#this was fun to flesh out

[randomfoggytiger]

I’m reading a book about txf called Deny All Knowledge, and one of the essays says that Mulder “clearly dislikes [Scully’s] New Age sister.” What do you think of this? It’s been a long time since I watched the Melissa episodes, but I certainly never thought Mulder disliked her that much

I wholeheartedly agree with that take.

Mulder first meets Melissa under suspicion-- who is hovering over Scully's hospital bed?-- and the first thing she says to him-- "I've been told not to call you Fox. By Dana, just now"-- gets his hopes up and down within seconds. Next, Melissa greets Maggie and immediately proclaims that Dana's deciding whether to stay or pass on. Maggie leaves, not able to take this from her daughter right then; but Mulder stays, part vigilance for Scully and part giving Maggie her space. Melissa then catches his hand, and he tries to believe in her unfettered, untamed, unquenchable, unquestioning belief... and finds he can't.

Then, Melissa advocates for Scully's medical wishes, getting her taken off life support. Then Melissa calls him "Fox... sorry, Mulder" while trying to talk him into accepting Scully's wishes (before he confronts Cancer Man.) Then she shows up at his apartment, faltering over "Dana's weakening", which A. reminds Mulder it was her and Maggie's decision to pull Scully off life support which would, of course, lead to her death, and B. makes him more determined to get revenge.

Melissa then (rightfully) reams him out, demanding courage and honesty for Scully's sake: "And so will you"-- becoming the second Scully (after Maggie) to recognize how lovesick Mulder was before he did. Even still, Mulder is uncomfortable under her scrutinizing, "I see what's going on here" gaze at the end of the episode; and makes his quick escape even quicker.

I think Melissa's a STRONG cup of tea that you either tolerate if she's family (or tangentially family, in Mulder's case) or love but are exasperated by and need space from (Scully and Maggie.) I can see she and Mulder getting in fights over their paranormal/supernatural leanings, Melissa erring on the side of "vibes" and Mulder erring on the side of "provable fact"; and Scully erring on the side of "you're both nuts but you're my nuts." Ultimately, Mulder would need the truth-- he has the same doubts as Scully, after all-- not what one feels is the truth, especially after his speech in Little Green Men ("I need proof-- you taught me that, Scully"); and this would lead him to question and/or discredit whatever Melissa had to say. Melissa, meanwhile, would be so blunt that people would (did) distance themselves from her, which would (did) lead to a cycle of earnest effort, hurt, withdrawal, and pain she would fall (fell) into over and over (part "not again" and part "why?") I think it was one of Chris Carter's wisest decisions for Mulder and Melissa not to become a thing in One Breath (if I remember correctly) because Mulder's changed so much already in one year-- and irrevocably in ways closer to Scully's way of thinking-- that to be drawn towards Melissa's ungrounded view of the world would be to drag him kicking and screaming into incoherent madness. Not to mention how much it would damage his character growth.

On a side note, I have a head canon that Bill is the only one who could really tolerate or truly enjoy Melissa's company despite her woo woo talk, solely because Melissa gifted him a picture she gave to no one else while traveling up the coasts the year Scully was abducted. I don't know why it makes sense other than Bill might see Melissa as unfettered and still "finding her way" and therefore be more easy on her rather than Scully who "knew better" and deviated from the "right" path. Although Bill never blames Scully for Melissa's death in canon (hallelujah that Memento Mori scene was deleted) and tries to smooth over a lot of their rough patches in Season 5 (perhaps even overdoes it a bit, but he was trying), he seemed to "know" more about Melissa than Scully did in A Christmas Carol (just "knowing", like Maggie, that Melissa wouldn't do what Scully speculated of her.) Interesting thought, nonetheless.

[chalkrub]

smorkin

[abd-illustrates]

🧡 Lance 🧡

I’ve been bitten by the “I need to draw my OCs or I’ll explode” bug once again 😔🙏 It’s been too long since I’ve drawn Lance - but I have a much clearer idea of who he is and what he’s about nowadays, so I tried to put plenty of attitude into this one! ⚔️🐉

[DO NOT EDIT OR REPOST TO OTHER SITES / ACCOUNTS] ♻️reblogs are lovely tho!♻️

[heartludwig]

Sinful little noodle wants a snack

Also, lil extra 👇 

[saint-hymn]

mercy, mèrci

[hinamie]

i'm exactly as normal about him as I thought I'd be

[angelcake10023]

They have BEEF 💥 and I think it’s hilarious

[ohitslen]

Average university experience

[sea-webs]

"I don't know who I want to be, anymore."

Oc - Cirque | The Dragon Chosen by the Shadows |

| mary oliver / franz wright / chelsea dingman / mary oliver / sue zhao / can't find :( / can't find :( / i am a dog. i have blood all over my teeth. - sciencedfiction / little weirds - jenny slate / the unabridged journals of sylvia |

[onlineviolence]

Yaoi (old men)

gossip

[marcell-arts]

doodles of viago de riva and his little protegee, Rookie!

i just finished veilguard and i am obsessed with the crows. you can check out my fic on this duo, focusing on pre-game events and what it was like for my crow!Rook to grow up in House de Riva!

[chrliekclly]

he wants to be a vet :)

[starryeyed-seer]

me: I'm not a bat

Mr pages: (stuffing novels under its robe): I must abscond

[froganni]

Multi-faceted • Introspection.

(This isn't really for any particular server, mainly for a pearl au I'm keeping to myself for now. :D)

Reblogs appreciated!

[pnfc]

misc. from last week

[waddles-ex-machina]

some more comic panels I liked :>