Story 208 : "Night Ride Across the Caucasus" by Politic X

[wendelah1]

"Night Ride Across the Caucasus" is a haunting retelling of the Ninth Season's "4D" as a Scully/Reyes romance but with a twist. Thanks to infinitlight for the suggestion.

Category: Episode rewrite, Slash (Scully/Reyes

Comments

[infinitlight]

OMG yesssssssss.

Yeah, for anyone worried about the knowledge of 4D needed, I think if you remember that it's the episode with alternate dimensions you'll be fine. 4D is a solid episode, one of my favorites of the last few seasons.

I'll be interested to see what others think of this story. I really like it. Admittedly it covers a lot of my favorite fanfic ground. I love Reyes, like Reyes/Scully, love stories that are about or themed as stories-within-stories. I like "change one thing" AUs. I think the description and detail in NRAtC is lovely. I love the descriptions of the dreams, and the cat story, the recurring theme of water.

[wendelah1]

I think she's a very talented writer. Before you suggested this, I had been planning on nominating "Paphian Dreams," which of course, isn't on her website or at FF.Net. I'm trying to remember now where I read it, because I'm sure it wasn't at Goss.

The story within a story framing was well done. I thought the folk tale she created was charming, too. All of the elements you listed were my favorites, too: the description and detail, the dreams, the water imagery.

Somnolence was pulling her down like an undercurrent, its force greater than the weight of the world. When her eyes drifted shut, she tried to remain conscious, but an ocean of waves spilled over her. It was a billowing numbness. She was softly floating, being carried out to sea, far, far from this place. She was dying, she knew.

Dying was always water.

That's stunning and memorable, and hooked me into the story.

Her hands were trembling as she unpacked the bagels and containers of cream cheese. Scully did that to her sometimes - made her nervous, self-conscious and very

[infinitlight]

I was going to pull quotes (I hurt my back and can't sit at the computer for too long, so I didn't). The first two excerpts you mentioned were top of my list :). The "Dying was always water" line is amazing. The whole first chapter (prologue?) is very effective.

And I always thought our Reyes might have a thing for Scully. Hey, that means it's a doomed ship!

This is exactly what I like about them as a couple to be honest, and why I think this AU version of a relationship works so well. They could never be happy together as we see them on screen. Scully seems moderately fond of Reyes as a friend ("stop-hitting-on-me-while-I'm-giving-birth" glares aside), Monica--I agree--always seems to have kind of a crush on Scully (whether you want to interpret that as a romantic/sexual crush or a kind of wow-she's-awesome-we-should-be-friends thing. I think either interpretation is valid). I don't think a straightforward romance story would really work for these characters. Of course, I don't think a straightforward romance story really

[wendelah1]

This is exactly what I like about them as a couple to be honest, and why I think this AU version of a relationship works so well.The ending breaks my heart. Scully from the other universe is dead, which is bad beyond belief. My mind keeps running through all of the ramifications of it for the other universe. The other Monica has lost her lover, Atl!William has lost his mother, Alt!Maggie has lost another daughter. And who's the heck going to save Alt!Mulder's ass? Who's going to save their world now? Without their Scully, they're doomed. Don't you want fanfiction for the fanfiction? Our Monica has realized she's in love with Scully--who isn't ever going to reciprocate those feelings. It's a gut-wrencher of an ending, although I think the author tries to be more upbeat than I am

[bmerb]

Never saw seasons 8 or 9 but this was a delightful piece. Well, delightfully emotionally laden and angsty and painful. But in a good way. Still, I too don't believe a new mom's dying thoughts would be of her liver and not her child. Aside from those inconsistencies (so Monica kept you up all night despite taking NyQuil, but where oh where was your son???) I thoroughly enjoyed this. Maybe I should consider watching some episodes after mid season 7?

[wendelah1]

I quit my rewatch at Requiem but I'm considering starting again, with "Within/Without," at 201daysofxfiles.

[bmerb]

Gees I didn't even get past maybe episode 5 of season 7. Maybe I'll push thru to requiem at least...

Edited to add content re: season 7

[wendelah1]

Hang on, I'll look at what's worth watching just for continuity and/or fic reading.

I hated "Orison." No surprise there. There's great fanfic, however, so if you want to read the fic, you might want to watch it anyway. Terrible as it is, I wrote a crossover fic for Fringe and set it during this episode. Go figure.

"The Amazing Maleeni" is fluffy fun even as it makes zero sense. There are a couple of good fics.

"Signs and Wonders" was awful. There's no good fic to help us out.

Sein und Zeit is a powerful story, plus one great fic rec.

It leads into this: "Closure." The episode is a beautiful mess but you need to see it for continuity, I feel. Plus, there is some great fic, including one of mine. Heck, I even made a playlist for it: A Clock Stopped: A Samantha Mulder Playlist. I guess I'm a little obsessed with the fate of Samantha. How like Mulder of me...

I hated X-Cops but most fans and critics alike love it. If you like Vince Gilligan's work, you might love it too. I think he is overrated.

First Person Shooter is terrible.