Story 247: "Salvador" by Eleanor G

[wendelah1]

This is a brand new nomination. I haven't read it, but I remember reading "Undying" a long while back and liking it a lot. I just read her post-ep for "Deep Throat." I liked it. Then I read her post-ep for "Conduit." I liked it, too

Comments

[tri_sbr]

I am (re)reading this. Just incredibly slowly. It is very well-written and I'm enjoying it. I don't actually remember how it ends, so it's kind of like reading it for the first time. Will hopefully come back and say something more substantial later...

[wendelah1]

I'm relieved to know someone is reading it besides me. I'm done, but it's so embarrassing to be the first comment on your own post...

[tri_sbr]

So, upfront, this is the kind of story that makes me wish I remembered the mytharc / conspiracy stuff better than I do. Most of the time, I am fine living in blissful ignorance :) From my murky memory, though, Salvador seems to fit right into the late season 7, post amor fati, pre requiem x-files world, while taking us farther down the mytharc path (and with better possibilities for subsequent events) than the show did. It seems like you could read this story as an insert into canon (and see William as what the aliens want from M&S) or you could read this as diverging from canon (and be left to imagine what happens next).

I like this Mulder and Scully; they are the Mulder and Scully in my head. Mulder remains ruthless in his pursuit of the truth, but there is a weariness about him and a sense of resignation to the idea that he is at the mercy of those who dangle leads in front of him. I liked the line when he is about to leave for Miami to meet Leda Mendez: "And he gets ready to jump through one more hoop."Scully is totally Scully.

[wendelah1]

This is a great review. I don't have much to add. I think EleanorG captures post "all things" season seven Mulder and Scully very well. There's only one false characterization note in the story and that comes early on.

He looks a little embarrassed. "A. Nonymous. The e-mail couldn't be traced."

Here we go again, Scully thinks. Are things ever going to change? "Goddammit, Mulder - "

Would season seven I'm finally getting some Scully really give Mulder that hard a time? I don't think so. That sounds more like early season Scully to me.

"Yeah, I know. I know," he answers, placating. "But the evidence is here, Scully. We're onto something important. I know it."Duh. But that's a minor quibble, and there's much clunkier dialogue in the series itself

[estella_c]

See, when you can read something like this in a single evening it makes you a sweeter person.

I didn't like "Closure" either. Silly little ghosties.

I stick with my desire for brevity. Hmm. This story could actually be cannibalized to make several shorter pieces. The backstory for Marita is very strong. And the parallels all over with Mulder's past--I'm thinking a kind of circular structure. Maybe messing with time. I really have a feeling that the this-happened-and-then-that-happened approach was wrong.

So all we have to do is contact Elinor and give her my arrogant, mean advice. But I hear betas do that to their victims all the time.

You know--I'm being serious here, which it's sometimes necessary to say--there are differences between the responses of someone new to a specific fanfic and someone who has been reading it twenty years. A certain impatience sets in. But I don't want, truly, to spoil anyone's pleasure.

[wendelah1]

I really liked this. Plot-driven, good Mulder/Scully characterization (particularly Scully, there were quite a few scenes in this story where I could just picture Gillian delivering those lines). This easily could have been a two-parter episode in the seventh season.

I agree. This was an excellent story overall. I could easily see it slotting into season seven, and replacing a couple of the turkeys (good-bye Fight Club and Chimera) I'm very pleased to have made the acquaintance of the author and plan to read the rest of her fic, too. I'll probably nominate another one of her fics in a year or so.

[estella_c]

Okay, this is going to be pretty self-centered. And difficult. Because I agree with the positive things said about Salvador. It is well-structured, has believable characters, reveals truckloads of research and hard work. I thoroughly approved of it

[wendelah1]

But mostly I wanted acting, camera-work, and Mark Snow's music.

Maybe it's time for a mini-rewatch? Suggest an episode, I'm up for it! (How about pairing "Irresistible" and "Orison"? since I'm thinking about writing fanfic for them?)

I'm sorry you put yourself through this. We're supposed to be having fun--and if it isn't working for you, there is no obligation to keep going.

[tri_sbr]

A mini rewatch would be cool with me. And/or we could read something short and fun/ny next. I wish I had something specific in mind in that category...I will see if I can think of some ideas.

I will read anything, and most likely like it. I'm sort of easy that way.

[wendelah1]

Continuing backwards in the queue, it's either going to be Mountainphile's "Low Profile," which is a light take on "Bad Blood," or something by Malibu Sunset. I have some issues with "Low Profile," but I'm not going tackle her long pieces, not unless someone else wants to take lead. If EC thinks "Salvador" needed an edit, I can't imagine what she'd say about "Seeds of Synchronicity." I did start it and had to stop due to a gratuitous mention of oral pleasuring. Just--no

[bmerb]

Also, was I the only one who pretty much immediately thought MC was Leda's long lost sister? It just felt clear as soon as I read a description of the child, of Mulder meeting Leda and feeling a strange familiarity, etc etc etc. Anyone??

[wendelah1]

I am sorry I don't have time to reread this fic right now. I am enjoying revisiting these stories with you so much. Maybe later in the week? I'm under a deadline and have to stop reading fic and start writing it. (I've got big honking plot problems to work out...)

[bmerb]

OMG I didn't realize you were REREADING these along with me! Whoa. Thank you! It makes things way more lively for me! And... I'm still just working my way through those tagged as casefiles, I suppose I'll look through those tagged as X-Files next, unless you have a different category to suggest?

[wendelah1]

Of course I'm rereading the fics. If I don't reread them, how can I discuss them with you? I have a good memory but it's not that good. Anyway, I enjoy revisiting my favorites. (You recall I skipped "Skin." Rereading my own comments was bad enough...)

Casefiles and X-Files are my favorites, too.

I should go back and make sure everything is tagged accurately, otherwise we'll miss something.