Fic Recs: 3x17 "Pusher"

[wendelah1]

If you love this episode, here's your fair warning: I don't, I never have, and I won’t mince words about it. I am well aware that every other critic in the world loves it and loves Vince Gilligan. If you think he can do no wrong, and wish he'd been the show-runner for the revival episodes, you are entitled to your opinion. But you're never going to convince me. Despite his talent, he's the last guy I'd want running a show featuring characters I love.

If my ranting about "Pusher" is going to raise your blood pressure, step away now. ( In which I rant about Pusher )

Despite being listed in the spoiler section for "Pusher," this fic has nothing whatsoever to do with it. But I needed to read something to get that episode out of my brain. "Caving" did the trick. It has everything I like in a fluffy MSR fic: sexual tension, a long buildup before we get to the, ahem, climax, and a little leavening of angst—this is The X-Files, after all. Her dialogue is full of wit. The characters' emotions and actions are believably them, and not lifted out of a bad romance novel. This fic is funny, sexy, and not-too-sweet; in short, it's damn close to perfect.

Caving by A. Kelly Nolan
RATING: R | CATEGORIES: SR | KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully romance
SPOILERS: Tiny one for "Pusher."
SUMMARY: She looked at him a long moment, a wicked plan hatching in her mind."Care to make this interesting?" Mulder caught her tone and smiled to himself. Scully wanted to play. "What'd you have in mind?"

Author's Note: There's no specific time frame for this story, but I'd say it feels seventh seasonish. Complete notes at the end.

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Many people enjoy stories where the protagonists have sex in the aftermath of a trauma. I don't. Even if I did, I'd have some issues with this story, so this is a qualified rec. Having said that, this is still the most nuanced post-op I've ever read for "Pusher." We discussed the fic at the xf-book-club if you're curious about my ambivalence. Here is my bottom line: Amal Nahurriyeh is one of the best writers no longer in this fandom (sob!), and this story was posted on LiveJournal nearly ten years ago, during a lull in TXF fannish activity. If "First/Second" had been posted in a megafandom like MCU on AO3, it would have received hundreds of comments and thousands of hits. I love her work and I think her fics deserve a much wider audience.

First/Second by Amal Nahurriyeh
Summary: First times are usually a disaster.
Pairing: MSR
Rating: NC-17 (sex, mental trauma, angst)Warnings: This is potentially the most triggery thing I've written; please do check out the warnings if you need to know this sort of thing, or PM me or comment if you need more details.
Timeline/Spoilers: Part 1, post-Pusher. Part 2, post-Detour.

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Next up: "Teso Dos Bichos."