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all-eyes-lead-to-the-truth · 2 months ago

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All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Arcadia (6x15)

When Cami was growing up, she’d always dreamed of having a close-knit community. She wanted to find an Ethel Mertz to her Lucy Ricardo, a neighbor she could share everything with as their families grew alongside each other. She wanted to leave her doors unlocked at night knowing that an Andy Taylor was out there keeping them safe.

Her dreams were a sitcom, but her reality was a creature feature that would have Robert Stack scratching his head.

Everyone in the neighborhood lived in fear, wrought with an anticipatory dread that made coming home feel suffocating. Whenever she was able to socialize with her friends, it felt like every conversation was laden with doublespeak—survival tactics shared using the language of a Better Homes and Gardens catalog.

So while she was excited about getting to spend time with her new neighbor, that enthusiasm was inextricably marred by the pity she felt knowing that moving into The Falls was the worst decision the Petries could have made.

“It sounded like you were making fun of him.”

The thin wood of the front door muffled a feminine voice, and Cami nearly jumped when she realized the Petries were waiting on the porch. She started moving closer to the door to let them in, but the realization that they hadn’t knocked or rang the doorbell yet made her hand freeze over the doorknob.

“I was simply asking about the cultural influences of his home decor, Laura,” the man replied, emphasizing his wife’s name with a lilt.

“I can’t remember, was that before or after you pulled me onto your lap, Rob?” she replied with the same pointed inflection.

“Hey, that was an accident. I said I was sorry,” Rob replied, his tone losing some of the joviality it previously held. “It’s not my fault his shitty Pier 9 furniture sinks in the middle. Besides, I could just as easily say that you chose to sit on my lap.”

The mention of Pier 9 caused Cami to frown as she realized who they were talking about. If Laura was right and Rob had been making fun of Gene, that wasn’t going to turn out well.

“In your dr-”

Whatever Laura was about to say was cut off as Cami opened the door, revealing Rob leaning into Laura, their faces so close that Cami might have assumed they were kissing—if not for the tense whispering she’d just overheard.

The sound of the door opening seemed to startle them, but Rob’s arm swiftly made its way around Laura’s waist and all traces of their spat disappeared from the couple’s expressions.

“I heard the people of The Falls were polite, but having a sixth sense so your guests don’t even have to lift a hand to knock is a new level of hospitality,” Rob joked.

Cami offered them an embarrassed smile as she began unlocking the screen door. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything, I thought I heard something and wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

The couple thanked her as they entered the home and stood in the anteroom as she ensured both doors were locked again. “Sorry, we didn’t mean to scare you. Getting this house and moving in has just rekindled all these feelings of domesticity for us. Laura hasn’t been able to keep her hands-”

Mottled blotches of crimson started to mar the woman’s face as she put her hand on her husband’s abdomen to interrupt him, only to quickly retract it as if she didn’t want to confirm his comment. “Rob, I’m sure Mrs. Schroeder doesn’t want to hear-”

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Cami chuckled, amused by the couple’s antics. “I think it’s wonderful that coming to The Falls has added some excitement to your relationship.”

The words felt wrong coming out of her mouth, and she had to resist the urge to apologize for the irony of her statement. Trying to find better wording, she added, “I mean… it’s always lovely when that newlywed feeling comes back.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Rob grinned, squeezing his wife’s arm endearingly.

“Rob just knows I’m… shy. He always loves to tease me. He’s a big joker,” Laura replied.

Cami's smile widened to hide the frown that wanted to emerge. The Klines had been the same way, always laughing, always goofing around. Joking around in The Falls was like telling a knock-knock joke in a morgue.

She motioned with her hand for them to follow her to the den, asking over her shoulder, “So, how long has it been for you two?”

“It’ll be six years next month,” Laura answered fondly.

“Really?” Rob asked.

Cami thought she heard a muffled, pained grunt, but when she turned around, she just saw the smiling couple. “Win’s the same way, can’t remember an anniversary to save his life. Will it be six years since you met or got married?”

Rob chuckled lightly, “Since we met, but it feels like we’ve been married just as long.”

“You two make a beautiful couple. Everyone was saying so yesterday.”

“Oh- thank you,” Laura replied. The comment seemed to take them both by surprise as Laura’s cheeks flushed in response while Rob just looked to the floor with a wistful smirk.

It was true. As Cami led them to the den, she couldn’t help but notice the way Rob and Laura complemented one another, moving together in perfect harmony—a rare reprieve from the fear and tension that had worn down so many other couples around here.

She’d longed for neighbors like them once—warm, friendly faces who seemed like genuinely kind people. But as she watched Rob and Laura hold onto each other, exchanging glances, a pit formed in her stomach. They had already joined the neighborhood’s strange, silent dance; they just didn’t know it yet.

Read the Rest of All Eyes Lead to the Truth on Archive of Our Own!

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#all eyes lead to the truth #scully #mulder #fanfic #x files fanfic #x files #msr #the x files #season six #s6 #6x15 #arcadia #the falls #cami #rob and laura petrie

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atths--twice · 1 year ago

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Rediscovering the Thrill

What may have happened while they were staying at The Falls when Mulder left the bedroom telling Scully that the thrill was gone.

Fictober day 4 prompt 9: I wouldn't do that if I were you.

The thrill is gone.

The words Mulder had said when he left the room kept repeating in her ears as she straightened up while she waited for her face mask to dry.

The thrill is gone.

How could it be gone when it had never even started? At least not in the way he was implying. Not how Rob would mean it if he was speaking to Laura.

She knew he was teasing her, acting the part of a hurt husband, but still…

Picking up his shoes, she placed them on a shelf in the closet. Seeing his sweatshirt had been left on the bed, she sighed as she snatched it up to hang it in the closet.

The thrill is gone.

Is that what he wants? she wondered, placing the sweatshirt on the hanger. A thrill? Something that isn’t who we are? Does he want to be someone else? For me to be someone else? Or is it our thrill that’s gone?

“Hey, Scully,” Mulder said, poking his head around the corner.

“Jesus Christ, Mulder,” she said, dropping his sweatshirt and looking at him in exasperation.

“Sorry,” he said, tapping his fingers against the doorjamb. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Yeah, well,” she huffed, picking up the sweatshirt and hanging it with a bit more force than was needed. “Did you need something?”

“It’s still early,” he said rather sheepishly and she raised her eyebrows, waiting. “I know I won’t be sleeping anytime soon. You wanna watch a movie or something?”

She stared at him, crossing her arms and drawing in a breath.

“You don’t have to, but-”

“No, I…” she said with a quick nod. “I will.”

“I mean I don’t know what’s on, but…”

“It’s still early,” she finished and he nodded, tapping his fingers on the doorjamb again. “Maybe we could see what’s inside that gigantic basket Pat gave us.” He grinned and she attempted to smile back, but her skin felt tight. She touched her face and nodded. “You go open it, I’ll wash this off and join you.”

“You got it, Mrs. Petrie.”

“Shut up,” she said, pushing him out of her way as she walked to the bathroom. She heard him laughing as he left the room and she smiled slightly.

Ten minutes later, she walked into the kitchen to find the contents of the entire basket laid on the counter as Mulder looked at it dubiously.

“Nothing good?” she asked and he sighed.

“I don’t know. It’s all so… frou frou-y.”

“Frou frou?” she teased.

“Yeah. They’re not brands I recognize. Look at this one, what’s that name? I can’t make it out. Solare’s? Sss… Salane’s? I can’t tell.”

“They’re crackers,” she said, looking at the box and then at him. “Take them, the salami, and that cheese and I’ll grab a knife and a plate.”

“The wine too, or no?” he asked and she shook her head with a slight frown.

“No, the wine at dinner made me feel… I don’t know. I don’t want any. But you go ahead if you want.”

“Nah. It’s not exactly my first choice, especially this one from… Zairess? Seriously, what is this? Where did Pat get these things?”

“Probably some hoity toity shop somewhere. Gotta keep up with those appearances, right?” she asked as she opened cupboards and drawers searching for what she needed.

“I would hate to live in a place like this,” he said and she snorted. “No shit,” she said, rolling her eyes. Shaking her head, she finally found what she was looking for and grabbed a large plate and a sharp knife.

“But you wouldn’t mind it.”

“Living somewhere where neighbors help each other out? That’s not so bad.”

“But dinners at their house? Tuna casserole dinners, Scully? ZZ Top wine?” He gestured to the bottle he had put back into the basket and she laughed. “From the finest little shop in San Diego, but still…” His eyes widened and he stepped backward out of the kitchen as she followed.

“At least the tuna was dolphin safe,” she deadpanned and he grunted.

“Not as safe in my stomach. It definitely did not agree with me.”

“Proper food can have that effect on a body used to only eating takeout and microwave dinners.”

“Are you knocking my frozen meatloaf meals, Scully? How can you when it’s made for hungry men like me?”

She laughed again as they sat down on the couch and she set the plate and knife on the coffee table. He added the salami and cheese, opening the box of crackers and then the bag inside. Placing some on the plate, he picked one up and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully.

“Not terrible,” he stated, chewing again. “But definitely dry. I’ll go get us some water.”

“Hmm,” she hummed with a nod as she opened the salami and began slicing pieces of it and laying them beside the crackers.

Mulder came back and snatched a piece as he set the glasses of ice water on the coffee table.

“Hmm. That’s good. Zany Tony makes a good salami.”

Scully laughed as she opened the cheese and started slicing it.

“Who makes this cheese?”

“It said Wandering Willows Farm on the package.”

“The fuck it did,” he laughed, reaching for the wrapper and looking at it. “Tira’s Cheese. Tira.” He looked at her and shook his head as he dropped it back onto the coffee table. “Your name was better.”

“If I ever decide to throw all this away,” she said, waving the knife to indicate the room at large. “I’ll become a cheese maker and call it Wandering Willows, just for you.”

“It’s a solid plan. People do love cheese.” He tried to take a slice, but she stopped him by blocking his hand.

“I have a sharp knife in my hand. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“But, Scullyyyy,” he whined. “Tuna casserole.” She shook her head and snorted out a laugh. “With white wine, need I remind you.”

“No,” she said with a shiver. “You don’t need to remind me. I think Tira’s vineyard made that wine too.”

“Ha!” he exclaimed, bumping her with his shoulder and laughing quietly. “Cheese and wine. You’ll have some stiff competition at ol’ Wandering Willows.”

“I can take her,” she said, finishing with the cheese and setting the knife down.

Picking up two slices of cheese, she handed him one. They nodded as they tried it, watching each other as they chewed.

“It’s… cheese,” he stated and she nodded in agreement. “It’s not bad.”

“But it’s not great.”

“Better than tuna casserole.”

“Hell yes it is,” she said, reaching for another piece as well as a cracker and a piece of salami. “Let’s see how all three are together.”

He prepared a cracker for himself and they nodded once again as they took a bite.

“Oh, that’s good. Much better as a combo,” he said, shoving the rest of it into his mouth.

“Yeah,” she agreed. “Much better.”

“Does it need mustard? I think there’s a jar of Zoreli’s in that basket. Or Tortoroni’s Tangy Mustard.”

“Is it Zoreli’s and Sons? Because I really prefer that brand over just Zoreli’s.”

He laughed as he began stacking the salami and cheese onto another cracker and she smiled as she did the same.

“Wandering Willows will have to speak to the Zoreli’s about an exclusive deal to work with them.”

“It’s in the bag. One of my employees is sleeping with the boss of the Zoreli family. They made an offer they couldn’t refuse,” she said in her best Brando voice and he choked on his cracker when he started laughing.

He reached for his glass of water, choking and sputtering, as she thumped him on his back and chuckled softly.

“Scully,” he said in a strained voice after he had taken a few large drinks, shaking his head and coughing as he laughed again.

“You want into the Willows… you’re then in until you die.”

“Or you’re given a pair of cement shoes,” he said with another cough.

“Meh…” she said with a shrug. “You gotta protect the family.”

“I never knew the cheese/wine/mustard business had such a dark side.”

“Why do you think you don’t recognize the brands we’re eating tonight? The others…” She ran her thumb slowly across her throat and his eyes widened. “We don’t play at the Willows.”

He smiled slowly, shaking his head as he stared at her. She smiled back and then looked at the television.

“Are we still going to watch a movie?”

“Yeah,” he said, smiling as he set his glass down and reached for the remote. “Yeah, we are.”

He flipped through the channels until he landed on something, glancing at her for her approval. She nodded, not really caring what they watched. He set the remote down and made up another cracker to eat.

They watched the movie in near silence, eating their snack and drinking their water.

But every once in a while, he glanced at her and shook his head as he laughed through his nose. She smiled and shrugged, an entire conversation being spoken without saying a word.

What do you think now, Mulder? she thought, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Is our thrill still gone? Do you-?

“Is being bedfellows the only way into a place of employment at Wandering Willows?” he asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Not always,” she said, carefully considering her words. “All options for employment are taken into consideration.”

“So if it’s beneficial to the farm…”

“Or if the person is just really good looking…” she said with a shrug and he smiled.

“And they own a mustard farm…”

“Or a fruit farm. We’re always looking to expand. And if we can lock down jellies… well…” She sucked air in through her teeth and he threw his head back as he laughed.

Yeah, she thought with a smile. The thrill is definitely still there.

#fictober 23 #fictober2023 #xffictober23 #the x files #season 6 #Arcadia #teasing #awkward flirting #humor #fake relationship #sharing a space #banter #laughter #xf fanfic

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