too long after the events of "Christmas Carol" and "Emily" when Mulder and Scully end up back in San Diego on a case. The fic is focused on Scully and how

Comments

[amyhit]

I shall be chiming in on Wendelah's 'better late than never' claim - 1/2

I've always thought that Punk M's writing has a curious kind of neutrality about it. It's not pronouncedly emotional, nor is it pronouncedly intellectual, nor is it pronouncedly distinctive stylistically. It's not intensely angsty, humorous, shippy, or witty. It's a bit of everything, and that itself is what's distinctive about it, that evenness of tone and character. I like intensity in a fic, but I like this too; it's honest.

I also think that this fic captures Scully’s character (at this time in canon) very well. I’m always looking for examples of fics that get her POV particularly right, because I for me it’s a fairly uncommon occurrence. There are plenty of writers who write a Scully POV that’s passable, enjoyable, or even distinctly strong. But LWTDB characterizes her in a way that feels very accurate to me. It doesn’t seem to be trying to pull more out of her than what’s there, or emphasize specific traits which the author favors (which is something that

[wendelah1]

I've always thought that Punk M's writing has a curious kind of neutrality about it. It's not pronouncedly emotional, nor is it pronouncedly intellectual, nor is it pronouncedly distinctive stylistically. It's not intensely angsty, humorous, shippy, or witty. It's a bit of everything, and that itself is what's distinctive about it, that evenness of tone and character. I like intensity in a fic, but I like this too; it's honest.

I think that is a really good description of her writing style. She's one of the most talented writers in fandom.

[amyhit]

Better late than never? - 2/2

Mulder is also very well characterized, even though I feel like I’m seeing him through a window in this fic. Scully’s POV seems to contain the story, and even when she’s thinking about mulder, she seems to be thinking about him with a bit of a disconnect between her observations and the feelings they invoke.

"We've got a new case," Mulder said, leaning against her desk. He
radiated his special brand of flat, nervous concern.

"I hate to disappoint you," Mulder said. "I know you had your heart set
on werewolves."

I love both these lines. Also, I love that he guesses “BITE ME” instead of “BILL ME” during Wheel of Fortune. That’s so him, and the thing is, I can’t decide whether I think he guessed wrong on purpose.

Favorite lines include:

"We've got a dead body asking for us," Mulder said, and it was strange

[infinitlight]

I really liked the dreamlike feel of the story. The dreaming images are very strong--the show she watches about submarines, and her shower, and her being half-awake in the wavy light reflected off the pool, and the stained-glass reflections. The recurring mention of Mulder being outsized to the point of giant, as well. Perceptions are slightly off in this story. It doesn't fit terribly well with what I normally think of when I think of Scully, but I don't think it's a poor fit.

The way she sleeps is one of the character points given to us repeatedly in the show, after all. Dreaming and bodies of water are related metaphors, sometimes interchangeable. She is Starbuck after all. She has a pretty deep relationship with the sea.

[wendelah1]

I actually like the style of writing in this story very much. But the dream sequences, as effectively as they are conveyed, still don't accomplish for me what I believe Punk intends them to do: they don't convince me that Scully is reconciled through them to her losses to the point that she can forgive Mulder and fall in love and start having sex with him. I can't believe she could so easily set aside what he did, and so easily set aside the boundaries she has set for their relationship.

The story works fine for everyone else. Your points are well-taken, especially about her relationship to the sea and sleep and dreaming.

[estella_c]

I'm late because I was in another (nondream) state, and everyone has already been wonderfully intelligent. I love this story because I love everything Punk Maneurverability has ever written. She has written absolutely hilarious stuff, which confirms my theory that the brilliantly funny writer can go both ways brilliantly. DWTDB especially impresses me as it is an interior story, an emotional adjustment story, all about what one character is thinking/feeling with very little action or dialogue in support. There are thousands of these and most are bad. Punk did it right

Welcome back!

[wendelah1]

I love Punk's writing, I just don't love this story.

You say that you don't find Scully's lack of anger at Mulder terribly hard to understand because you "are old enough to see male protection as a comfortable thing." You have said this (or something similar) on multiple occasions here, and I believe you. But the point is Scully isn't of that generation. She was born in 1964. And Scully of all people would not see Mulder's protecting her as comforting.

Would Scully, acting as a federal agent carrying a loaded weapon, and assigned to a case, allow herself to wander about confused as to whether she is awake or asleep? It's well-written but I still don't find it credible.

[estella_c]

Scully loved her father, and he was a protective and actually domineering male. But she defied him, and I take your point. I was actually just reporting on my own feelings.

I don't believe that Scully didn't know whether she was awake or not. A moment's waking confusion is not the same thing as carrying out professional duties.

I respect your recusal. You are the strongest Scullyist I know.

[amyhit]

I'm late because I was in another (nondream) state

Ha!

it is an interior story, an emotional adjustment story, all about what one character is thinking/feeling with very little action or dialogue in support. There are thousands of these and most are bad. Punk did it right.

I agree. And for me a big part of what makes this story work is that it starts near the end of Scully’s ‘emotional adjustment’. I don’t think Scully is working on any new conflicts in LWTDB. They seem to be things she’s been coming to terms with for some time already. It’s like punctuated evolution: the story picks up quite unobtrusively just a short time before a punctuated leap. It’s not that Scully goes from zero to sex-with-mulder in seven pages and a thousand words, it’s that she’s already mostly there when the story starts.

I am old enough to see male protection as a comfortable thing. She has to come to terms with her loss, and nobody else can do it for her.I’m sure it will come as no surprise that I am not comfortable with “male protection”. As a

[wendelah1]

This story and its discussion have stirred up enough stuff in me that I am recusing myself from further participation, and decamping to my personal journal.

I hope I haven't been too horrible. If so, I apologize.