out_there: B-Day Present '05 (Writing Productively by Delurker)
out_there ([personal profile] out_there) wrote2006-02-23 04:15 pm

Woohoo! (And SGA wip)

I got my lj fixed! Even if I'm not writing Casey, I now have an excuse to stare at him (because he's on the top of my FList too).

Also, an SGA snippet written to cheer up [livejournal.com profile] celli:

John never sees this coming.

It's not until Krisya shows him the bed -- a four-poster monstrosity of purple velvet and steel -- that he realizes "talk more about the trade agreement" means something completely different. Something that has nothing to do with the trade negotiations or actual talking.

"Oh," is the first thing he says, followed by, "Um."

She grins at him, sharp-eyed as an eagle, and smoothes a hand over her hip. "Please, John. Make yourself comfortable."

"I think there's been a slight communication gap." He feels like he always does in this situation: sheepish and embarrassed for both of them. "You said trade negotiations, and I thought you meant... well. Trade negotiations."

Her kohl-rimmed eyes blink twice and then she frowns. "You're not attracted to me?"

"It's not that," John reassures her quickly. Her black hair is pulled back in a sharp ponytail but she's still extremely pretty. Also, she's 5'7" of curves wrapped in a thin silk shirt and snug leather pants, and John's a guy.

Just as he gets to the part where he mentally shrugs, thinks, "What the hell," and really enjoys himself, McKay bursts into the room.

McKay's science uniform is rumpled and unironed, he's sporting an ugly bruise on his left cheek (where he tripped over *his own feet* on the last mission), and instead of Krisya's sweet yet vulnerable smile, he's glaring and possibly gritting his teeth. "I don't even know why I'm surprised."

Rodney's critical, cranky and barely ever well-groomed. He's a walking, talking shrine to sarcasm, but he still makes John feel like smiling. "Krisya was just explaining--"

"Oh, please," Rodney replies, rolling his eyes extravagantly. "Don't try to rationalize this. Just... do your Kirk-thing and when you're finished, we can take a nice, leisurely, scenic route back to the city and arrive after Petersen has blown up the east wing."

Rodney storms out the door. John takes a second to check his holster -- one Beretta, yes -- and then hurries after him, picking up his P90 from the discussion table.

The flight to the gate takes ten minutes. Rodney uses the first two to snidely comment under his breath about negotiators of little virtue and the remaining eight yelling at Petersen through his headset and trying to avert disaster.

John spends his time willing the jumper to go faster and she does, gliding through the air like a hot knife through butter. The inertia dampeners make it a frictionless flight, smooth and easy, slowing down the second they hit the gate.

Then John sits back and lets Atlantis do her thing, lets her guide the jumper back to the bay and open the door. McKay dashes off, heading to the eastern generator to do something he claims any ten year old should be able to do -- but John has no idea of what it is -- leaving John, Teyla and Ronon to debrief Elizabeth.

***

John really never sees this coming.

He's used to people being friendly, smiling back when he smiles at them, making life a little more civil, a little easier. But sometimes girls take it the wrong way and he ends up in a bedroom, or sitting with a girl on his lap, and he's basically a nice guy.

He doesn't want to break anybody's heart by saying, "I'm not that into you." He doesn't want to insult anyone (or inadvertently give them more enemies). Also, he's a *guy*: bold, gorgeous women offering him sex is never going to be a bad thing.

Except when he finds himself cornered by the regents of Iardo (MX3-546).

They're twins, and almost identical with their big brown eyes and sweet round faces, orange-gold hair curling to their shoulders. They're also the rulers of the country, making the situation slightly less appealing.

Of course, the one moment he wants Rodney to burst in with a flimsy excuse for getting John out of there, Rodney's off in the science labs, drooling over an Ancient generator.

"We find you very interesting, Colonel Sheppard," Lahti says, wrapping her hand around his wrist.

"Very interesting," Larn echoes, shifting closer and leaning his hand against the wall beside John's ear.

It's not that he has a problem with the guy thing -- after all, John's nowhere near as straight as the defense forces would like -- but it's the twin thing that keeps getting him. *Twins*. There's something very wrong about being propositioned to sleep with two closely-related people.

John presses his back harder into the wall, but the wall refuses to move. On Atlantis, the wall would have moved. "Honestly, I'm flattered. Very flattered."

"We would like your opinion on the palace's security measures." Larn edges closer until the thigh holster is digging into both their legs.

Lahti smiles. "Especially in regards to the royal quarters."

"Really flattered, but..." This is where it gets difficult. They're co-rulers to a country with a strong agricultural system and enough Ancient technology that they don't need an alliance with Atlantis. If John insults them, he's going to have to go back to Elizabeth and explain it. In detail. "I'm really not comfortable with this."

"Then allow us to make you more comfortable," Lahti says, pulling open his vest and then sliding a fingertip under the waistband of John's pants.

"Okay, even less comfortable now."

And then Rodney -- his savior; his belligerent, arrogant savior -- strides into the room, cradling a new trophy gadget close to his chest. He's flushed and bright-eyed, dust and cobwebs clinging to his shoulders and back. Then he sees John, and the happy grin is quickly replaced with a scowl as he stomps over.

"Hey, McKay. You remember Lahti and Larn, right?" The twins step to the side, flanking John.

Rodney grabs John's hand and yanks him away, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like, "One space bimbo isn't enough now?" under his breath. John hopes they didn't hear that.

"Excuse me, Regents," Rodney says, louder and full of cold politeness, "but the Colonel has other duties he needs to attend to immediately. He obviously should have mentioned that to you, but he must have forgotten details like responsibility and expected behaviour."

Rodney glares at him, which is a little amusing when he has a streak of dirt across his forehead and one arm hugging the device. But John knows this routine well. He nods and makes his apologies, and sticks to Rodney's side until they get back to the gate.

***

The downside to not seeing it coming is that John has no idea of signals. There are friendly smiles and there are flirting smiles, and then there are the come back to my room and have sex with me smiles. John can't tell the difference.

John's spent years being blindsided and willingly seduced. He has no idea how to be the seducer, and not the seducee.

He's tried flirting with Rodney, flattering him. Rodney either gets disconcerted and self-conscious, or suspicious and sarcastic. When John pays him attention, Rodney takes it for granted.

John's even tried using a feeble excuse to get Rodney into his bedroom, saying that his shower isn't working right. Rodney had snorted and said, "Let me make a few things clear for you. You are not living in an apartment building and I am not your super. I have far, far better things to do than make sure your hot water is just hot enough."

Then Miko had turned up at his door at half-past eleven, blinking behind huge glasses and holding a cup of coffee in her other hand. "Rodney said your bathroom needed to be fixed."

John had been forced to step aside and let her in. Ten minutes later, she was gone and his shower worked perfectly.

To Be Continued. Sometime.

[identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Even if I'm not writing Casey, I now have an excuse to stare at him (because he's on the top of my FList too).

Staring at Casey is always good. Not sure you need an excuse, but now you've got one. :-)

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
Well, not only do I have an excuse, I now have a *way*. I mean, everytime I check my FList, I get to see Casey all cute in his university sweat top, writing oh-so-carefully. It makes me happy.

[identity profile] kmousie.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
It makes me happy.

It should make you happy. It makes me happy. :-) I may have to click into your journal instead of just reading your entries on my f-list! ;-)

[identity profile] elke-tanzer.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
Ooooooooooooooooh. This is charming!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you. THere's something kind of adorable about John in dork-mode, fending off not-entirely-unwanted propositions.

[identity profile] tardis80.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
*very very big grin* i love this! aw poor john :)

and nice layout. *sigh* casey is so pretty

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
Poor John. Constantly offered sex by hot people. What a tragedy. *snickers*

*sigh* casey is so pretty

Oh, he really, really is. And I keep finding myself staring at his bicep which is really... not a bad thing. Mmmmm.
ext_4461: (mcshep-lovepat-aotearoagal)

[identity profile] mos-self.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
I loved this! Boy howdy, there's nothing like dorky, inept John, and snippy Rodney.

I love the way Rodney lectures John about treating him as if he were the super of the apartment building!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-06-24 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Huh. I know you commented on this ages ago, but apparently I forgot to reply. I totally blame it on your icon, which always makes me giggle and stop to stare at it for a while.

But thank you.
ext_3751: (Casey/Dan)

[identity profile] phoebesmum.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
But writing Casey would be better ...

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
*snerk* True. Very true. He's just... oddly quiet lately.

[identity profile] monkeypumpkin.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
I have a high school friend who's drop-dead gorgeous. And he's slept with a lot of women, and he really never sees it coming, either, because he's not fully aware of how gorgeous he is. But nonetheless, he doesn't turn it down. As he explained to me, sleeping with a lot of beautiful women doesn't make you slutty, it makes you really, really lucky. I figure John sees it the same way.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
As he explained to me, sleeping with a lot of beautiful women doesn't make you slutty, it makes you really, really lucky. I figure John sees it the same way.

*nods* Yeah, I think you're right. If it wasn't for Rodney bursting in at inopportune moments, John wouldn't really be arguing against the sex. Well, he'd take a moment of making sure the girls really wanted him, and then go for it.

[identity profile] sanitylapse.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:19 am (UTC)(link)
Hee! That is *so* John! He just doesn't get it, and it's soo funny.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
He really, really doesn't. Not that he's complaining mind you, he'd just like to be able to *focus* that ability.

[identity profile] in-the-bottle.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
The downside to not seeing it coming is that John has no idea of signals. There are friendly smiles and there are flirting smiles, and then there are the come back to my room and have sex with me smiles. John can't tell the difference.

Bwah!! :D

Poor John. Heeee!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor John, with the gorgeous people constantly offering him sex and all. Such a burden to bear.

[identity profile] vylit.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
This is adorable! I am so amused.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
*beams* I'm so glad. The idea of John constantly facing these "What the hell is going on... Oh. *Oh.* Huh." moments cracks me up.
ext_1788: Photo of Lirael from the Garth Nix book of the same name, with the text 'dzurlady' (Default)

[identity profile] dzurlady.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 12:55 pm (UTC)(link)
*snickers* The course of true love...
(OMG cliffhanger!!11!1)

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
it's not a cliffhanger, it's a section end. Or, more correctly, where I ran out of ideas. *sniggers*

(and even if it was a cliffhanger -- which, totally not -- I'd claim I was following the style of canon and their never-ending "To be continued"s. *grrrr*)
ext_1788: Photo of Lirael from the Garth Nix book of the same name, with the text 'dzurlady' (Default)

[identity profile] dzurlady.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad you got your layout to work too, btw.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
*pets Casey* He's so pretty.
ext_2456: (SGA InsertMeHere (samjack_girl))

[identity profile] nakedwesley.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! I love the image of John being blindsided by women offering sex for years and still never learning to see it coming. You explain it so it all makes sense.

Poor John, who can't even figure out how to tame the Wild McKay. I hope we'll be seeing more of this!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee, your icon! That's great.

I hope we'll be seeing more of this!

As soon as I figure out what's going to happen next, you will.

[identity profile] surreul.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
i love that, it seems entirely plausible. in fic we often see people reading what the others are thinking, these whole complex thought processes and motivations aperently completly visible to them when in real life most of us go through the days mistaken and confused and wondering about the people around us. er, what i mean is that i love how john admits he can't tell the difference between different smiles because many people can't. and i love him not knowing how to seduce mccay. you absolutely need to write a sequal. very nice writing.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
what i mean is that i love how john admits he can't tell the difference between different smiles because many people can't.

Hmmm. You have a good point. Frequently, people in fic are far, far more observant than I am in daily life. I think my characters end up being far more oblivious. *laughs*

And, yeah, I don't think this is finished yet. The story feels about 3/4's done, so I know there's at least one scene missing.
celli: a woman and a man holding hands, captioned "i treasure" (Default)

[personal profile] celli 2006-02-24 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
*sleepy smile*

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
*tucks you into bed*

[identity profile] delurker.livejournal.com 2006-02-25 10:53 am (UTC)(link)
Miko turning up! Love. Poor John. (And yay! My brain is starting to work again! I can leave comments with more than smiley faces! W00t!)

but it's the twin thing that keeps getting him. *Twins*. There's something very wrong about being propositioned to sleep with two closely-related people.
omg yes!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-25 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
omg yes!

I always get stuck between "omg hot!" (because I have a doppelganger fetish, and it's... well. Physically similiar) and "eeew! incest!"

And yay for your brain coming back!

[identity profile] volari.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Oh the ending killed me. With John oblivious that Rodney sent Miko to fix his shower.

And is it wrong that the twins propositioning John sent me to a happy place for a few minutes?

This is too adorable. Or adorkable, considering it's John.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
I think this needs a proper adorkable John/Rodney ending, I just haven't figured out *how* yet. It's still on the WIP pile.

And is it wrong that the twins propositioning John sent me to a happy place for a few minutes?

Well, while I have a personal squick towards incest, there is a certain appeal to the mental idea of John stretched out in bed, caught between a gorgeous girl and a gorgeous guy. It's a nice mental image.

Or maybe I've just read that threesome snippet of [livejournal.com profile] rageprufrock's too many times.

Or adorkable, considering it's John.

*sniggers* Very true.

[identity profile] incoh.livejournal.com 2006-03-06 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
I am crazy in love with the idea of John and Rodney being absolutely clueless. It's like a romantic comedy-type movie, but better, because there are aliens that don't impregnate chest cavities!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-03-07 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
It's like a romantic comedy-type movie, but better, because there are aliens that don't impregnate chest cavities!

Bwahahahahaa! thank you. That was both flattering and made me completely crack up.

[identity profile] lalejandra.livejournal.com 2006-03-14 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Heeeeeeeeeee. This is so so so cute. Poor John!!

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-03-14 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor John, indeed. It must be so terrible to have gorgeous people constantly propositioning you. *sniggers*

[identity profile] everysecondtues.livejournal.com 2006-03-15 10:26 am (UTC)(link)
This is so cute! And, well, sad, because Rodney is just as oblivious to John is in this story (if not moreso). I love that Rodney sent one of his minions to help John out with the shower in the end.

[identity profile] out-there.livejournal.com 2006-03-16 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
I love that Rodney sent one of his minions to help John out with the shower in the end.

*beams* Thank you. I feel a little sorry for Miko, though. I bet she'd worked a long, long day at the lab and just as she was going to bed, Rodney threw out, "Oh, yeah, I forgot. Sheppard needs his bathroom fixed. You can fix that tonight, right?"