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Well, let's add a little Rodney McKay discussion to this post so I can feel like I'm actually talking to you guys instead of assigning you a syllabus. (Which I totally am; read this shit or fail! *g*)
So, McKay. I love Rodney. Yes, yes I do. I am also discomfitted by him, and this discomfort began somewhere around "Trinity"--you know, the episode where Rodney makes a solar system go splodey. See, I think Rodney is smart (DUH). I think he is loyal. I think he is witty and funny and a total geek and insecure and tenderhearted when he allows himself the emotional vulnerability to be so. And brave. Very brave. I often find his arrogance and his defense mechanisms endearing. In the aftermath of that episode, not so much. I really expected to see Rodney grow after "Trinity," I really did. Not that I thought he'd stop being McKay--petty and arrogant and bad with people--but that we'd see a little less of the hubris, or at least an acknowledgement from him that his overweening pride is a major personality flaw. So then, "Grace Under Pressure," which is a brilliant episode and some killer acting from David Hewlett and there's this moment where McKay is bitching that the jumper crash is all Radek's fault because he's clearly stupid and Radek is up on dry land with nothing to worry about when Radek's actually down in the ocean working to save his ass with an untested shield and a Colonel who is so committed to leaving no man behind that I don't think it's unfair to say that Radek's in danger himself. That bugs me. I love that Rodney is flawed, but I think I want to see him actually, truly, FOR REALS YO! acknowledge that all these "I AM THE INTELLIGENCE GOD OF YOU" defense mechanisms he erected in pre-kindergarten are a little past their expiration date. Just one time. Am I completely alone in this?
So recs, all from the same author:
The Miracle Worker by Hth Ronon/Rodney Adult Okay, so part of me watches John and Rodney together and can totally believe that they're mainlining B horror movies on Rodney's laptop on their downtime and teaching Teyla to play poker and palling around in the mess. But there’s another version of me that thinks that John and Rodney are teammates, that they respect each other and would die for each other, and that that’s not the same as being friends at all. This short piece is an excellent look at that second scenario--Nobody knows if half of Rodney’s friends are alive or dead. Rodney considers praying, but if there is a Supreme Being, such an entity is unlikely to be fooled into mistaking Rodney for one of the faithful. Anyway, there’s no time.
They don’t die. Sheppard grins at him like everything’s fine, like they’re buddies. Rodney hates the part of himself that feels lucky he’s still one of the cool kids. This fic has a much longer sequel Breathe You Deep (Ronon/Rodney and John/Teyla) which is really heartbreaking. In the fic, the crew of the Daedalus bring the flu with them and it sweeps through the native population like wildfire. Not only is that situation really plausible, it also allows for some mondo angst.
Thirteen O'Clock by Hth Ronon/Rodney Adult Ronon and Rodney are dating, only Rodney doesn't realize. I adore these kinds of fics, in which the characters are just so freaking oblivious. This is a really great getting together story. Its sequel In the Hands of Yes is domestic fic all the way. Rodney and Ronon get married but it is not at all cheesy. Oh gods no. It's really hot and really sweet and lord, dare I say it, sacred. The Sheppard in this fic is a dick, but a believeable dick and watching R2 negotiate matrimony is nice. Also, Cadman kinda rocks here.
So, McKay. I love Rodney. Yes, yes I do. I am also discomfitted by him, and this discomfort began somewhere around "Trinity"--you know, the episode where Rodney makes a solar system go splodey. See, I think Rodney is smart (DUH). I think he is loyal. I think he is witty and funny and a total geek and insecure and tenderhearted when he allows himself the emotional vulnerability to be so. And brave. Very brave. I often find his arrogance and his defense mechanisms endearing. In the aftermath of that episode, not so much. I really expected to see Rodney grow after "Trinity," I really did. Not that I thought he'd stop being McKay--petty and arrogant and bad with people--but that we'd see a little less of the hubris, or at least an acknowledgement from him that his overweening pride is a major personality flaw. So then, "Grace Under Pressure," which is a brilliant episode and some killer acting from David Hewlett and there's this moment where McKay is bitching that the jumper crash is all Radek's fault because he's clearly stupid and Radek is up on dry land with nothing to worry about when Radek's actually down in the ocean working to save his ass with an untested shield and a Colonel who is so committed to leaving no man behind that I don't think it's unfair to say that Radek's in danger himself. That bugs me. I love that Rodney is flawed, but I think I want to see him actually, truly, FOR REALS YO! acknowledge that all these "I AM THE INTELLIGENCE GOD OF YOU" defense mechanisms he erected in pre-kindergarten are a little past their expiration date. Just one time. Am I completely alone in this?
So recs, all from the same author:
The Miracle Worker by Hth Ronon/Rodney Adult Okay, so part of me watches John and Rodney together and can totally believe that they're mainlining B horror movies on Rodney's laptop on their downtime and teaching Teyla to play poker and palling around in the mess. But there’s another version of me that thinks that John and Rodney are teammates, that they respect each other and would die for each other, and that that’s not the same as being friends at all. This short piece is an excellent look at that second scenario--Nobody knows if half of Rodney’s friends are alive or dead. Rodney considers praying, but if there is a Supreme Being, such an entity is unlikely to be fooled into mistaking Rodney for one of the faithful. Anyway, there’s no time.
They don’t die. Sheppard grins at him like everything’s fine, like they’re buddies. Rodney hates the part of himself that feels lucky he’s still one of the cool kids. This fic has a much longer sequel Breathe You Deep (Ronon/Rodney and John/Teyla) which is really heartbreaking. In the fic, the crew of the Daedalus bring the flu with them and it sweeps through the native population like wildfire. Not only is that situation really plausible, it also allows for some mondo angst.
Thirteen O'Clock by Hth Ronon/Rodney Adult Ronon and Rodney are dating, only Rodney doesn't realize. I adore these kinds of fics, in which the characters are just so freaking oblivious. This is a really great getting together story. Its sequel In the Hands of Yes is domestic fic all the way. Rodney and Ronon get married but it is not at all cheesy. Oh gods no. It's really hot and really sweet and lord, dare I say it, sacred. The Sheppard in this fic is a dick, but a believeable dick and watching R2 negotiate matrimony is nice. Also, Cadman kinda rocks here.
