Interview with a Creator

Fanfiction
Title:	Interview with a Creator
Author(s):	Greenfish
Date(s):	written October 15, 1997, posted to alt.tv.x-files.creative on October 25, 1997
Length:
Genre:
Fandom:	The X-Files
External Links:	part one part two
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Interview with a Creator is an X-Files RPF story by Greenfish.

Some topics of the story touch upon shippers, the power of fans, and fan anger over his handling of the Mulder/Scully relationship. "Interview With a Creator" also portrays his wife, something that was quite jarring to fans at the time, as well as there being an unnerving crossing of boundaries between the characters, real people, and sexual desire. In the end, the story does not present a very appealing image of Carter, nor of the fan who stars in this bit of fiction.

One clue that this fic was not received well by fans is the complete lack of comments where it was posted. This may be due to the story's subject matter. It may also be due to the fact that Greenfish had admitted to plagiarism a few months earlier, something that set off massive wank and discussion both for the plagiarism itself, but also for the turmoil it threw archivists into, specifically Gossamer.

Song Lyrics!

"He's one microscopic cog with his catastrophic plan... designed and directed by his *red right hand!" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

"Listen as the wind blows... across the great divine..." by Sarah McLachlan (Chris Carter is caught singing along to this one.)

"I live my life like I bleed... too much... overground... watch this space.. I'm open -- to falling from grace..." by Sneaker Pimps

The Story's Subject

The story is about an original character named Eileen Baker (possibly a self-insert) who interviews Chris Carter. The interview goes badly when she presses him to answer questions about the romantic relationship between Mulder and Scully. Eileen walks out on Chris Carter.

In the second part of the story, Dori Carter (Chris' wife ) calls Eileen and invites her over to the Carters' house for another interview, telling Eileen that her husband felt badly. Eileen goes to the house, and reinterviews Chris, and becomes his confidant.

Story Header

DISCLAIM: Chris Carter isn't mine, but man, sometimes I just wish that he was. I could have so much fun with that guy. Eileen Baker is my creation, but if that's your real name, I'm sorry for insulting your existence by stealing it for my evil purposes of fan fiction...

DISTRIBUTE: Wherever

RATING: PG

CONTENT/SPOILER: No spoilers. A lot of arguing and interesting observations. This is what happens when you have an free afternoon and no motivation to do real work.

ARCHIVE: S

SUMMARY: A cocky reporter and an equally complacent creator leads to one interesting interview.

Some Excerpts

{Chris'] soft hand touched the small of my back. I instantly felt a rush up my spine, reminded of the many times that Mulder had done that to Scully on the show.

Admittedly, though, I *knew* I had a dark side. Somewhere, deep inside, I wasn't any better than those masses of fans who so proudly coined themselves x-philes, and 'shippers, and fanfic'ers, or what-not... Naturally, I was too good to be reduced to that level of namedom. And yet-- secretly, when no one was around, and I wasn't on assignment, I had been known-- to myself only, of course-- to sit locked up in my room for hours.

For I was mesmerized by them.

I found myself repeating their names over and over in my head-- "Mulder and Scully... Scully and Mulder... Fox and Dana, Dana and Mulder, Fox and Scully, Dana Katherine, Fox William..."

Sometimes I even rewound scenes, watching them again and again.

Oh, how I would never admit my secret passion for the soft kiss that Mulder had planted on the lips of Scully in "Momento Mori"...

I wouldn't even admit to the fact that I knew a lot of the episode titles. All of them, actually.

But I would never reveal. Oh, no.

I doubted that Chris Carter had ever wondered what it would be like if David Duchovny's character had shoved Gillian Anderson's character up against that leather-covered steering wheel, running his mouth roughly over hers--

"Ms. Baker?"

"Hmm?" I asked suddenly, snapped out of my thoughts. It was *not* a good idea to start daydreaming like that, I thought, chiding myself. For God's sakes, I was in Chris Carter's =Land Rover.= How many reporters got to say they did that? I had to get myself to focus.

I shrugged back at him: "Whatever," I said breezily. "In any case, I know this question comes up every time, but every time, you seem to change your viewpoint slightly." I watched as Carter shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "How do you feel about Mulder and Scully's relationship?"

Chris didn't hesitate in his reply. "They have a extremely strong friendship. They share an amazing bond because of the experiences that they have gone through together."

"You don't feel they have any romantic feelings for one another?"

"Amidst everything, I really don't think they've had time to think about it."

"But you only portay the work side of your characters, for the most part. Do you think it's possible that they might..."

"They don't *have* lives beyond work," Carter quickly supplied.

"But what about episodes like 'Never Again,' and 'Small Potatoes,' two that portrayed a very intimate view of Scully's life."

"Yes."

I was breaking my professional suit, and I really didn't care by this time. I wanted to get to the bottom of this matter, and goddamn it, I didn't care if Chris Carter knew I was an x-phile =and= a 'shipper. "Yet, you nixed two very important scenes from both episodes."

Carter paused. "Mulder and Scully have a very unique relationship in which they *can* express feelings like any friends, but their work and their personalities, I think, prevents them from--"

I had just about enough. "This is bullshit," I said. "C'mon."

"Look," Carter said, his eyes flashing. "If you don't like it, don't watch it."

"I do like it, though," I said, flashing an index finger. "I like it because you've managed to create a spark between your two characters, whether you have the balls to admit it, or not--"

"This isn't about balls whatsoever!" Carter said, standing up. "This is about what my vision for these characters is, and you're completely ruining my vision."

"Oh yeah?" I asked, standing up. "Well, you're completely ruining mine."

"So don't watch it anymore," he said, lowering his eyebrows at me. God, that man could be a menace if he wanted to be.

But I could be one as well. I had worked years and years cultivating my intimidation skills. I would be damned if I was going to let some 50 year-old ex-surfing geek get the best of me. "You know I can put this to print, Mr. Carter."

Carter merely looked back at me challengingly, but I sensed a bit of fear in his eyes. We were both exposed to each other. Myself as a hard-core relationshipper, and Chris Carter as a scared television creator. Right now, though, I was the one who had the advantage.

"If your fans find out about what you're suggesting..."

"I will always have loyalty."

"You could have said the world to me, but it's all about the way I slant this article, Mr. Carter. The power that will make or break this is going on the cover of 'Image' magazine. How's that going to do for *your* image, Mr. Carter?"

There was a pause, and I used that time to pull out a cigarette, and light up.

"Chris has a lot of pride in his work," [Dori, Chris' wife] explained. "He's such a perfectionist, and he doesn't like to make mistakes." She looked over at me. "When he came home that night from your interview, you should have seen the look on his face, Eileen. I knew he was hurting, but he didn't want to say anything. Chris has so many feelings-- so much of himself put into and connected to this show, and he completely felt like he conveyed himself wrong."

"So why did you end up calling?" I asked.

Dori sighed. "The idiot has too much pride," she said. "But I told him you were coming over, and he agreed to talk to you... he should be home any time, now--"

As if on cue, the door opened at the front of the house, and there was a clunking noise, as, I suspected, Carter must have put down his bag.

"Hey, honey," he mumbled, coming into the sitting room, and stopped short when he saw me.

"Hi, sweetie," she said, standing up to give her husband a kiss. He continued to stare at me, almost alarmed.