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loveridden1999

mitski album covers from 2012-2026

mitski via instagram (january 14, 2026)

so one thing about Mulder is that he quite simply will never assume that Scully wants more from him or wants a deeper relationship with him in a relationship or romantically or anything, because he sees her as this so cool beacon of sanity and rationality and brilliance, and because historically assuming that the people in his life want a deeper relationship with him, even if they've implied or stated it and even if they're related to him and are supposed to care about him hasn't Gone Well for him. He sees himself as a trespasser in her life and in the lives of the people he cares about, a stowaway and a scratcher at the door, hoping to sneak into her life and keep his particular corner of it, but afraid that if he "pushes" (from his perspective) for more she'll wake up and realize that he's an intrusive mess that she doesn't want around.

He's not going to "acknowledge their relationship" or "reach out and act on Scully's [obvious to the audience but deflected by her to his face] feelings" or 'take pity on her pining already and stop being selfish' or any of that because she's talked around her feelings or not talked at all just as completely as he has, if not more completely, and his life has been a series of brutal rejections from people he depended on. For a big chunk of time in the middle there, while Scully is sitting there on her own feeling rejected, Mulder is sitting there thinking he's managed to finagle exactly as much of Scully's time and attention as he's ever going to get or rightly deserves to have, and is terrified of upsetting the fragile balance by wanting more.

it's an impasse.

ifigaveuponbeingpretty

I gotta disagree here, sorry.

He does try to get closer, but then he sometimes later walks it back. Consider FTF vs. the very first episode of season 6:

She physically grasps at his hand to try and get him to understand. She's trying to communicate—she's invoking their bond— and instead of continuing the conversation and actually listening, Mulder walks away. How is Scully supposed to trust what he says from that point onwards? How is she supposed to try to get close when it's clear that he may just take back what he says when it no longer serves him?

Next,

He's not going to "acknowledge their relationship" [...] or any of that because she's talked around her feelings or not talked at all just as completely as he has, if not more completely...

In addition to the one previously mentioned, I would argue that there are a plethora of examples in which Scully expresses her feelings and the depth of their relationship, only to be rebuffed by Mulder. For instance...

S06E01: The Beginning

S06E12: One Son: She clearly acknowledges that what they have is personal, and yet he chastises and belittles her for it. If there's an impasse in this relationship, I would argue that it's Mulder's doing.

Furthermore, I believe we get to a point where he takes Scully's presence in his life for granted. Late season 5 and season 6 are prime examples of this. For instance, consider "Folie à Deux", when Mulder ignores her own wishes and autonomy for the sake of getting what he wants:

Scully explicitly refuses to perform the autopsy....

....and yet Mulder doesn't respect that choice and instead forces her into a corner. If he were truly afraid of "pushing too hard" and being rejected, wouldn't he be more mindful of the way he acts?

In short, Mulder's trauma and interpersonal issues surrounding attachment and self-esteem are valid, but as an adult in an adult relationship (platonic or otherwise), he has a responsibility to try to resolve the issues. He has a responsibility to listen when Scully communicates (which she DOES). In order to form a healthy, functioning relationship of any kind, there needs to be mutual respect. While he definitely loves Scully, there are times he doesn't respect her and thus impedes the development of their relationship.

#txf meta

gnawgag

depictions of joan of arc / square - mitski

at all times, my brain is blasting a mix of “brand new city” and “i don’t smoke” on repeat <3 it’s great (i have severe attachment issues and also many mental illnesses)

#mitski