#alternate season 8

[randomfoggytiger]

If Mulder and Doggett Were Partnered in Season 8

@thursdayinspace, I got swept up in your alternate Season 8 idea. So, I sat down and wrote it up.

I'm operating under the assumption that Scully is pregnant; but if she weren't, Mulder and Doggett would still form a friendship along the same lines, albeit without a shared sense of loss between them. Deadalive would then focus on Scully's struggle to reintegrate after Kersh refuses to reassign her to the files, and Essence-Existence would follow other mytharc beats without a baby involved.

Lastly: Mulder would have to find out about her pregnancy in order for the level of emotional turmoil to remain equal.

THE PLAY-BY-PLAY PLOT

Scully is pregnant, and abducted.

Within. Doggett insinuates Mulder knows more about Scully's disappearance than he lets on. Skinner intercepts a punch from Mulder (having hovered nearby, knowing he'd act out in some way) and separates the two before Kersh becomes involved.

Doggett traces Scully's last movements to Mulder's apartment, where he clearly states his motives and intentions. Mulder notes but doesn't soften to Doggett's straight-forward sincerity, deciding to work around and largely ignore the other agent... until Doggett shocks Mulder with the results of Scully's blood work (a test she'd done before flying back to Oregon.) Shattered and desperate, he charges out to the UFO landing with Skinner after a call from TLG.

The flashes we get to Scully on the ship are in the same vein as Ascension, i.e. Mulder imagining worst-case scenarios.

The rest of Without unfolds; but it does open up a great opportunity for Mulder to lose it if he has to shoot Scully's clone (instead of Skinner's) to save Gibson. That, and the unprocessed grief from losing his pregnant partner-- again-- might cause him to collapse and (silently) weep. This humanizes him to Doggett (who lost a child, too); and the latter takes the x-files assignment with a little less resignation, seeing it as a way to redeem his own past mistakes.

Patience. Manbat. Doggett squares off with the sheriff at the house, cop style, rankling Mulder. Mulder later ditches Doggett for the cemetery and witnesses the sheriff's murder. The local police don't believe him, thinking his theories have wasted precious time; but Doggett ends up making a connection with past news reports (without believing fully them, of course.) The rest of the plot happens, yadda yadda.

Roadrunner. Events fall out the same, except Doggett has to walk Mulder out of town. Mulder won't apologize but does take what Doggett says on the chin, acknowledging his points silently.

Invocation. Not only does the boy's case tear at Doggett's wounds, but Mulder's as well: because of Scully and the baby, sure, but also because of Samantha and starlight. (That would have been a better episode overall, I think. Imagine if it were at the tail end of Season 8 after Mulder's return, squeezed between Alone and Essence. Alas.)

Redrum's the same.

Via Negativa is where it could get interesting. I have two theories: 1. Mulder ditches Doggett to chase a UFO sighting (and Skinner covers up for him); or 2. Mulder starts developing symptoms he's afraid might be linked to CSM's deterioration after the Amor Fati surgery, causing him to be down and out for the rest of the episode. The symptoms either stick long enough to be cured in The Gift or melt away, a nothing burger (like the canonical brain disease plotline.)

Surekill, Salvage, Badlaa, who cares.

The Gift. Again, two theories: 1. Doggett stumbles onto shady things Mulder did off-the-grid during the Via Negativa episode-- really, really questionable moral decisions-- to get answers. Skinner advises him to let it go, for everyone's sake. 2. Mulder disappears again and Doggett traces him to the magic man's house where he just misses Mulder being cured of brain disease (because Mulder took miracle man up on the offer, needing to be alive to find Scully.) He finds Mulder unconscious and the other man weakened by the procedure; and intercepts the local police's attempts to capture and rug sweep. He's killed, then healed. When both men recover, Mulder shares his own experience with near death (obliquely, as is Mulder's way.) The episode continues, the end.

Medusa is the first episode where they're both a team. Doggett stays up top while Mulder explores the tunnels.

Per Manum. Mulder becomes too emotionally involved, tying his IVF journey with Scully to the case. Skinner calls him out, saying he's "saving" the Haskell woman as a proxy because his own pregnant partner is missing. Mulder does not take the victim to a military base; but his truck is intercepted, he's knocked unconscious, and the woman is taken (by Doggett's pretend friend Rohrer), regardless. Doggett relays what everyone believes, but says he understands what Mulder's going through.

This Is Not Happening. The only changes would be that Monica Reyes starkly reminds Mulder of Melissa Scully, and that he yells for Jeremiah Smith to come out while cradling Scully's "dead" body.

Again, we hit a crossroads: does Jeremiah Smith heal Scully?

If he does, then Deadalive focuses on Scully's struggles working back from her abduction and "replacement" on the files (she'd likely flunk all the tests for field work because of her vivid memories and trauma, to begin with), not to mention her pregnancy.

If he doesn't, then This Is Not Happening-Deadalive Mulder will have to put on extended "medical" leave following Scully's burial. Kersh seeks dismissal but is held at bay by the optics of the situation. Skinner digs up Scully and bears the brunt of Mulder's anger when the latter isn't immediately told. Krycek doesn't make a deal with Skinner (both know there would be no gain unless Mulder's in that hospital bed) and yanks Scully off life support. One of two things happen: 1. the episode unfolds as usual or 2. Mulder chases him down and they have a conversation at gunpoint, with Krycek claiming his actions saved Scully's life, then threatening to exposure for Mulder's actions in Via Negativa if he's not let go. Somehow, Krycek gets away (likely because Mulder pauses long enough for Doggett to catch up and reason with him, revealing he'd learned the sordid details during The Gift.)

Three Words through Alone. Lots of trauma for Scully and Mulder, I'm sure.

THE FINALE

Essence and Existence.

The Supersoldiers can stay because they will give Mulder and Scully renewed purpose for Season 9. However, they are not indestructible, and are few in number (with only a few being able to turn because of Jeremiah Smith's healing efforts.) If they've infested government, then only a few key positions.

Option One

Essence: The plot unfolds like normal until Krycek drops in and saves Mulder and Scully from Billy Miles. He warns them about an alien elimination program to clean up loose ends (not because of some Messiah baby) and offers them a place to hide out. Mulder and Scully escape with Krycek's coordinates while Skinner and Doggett destroy Billy in the garbage truck.

Existence: After they leave, Knowle Rohrer contacts Doggett and warns him Krycek recently switched sides and is leading Mulder and Scully into a trap. (If Mulder has dipped into darkness during Via Negativa, all the more motive for his enemies to want him permanently out of the way.) Skinner and Doggett track and confront Krycek for information; and in the scuffle Skinner kills him to save Doggett's. They triangulate coordinates with TLG; and, realizing the location is in Mexico, call in Monica for help. Meanwhile, Mulder and Scully deduce they're being followed. Here's where the episode can get its Chris Carter drama: the two switch course without the viewers knowing, and Scully's labor and delivery happen (safely) concurrent to Skinner, Doggett, Reyes, and the Supersoldiers running into each other at the original location and fighting it out. The Supersoldier group isn't large enough to beat back the ambush, and retreat, setting up a problem Mulder, Scully, and the gang will have to deal with next season. Everyone gets home happily, the end.

Option Two

Essence is the same, but Existence takes a turn. Rohrer contacts Doggett to let him know the Supersoldiers aren't a danger to Scully or the baby. Their mission is to take back alien tech from the remaining Syndicate's grasp, which is against Krycek's group's interests. Krycek sent Mulder and Scully to a fringe Syndicate conclave, where Scully and the baby will be detained and tested in the hopes that their DNA will somehow unlock the elusive Colonization cure. (If Mulder did shenanigans during Via Negativa, all the more reason to eradicate him from the game.) Doggett and Skinner track Krycek, Skinner kills Krycek, they triangulate coordinates with TLG, call in Reyes, and head out.

Mulder and Scully either veer off-course last minute, wary, or follow-through on the plan and reach the compound.

If both agents reach the compound, they either 1. evade capture long enough for the Supersoldiers (who'd used them to find Krycek's group) to surprise everyone and burn the place down or 2. are captured but escape during the ensuing chaos. Mulder and Scully and the Supersoldiers go their separate ways, knowing their paths will cross again. William is likely born off-screen, the end.

CONCLUSION

And there we go!

Don't know what this accomplishes, but it was fun.

[themusicsweetly]

Partners in Crime™

[blorbodiaz]

i’m sorry can we take a second

wtf is station 119?

[mischiefbuckley]

what the fuck is the 119

[chuuzmii]

People saying gay/queer Eddie wont happen is blowing me because... what else could Eddies storyline be building to like?? It is most definitely happening brother😭 like mama lets research:

-They said we could have gotten bi buck in season 4 and queer Eddie in season 5 but it was scrapped.. we got bi buck season 7... gee i wonder what they're re cooking up for season 8 🤔🧐

-They made marisol a nun just to give eddie even more catholic guilt and catholic guilt? It's historically gay sorry i dont make the rules eddie boykisser. (Im joking but this arch seriously had eddie analyzing the toxic masculinity he was raised with/grew up around which is something that a lot of queer poc men or queer military men do before coming out. Im also like 90% sure this guilt is the reason he had a breakdown and started dating his ex-wife's evil twin but who knows 🤷🏾‍♀️)

-Eddie and Tommy were supposed to be together S7 but they scrapped it because they didn't think it fit. I see people using this as a reason to think RG or production don't want queer Eddie but I am genuinely confused by that because in MY mind it's another reason why S8 gay Eddie is going to happen. I dont think they scrapped it because they didn't want it but because it didn't fit Eddie as a character like there is no way Eddie 'i cant be honest with myself unless i have a mental breakdown first' Diaz is going to be out and proud in an 8 episode season. And also I think they knew the writing and episodes were going to be a bit wonky this season and that there was NOOO way they could write a coming out that fit Eddie with the strikes going on.

Ntm all the shit the production/crew does to make me think its going to happen. Oliver only posting Buddie content, members of the crew liking and replying to Buddie tweets, and that one insider going on the Eddie rant on twitter (this one barely counts for me because i have no clue who this person is but ik some care about what they have to say.)

gay eddie is going to happen i can feel it in my left ball u guys just STAY STRONG.

[atths--twice]

A few months ago I was asked to write a little story for the program schedule that everyone would get at PhileFest. I was delighted to be asked and so I sent off three possibilities and the last one was chosen. Now that the weekend is over, (sadly, as it was amazing) I can share all the ones I wrote.

I hope you enjoy them. ❤️

In Another Life

Little glimpses into how life could have gone…

Chapter One

November 2001

William giggled as Mulder pushed him in the baby swing at the park. He was bundled against the chilly day, in a dark blue full bodysuit and a blue beanie with yellow stars on it.

They had been to the park a few times, but oddly enough William had not enjoyed the swings until recently, crying every time they had placed him in it. Now though, he laughed when he was being gently pushed.

“I’m glad he likes it now,” Mulder said, giving him another small push. “Not much else he can really do here just yet.”

“True. Though he did like the slide with you last time,” Scully said, taking pictures of William as he laughed.

“You mean when I hit my knee and limped home?”

“Well... I didn’t say you liked it,” she teased and he chuckled with a nod.

“Do you think the ducks will still be at the little pond? He liked them too.”

“We can look and see,” Scully said with a shrug, slowing the swing and kissing William’s flushed cheeks. “You want to see the ducks, sweetheart? Yeah, let’s see if we can find them.”

She took him from the swing and he protested for a second before he was turned around and allowed to see the park as they walked toward the pond. Mulder put his arm around Scully’s shoulders and kissed first William’s head and then hers.

“Have I mentioned today that I love you?” he asked and she smiled.

“You have. But not for a couple of hours.”

“Well, that’s unacceptable,” he said, shaking his head.

“I mean, I have been wondering,” she teased him, bumping him with her arm as William blew loud raspberries.

“Hmm…” he hummed, pulling her closer and pressing his nose to her head and then kissing her again. “It’s never good if you’re left wondering.”

“Mulder,” she said, shaking her head. “Oh look, the ducks are still here. Look, William. See the ducks? Wow, there’s quite a few. And we don’t have anything to feed them. They won’t like that, I don’t think.”

“Eh, it’ll be okay,” Mulder said, moving his arm from her shoulders and putting his hands in his pockets.

Scully sat down with William in her lap when they reached the small pond. The ducks quacked softly as they swam closer, but still kept their distance, watching them curiously.

“Yeah, I don’t think they’ll get much closer. But look, William. Look at the ducks. Hear them quacking? They’re saying hello to you. Say hi, ducks.” She waved his little pudgy hand at the ducks and William squealed happily.

Mulder knelt down beside them, his heart racing as he took the small jewelry box from his pocket and opened it. He watched her watching the ducks, laughing as she held William’s hand, and he loved her even more.

“Next time we’ll need to bring some bread or something,” she said, turning to glance at him then looking back at the ducks.

A few seconds passed and she looked back at him, her eyes wide.

“Mulder,” she whispered, looking down at the golden ring in the black box. “What are you doing?”

“Working up the nerve to ask you to marry me,” he whispered back, the ducks quacking louder as William squealed again.

“You…”

“Will you marry me, Scully?” he asked, swallowing hard as he waited for her answer.

“Mulder… I never thought…” She stared at him and he smiled, knowing it was not something they had really discussed. “Yes. Yes, I will.”

“You will?” he asked, somewhat surprised.

“Did you want me to say no?” she asked, laughing softly.

“No,” he said quickly. “No, I didn’t.”

“Would you like me to say I need some time to think about it?” she asked, smiling happily.

“No,” he said, shaking his head and moving closer to her. “No, I don’t.”

“Then yes, Mulder. Yes, I will marry you.”

“Good.”

He slipped the ring on her finger, his hands shaking slightly. She looked at the ring and then him, her eyes shining as she smiled.

A loud quack from the ducks pulled their attention, both of them laughing as they turned to look at them. William laughed and bounced excitedly on Scully’s lap as Mulder sat beside Scully, his arm going around her shoulders.

“I love you,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder.

“I love you too,” he said, his head resting on hers as he closed his eyes and smiled.

[gen-z-ninja]

LEGO Ninjago | Season 8 - Sons Of Garmadon | Alternative Ending | Angst With A Happy Ending | Emperor Garmadon VS Lloyd Garmadon

Unbreakable Bond by AeonTheDimensionalGirl

"I've played many roles. Worn many masks: Father. Husband. Brother. Teacher. But only one was summoned back…. DESTROYER!"

The Garmadon 'family reunion' takes a very different turn. (Alternative ending for Episode 83 and SoG)

[dark-d0]

Two girls were wiping the mirrored panels when suddenly the door swung open, letting a man inside.

“Excuse me, is this the ‘Diverseight’ aqua aerobics studio? I would like to sign up for the duration of my vacation here.”

“If you open your eyes, you’ll see that we’re open until 10 PM. So, kindly get lost, would you? Oh, and you can come back tomorrow if you want,” one of the girls said roughly, not taking her gaze off the panel. Meanwhile, her coworker turned to the guest.

“Yes, of course, sir. Please go to the registration desk, and I will assist you in a few minutes,” she said, suppressing her excitement and joy.

“Mindie, have you been inhaling smoke?! I told you we’re closed, or is he some kind of king, deserving of a special invitation?!”

Mindie elbowed her coworker in the side, guiding her away. The man stood silently, showing no reaction to what was happening and assessing the premises.

“Do you live in a bunker or something?” Mindie hissed. “Do you even understand who this is?”

“Surprise me!” Landa shouted back, clearly not understanding her colleague's behavior. “This is Michael Langdon, a famous rock artist. His tours are booked months in advance; he sells out entire venues, and now he’s in our studio. We can’t refuse him, especially not as rudely as you just did.”

“I beg you…” the girl rolled her eyes. “I don’t care who he is, even if he’s a prince. Rules are the same for everyone!”

The mood board belongs to far_west_cookie_fern

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SCaulfield🦋✨ (@far_west_cookie_fern)

The text was invented and written by me

@langdonss @justabrokenheartedangel @enchantedruin

[alexalblondo]

That twilight quote of „How old are you?“ „17“ „how long have you been 17?“ „a while“ but it‘s about every character on Riverdale cause they are stuck in a timeloop and it resets randomly to turn them back into 17 year olds every other week until Season 8 is announced

[randomfoggytiger]

I've got a question for you, one that I've been thinking about, but since you have dug deeper into season 8, maybe you have a thought or two on it: If Scully had been the one to be abducted instead of Mulder, and Mulder had been partnered with Doggett, how would that have gone? I have to admit that I don't have a good grasp of Doggett's character. But I feel like they wouldn't have *not* gotten along, as in, not hated each other as such, but also not been able to work together? Doggett seems like a good and honest guy, and I think Mulder would have appreciated that. But also they would not have been very efficient as a team because they are so very different. And Mulder does have a tendency to do his own thing sometimes, and I don't know if he'd always have had the patience for Doggett. Because with Scully, while disagreeing, they argued on the same level, do you know what I mean? They had a very academic approach to problems. Doggett is very much a cop. Their styles are so different. And I think they wouldn't have hated each other, but they wouldn't have had a partnership? Mulder might have ditched him a lot? Because of their clashing personalities and also because he would just not have accepted a new partner who wasn't Scully? I find the dynamic between Scully and Doggett very interesting and it sort of starts to work after a while. But there wasn't that much love for Doggett from Mulder's side when he came back. So what would that have looked like if the roles had been reversed? Any thoughts?

What a chewy question.

We saw Mulder indignantly put up with Krycek during their early partnership, but by the end of that episode-- a mere few days-- Krycek had wormed his way into a place by Mulder's side. I think his behavior would fall into the same lines, if a tad more abrasive because of Doggett's steadfast disbelief.

I also think Vienen and Essence show best how Mulder and Doggett would have operated as partners: Mulder had something to prove, shoving and ditching and using the other man. Even then, however, he was concerned for Doggett's safety, couldn't leave a man behind, and appreciated having someone at his back. Doggett, meanwhile, thought Mulder was nuts and had every right to call his superiors and have him dragged off the oil rig in Vienen and or off his back in Essence... but didn't. Part of that was an extension of the loyalty Scully earned during their own partnership, but another part of that is because of his nature.

Doggett is a circumspect man who keeps to his place: it's not his business to speculate, only follow orders. If things don't add up, he'll advise a different course of action, but largely keeps his opinion to himself. That's their business, not his. (That doesn't stop his natural curiosity-- you need a bit of that to be a cop and solve crimes.) However, he expects the same level of graciousness and respect in return, which is why he threw Mulder against a wall in Empedocles for meddling in his personal affairs.

At the end of the day: to Doggett, the files were Mulder's, even after Mulder was "resurrected" and assigned elsewhere. Doggett didn't attach his worth to the files-- didn't even want them, really, when Scully walked permanently-- which allowed him to fall behind Scully without complaint (even when she sounded insane) and swallow his indignation at her old partner's anger.

And by Essence, he'd begun to understand Mulder: learning how best to weigh and respond to his cantankery moods and when to mete out objections. Mulder, too, had begun to give Doggett more grace, listening to his suggestions and even letting Doggett keep Scully's location a secret from himself. (...I'm not getting into that can of worms; but it is an important character beat between them.)

So, all in all, I don't think it would have been too painful. :DDDD

[mmaeeve]

daily dean quote #64/366:

“it’s supposed to be obvious, man! it’s the three stooges!”

- season 8, episode 15, man’s best friend with benefits

[wrepepe]

(he's definitely not having fun being lost in the woods)

[pan-cus-it-didnt-wok-out]

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Game of Thrones (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Sansa Stark/Margaery Tyrell Characters: Sansa Stark, Margaery Tyrell, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha/Omega, Non-Traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Vaginal Sex, Pregnancy, Pregnant Sex, Game of Thrones Spoilers, Game of Thrones Alternate Season 08, Female Alpha, Female Omega, sansaery, Omegaverse, Knotting, Scenting, Mating Bites, Mating Bond, Fluff, Angst, Smut, Sad smut, sirehood, Tears, it's 4 am and I am tired... but so happy I wrote this, fluffy smutty loving tenderness, Sapphic, Stark - Freeform, Family Fluff, One shot with two chapters, Aftermath season 8 Summary:

Sansa and Margaery have everything they wanted, yet it could all be gone tomorrow. They share a last moment of intimacy before the Long Night breaks and they need to face the reality of the war that is coming their way.

or

Angst sad loving fluff smut and in the 2nd chapter we have the aftermath.

[ethereance]

Au where Altea only appears at the end of the series because they’ve all accidentally been plonked into another reality. The one Honerva tried to reach. The Alteans aren’t exactly pleased to see the lions after a day of having their planet used as a battleground.

[widevibratobitch]

im still so fucking mad and i mean fuming and waving my fist at the sky mad that the outlander intro is genuinely THAT good