Slashing Scully
| Meta | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Slashing Scully |
| Creator: | Dasha K |
| Date(s): | 2000 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom: | The X-Files |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | Slashing Scully |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Slashing Scully is a 2000 essay by Dasha K.
It was posted to the X-Files website Working Stiffs.
The "Working Stiffs'" website table of contents titles it: "How do I write a slash story featuring Scully?"
Some Topics Discussed
- femslash
- Scully/Other
- original characters
- Mary Sue
- Scully Slash List Archive
- some recs for fic
Excerpts
So, I've been thinking a lot about Scully slash lately, mainly because I've been getting ready to write another in the Jitterbug Perfume series. For those of you going, "Huh? Scully running around with a big knife, killing folks?" let me quickly explain. Slash is the fanfiction term that is used to denote a sexual or romantic relationship between two (or more) members of the same sex. So, Scully slash means a story where Scully is in some way involved with a woman.
I know, I know, a lot of you are thinking, "But Scully wouldn't do that..." Yep, I can hear you from my dining room. But let's think about it for a second. We have seen her attracted to men on the X-Files. She even may or may not have slept with Ed Jerse in "Never Again." (I happen to think so, but that's a whole 'nother topic of conversation) She may or may not be in love with Mulder. (Again, I think so, but that's just me) But-- has she ever made any kind of statement that would indicate that she would never, ever consider having a sexual relationship with a woman? Nope. And for many of us in the fanfic world, we consider that to be a green light to go ahead and pair her with a woman. Actually, even if she did say something like "No Mulder, I'm 100% heterosexual," we'd probably slash her anyhow and just call it an Alternate Universe.
In other words, if you can make it believable to me, I'll buy into Scully with another woman-- hook, line, and sinker.
Some of my fanfic friends have given me a rather funny look and said, "Why write Scully slash, Dasha?" Well, it's fun. If you know me at all, you know that I'm a writer of MSR about 95% of the time. I like to push the boundaries a little, to do something that stretches me as a writer.
Oh, and it's hot. I'm comfortable enough with my sexuality to say that. Let's face it, Scully is an attractive woman and to pair her with another attractive woman, mmmmm...
I don't know why Scully slash is more attractive to me than the boyslash. There are many, many talented writers of m/m slash and I'll read their work for the wonder of the writing, but it just doesn't do it for me a lot of the time. I think part of the problem (and I'm embarrassed to admit this) with Mulderslash for me is that I can't stand to see him with anyone but Scully. How cheesy is that? I was thinking about my m/m slash preferences the other day and realized my fave pairing was Pendrell/Krycek and my second Skinner/Krycek and that's when it hit me that on behalf of Scully, I'm a jealous bitch. I think, too, that I have a hard time identifying with the boyslash. It's tasty and all that, but as a woman I just feel kind of left out of the picture. Now, I've heard from m/m slash readers that the opposite is true for them, that they can identify more with the men. So, I guess that means all of our brains are wired differently. Which is definitely cool.
Yeah, so I like Scully slash but I read very little of it. Does that sound strange? Well, I'm picky as all get out.
It's tough to slash Scully because there isn't an obvious character with whom to slash her. Marita was just too undeveloped as a character and she never had any significant screen time with Scully. Diana and Scully? While Izzy Izenthe did it well in the Ignition Series, I just didn't see any chemistry between them on the screen. So, who does that leave us with?
Ah yes, original characters.
Original characters are great for the writer because you get to build a person up from scratch. However, for the fanfiction reader, you don't get that cool rush from seeing two characters you already know get together. Mulder/Krycek fans saw the UST in the "Red and the Black" kiss and then got to enjoy exploring that in fanfic. We Scully slash fans don't get that with an original character.
And then there's the dreaded Mary Sue. Yeah, you know her-- she perfect, she's gorgeous, she has an exotic name (although in Scully slash it's usually an androgynous one like Chris or Tyler or something), she's endlessly compassionate and wants to listen to Scully's pent up needs for days on end, eventually she becomes Mulder's basketball buddy and will cheerfully bake cakes with Mrs. Scully, she wants to have sex with Scully night and day. She is a goddess, that Mary Sue!
The only problem is that most savvy readers can spot a Mary Sue a mile away, and we just shake our heads and yawn.
I know that I get scared people will think my own Scully slash original character, May, is a big Mary Sue. That's why I try to make her flawed and imperfect, although she might want to have sex with Scully night and day.
So, being the evil and picky snot that I am, I have a hard time finding slash (especially longer stories) with Scully in it that doesn't fit the formula of a) Scully meets a mysterious, gorgeous woman to whom she's strangely drawn b) she's never felt love and pleasure like this before with this goddess c) Mulder is uncomfortable at first but he grows to love the new GF d) the big coming out scene with Mom at the dinner table e) endless love. I also have a problem with Scully slash that comes down hard on Mulder and ignores the fact that however you define it, there is definitely love between Mulder and Scully.
And to tell you the truth, I don't see Scully falling in love with another woman. Yes, I can see her as bisexual in a heartbeat, but I just do not see her being willing or able to commit to a woman for a long-term relationship. But that's just me, and I'm only one reader in a sea of thousands. I can see her enjoying women for sexual pleasure and companionship and all that good stuff, but not having the big commitment ceremony with her lover.
I know what you're thinking, "Oh Dasha, you're such a shipper, you just can't see her with anyone but Mulder in the end." And all I have to say to that is-- you're probably right. I'm not going to apologize for it.
There's a great, nasty line from the brilliant movie Chasing Amy, where one of the characters says, "All any woman ever wants is some serious deep-dicking." Now, I most certainly don't believe that, not one tiny bit. In other words, just because in my Jitterbug Perfume series Scully finds her true contentment, ultimately, in a relationship with Mulder, it doesn't mean that I think that two women can't have a long, happy, fulfilling relationship. I just don't believe Scully can find love with anyone but Mulder. But that's just me and what the heck do I know?
But we all know that in life, sometimes we can't be with Mr. or Ms. Right for whatever reasons and sometimes we have to go with Mr. or Ms. Right Now, and that can be hot, exciting, fun, and fulfilling in its own way.