Hello, been a bit!
I'd love to hear more about Mulder and Scully not really prioritizing sex.
An angle I've been analyzing lately is that MSR's sex appeal came from DD and GA's (unintentional, per their statements) chemistry, while Mulder and Scully weren't written along that same wavelength. I think CC had a more low-key pairing in mind but couldn't (Could. Not.) pass up on the actors' chemistry-- hence, the electricity on screen. But if you look at what the characters actually say (and what they canonically avoid doing), that's another story.
Setting all of that (and other conversations about "was it the right thing to do?" or "when did it stop making sense?") aside, I want to hear The Vision poured straight into my ears. Give it to me! >:DDD
this has been half finished in my drafts for ages.
recently i listened to the abridged women who run with the wolves by clarissa pinkola estes and there's one part she talks about how there are many ways to use sexual energy. it immediately made me think of mulder and scully lol
with scully, i think it's extremely common for catholics to be made to feel guilty for any sexual feelings (and everything) and that's generally pretty resonant for her character. i think it's something intellectually that she fights against, maybe even resents, and chooses to act against (rebel) at different times in her life. (i don't think the church's beliefs are her beliefs at her core considering she blatantly goes against so many but that's a separate discussion.) anyway. she generally channels her sexual energy into other pursuits and when she meets mulder, i think we see that poured into their banter, the intellectual sparring, gaining his trust, their work (especially as the show goes on). we don't see much of her personal life, and when we do see it it's a lot of reading & baths & food & sleeping — oh and cleaning her gun — and she's a fit fbi agent so she has to be fitting in workouts somewhere. i think there was something about running mentioned once? and i assume she does some shooting practice? those would also be great directions for sexual energy.
mulder, think, is much the same! he may watch porn and call hotlines and go to the movies, but most of his sexual energy is going into his work, his pursuit of the paranormal and his quest. as well as sports, his relationship with scully. neither of them have any other relationship like this nor seek another one out because they are satisfied (mostly lol) with this one!
another layer i personally believe, is they are on some level queer. on the asexual/aromantic spectrum — not that they don't experience either attraction at all but that it's not the typical allo experience. it's a big reason it isn't a priority in the sense so many want or would expect it to be, why they don't often seek out any kind of partner. it's even why mulder says that line in chimera in my opinion!! when that woman asks if he has a partner 'not in the widely understood meaning of the word' or whatever he says. they are two people far more attracted by someone's mind, by an emotional connection & trust that must be built over time. for much of their relationship, they're like queer platonic partners lol and that thing scully says in the rain king about the best relationships & friendship? she didn't know how true what she said was in that moment until much later (i think that's the season of them putting the pieces together lol)
basically. i think they're more interested in other things. in general and even with each other. there are a lot of ways to use "sexual energy" and they've been using it for intellectual, personal pursuits and sports/exercise!
