valis2: Stone lion face (Default)
valis2 ([personal profile] valis2) wrote2009-10-27 09:36 pm
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Rec: X-files fic

So, an X-files fic was recced on [livejournal.com profile] epic_recs by [livejournal.com profile] jane_elliot, and I ended up devouring it between last night and today. I thought that maybe [livejournal.com profile] iibnf might not have seen it (well, she probably has), so on the off chance that she or maybe [livejournal.com profile] gmonkey42 would be interested, I'm going to rec it here, too.

The fic is called the Gift of an Enemy by Sylvia, and it's a bit on the long side. It's slash, Krycek/Mulder, NC-17, not really gory, few flashes of violence.

What I absolutely loved about this fic was the casefile that Mulder is sent to investigate. It's completely engrossing, and I thoroughly enjoyed that portion of the fic. It's so well-developed. In the beginning of the fic Krycek is thrown together with Mulder in an unusual (and lovely for its flash of h/c) way, and they both end up being sent to investigate witches in a town in Pennsylvania called Weimar. What's fabulous is that I was actually completely intrigued by what would happen with Krycek added to the mix, and what he would do in the town, and how he would handle things. I love badass!Krycek.

Now keep in mind that I am quite ignorant about most of X-files canon. I only watched some of s1, and most of s2 and 3, if that. But I knew enough to get pulled right in, and I enjoyed the ride tremendously. It is quite talky, and the narrative is very full, and there's plenty of angst and misunderstood emotions and some very hot relations between the two characters. But on top of it all, there's that mystery, that beautiful, slow-paced mystery, and it's just absorbing as hell. And so logically laid out. Just excellent.

If you've got some time to kill, and you're up for an angsty, plotty K/M, and you like a touch of h/c and a terrific casefile, you can't go wrong with this one.

[identity profile] idleleaves.livejournal.com 2009-10-28 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
... Oooh. Fics with well-done casefiles are SO INCREDIBLY RARE.

Will open that in a new tab to read at some point. >_>

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-10-28 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
Definitely do so! It really was engrossing. *nodnod*

[identity profile] iibnf.livejournal.com 2009-10-28 11:05 am (UTC)(link)
I love that fic - I have the original zine from when it was published, what, 15 years ago? It's definitely a dear old favourite. Sylvia also wrote some very good Once A Thief stories - she could take a hoary old trope and make it dance!

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-10-29 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I should have known that you've read it already! It's just so loverly. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

I might have to read it again.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-10-29 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, and I'm just so sad--I'm poking around Sylvia's rec page, and some of the stuff just isn't around anymore. wah! I've come to late to the party again, haven't I? :(

[identity profile] aubrem.livejournal.com 2009-10-31 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
totally enjoyed this - thanks for pointing to it.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-10-31 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, I'm so glad you liked it!

I liked how fearless the author was about the canon characters--seriously, when Alex is telekinetically pushed, that OFC thinks he's a klutz through the rest of the fic and no one bothers to change her mind. eeee! I love that!