Fire in the Hole

Okay so I know I could just ask you directly (power of the beta and all that) but this is way more fun...and I think I'll snag it as well.

I'm going to dip all the way back to one of my absolute favorite FF100 series that we didn't do enough with (I'm sorry in advance? you can kick my a$$ later ;))

The Moon/Diamond/Lovers/Enemies verse (aka: the Dreams verse).

Story: Moon
Time stamp: Post-Graduation from the Academy, by a year (shut up you know me and my specificity :P)

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1. Sheppard in Protect and Survive VII Show the World
2. Same story, timestamp in the future, John and Teyla
3. PAS, Are John and Teyla ever going to get together????

Also because I am curious and want special points for being first to answer you, when/if do John and Evan get promotions in the series (both were overdue by years in the show) and what happens to their relationships and staying in Atlantis when they do????

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DAMN IT!!!!!! Beaten to first as I typed!!!!!!!

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1. One thing that surprised John, one he was glad about and one he is afraid of:

#1 Mr. Woolsey's reaction to the IOA approving of changing the rules in Atlantis - John would have never expected Woolsey to just smile and congratulate him on his success.

#2 That it was Lorne instead of Ronon who needed to be broken out of jail by marriage - John just wasn't in the mood for the drama that might have ensued if Keller and Ronon would have been forced to make something official everyone (apart from Rodney) is suspecting them of doing anyway.

#3 That one day he'll have to tell either Lorne or Cadman that their partner is permanently lost and that he couldn't prevent it - John always has diffculties with writing another letter to another husband or wife or couple of parents but having to tell Lorne or Cadman is something he is, for various reasons, actually afraid of.

2. John and Teyla, after Show the World - I chose a point after Laura talking to Teyla in the sequel, Good Intentions:

"Hello, John," she says.

He raises his eyebrow and asks, "Something I can do for you?"

She doesn't answer right away, gives him a tight smile first. "I was meaning to ask... would you mind helping Kanaan to move his things to other quarters?"

It takes him a moment or two to understand the implications of that request... and when he does, he wants to shower Teyla with questions even though he's not quite sure if he wants to know the answers. In the end she gives him a smile that is both shy and encouraging and so all he says is, "Sure. You want to do it right now or..."

"No, we still need to wait for the quartermaster to assign new quarters to Kanaan. I will tell you when it becomes accute, of course." Right.

Also, he knows he probably shouldn't ask this but sometimes he just can't keep his trap shut. "So... any particular reason he's moving out?"

He's not sure what he expected her to answer... but it certainly hadn't been something like a smirk and then, "You know the reason full well, John."

Oh. Seems like Lorne had been right when he had told him that Teyla might just surprise them all one day. Making a mental note to investigate if Lorne maybe acquired the capability to predict the future, he simply smiles at Teyla and replies, "I'd still like to hear it from you."

Now there's definitely a smirk on her face and it makes him all woozy inside. "Well, then, let's just say..."

---

Okay, I'm evil, I know. But sometimes I like to leave stuff to my readers' imagination ;) Which leads me to...

3. I think the little snippet was clear, wasn't it? ;)

Bonus: They will get their promotions but it'll take another year maybe. John will get his promotion to full bird but I could see him resign his commission shortly after, just to spite the people who could never see beyond him being a slacker. I just don't see him as a General. Also, I don't see him returning to Earth because to me he doesn't really feel connected to it anymore, despite having family there. I could very well imagine him either staying with the Expedition as a civilian contractor or leaving the Expedition and settling down on a planet with Teyla and Torren and be a kind of freelance consultant for Atlantis. Or staying on but leaving Atlantis (also with Teyla and Torren) to be leader of the first permanent outpost. Either way, for some reason I just can't see him getting any further than full bird Colonel.

As for Lorne: I think he and Laura will stay another few years with the Expedition. Maybe he'll take John's place when John leaves or steps down, but not forever. Eventually, they will return to Earth because unlike John, Lorne is a career soldier because I just can't imagine him out of uniform (also unlike Laura, BTW... I could see her resigning her commission a few years down the road and take up a career as a detective, in a CSI unit or maybe in emergency management) and he has to leave Atlantis at some point if he wants to advance. Also, there will be kids and I think they'd want them to live on Earth permanently, at least for a while because this is also part of their heritage and both Laura and Lorne have strong family ties on Earth.

Was that helpful in any way? I certainly hope so :)

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Thank you, thank you. Love it. John being obtuse until even HE can't stand it anymore is awesome. I can't wait to see it in future fic in the series.

LOL at your three things. I like Ronon beating Rodney out to Keller in your version of things. They have a lot more chemistry than how that played out in canon. His reaction would be priceless though. John would expect things to be much harder than they have to be with Woolsey, just from past experiences. He's like me in that we always think we have to keep convincing when we've already won. Smirk.

Agreed on John as general EXCEPT he's obviously more of a career soldier and patriotic than anyone except miss_porcupine gives him credit for to make more than twenty years and through some awful treatment, and he's enough of Jack's twin to become general or stay in to protect the program, city and the people he cares about. Someone's going to have step up after Jack retires and I think it will be Sam (we already saw in that AU about what would happen if Landry ascends any higher - shiver), then John (Cam is way too goofy and not taken seriously or respected enough), then Lorne. I could totally see John doing his time at homeworld with Teyla and Torren and their future kids (because he needs to have more kids, he's such an awesome dad plus hello, the genetic possibilities must have Rodney salivating). Teyla would absolutely be advising him and co-running things while their kids get some quality Earth education. Then gratefully retiring to become the civilian head/consultant of Atlantis in Pegasus as soon as he's held the post long enough for Lorne to take it from him (5-6 years since Lorne's at least that behind him in the promotion cycle).

Agreed on Lorne being a lifer in the AF but Laura maybe not making it beyond her next reup. She's got so many interests and things she could do outside the service that she couldn't do in. Plus there's no such thing as an ex-Marine.

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I like Ronon beating Rodney out to Keller in your version of things. They have a lot more chemistry than how that played out in canon.

Absolutely. McKeller just didn't make any sense (and if I understood

jo_graham's hints about the Stargate Legacy book series correctly, they decided to break it up there... it'll never count as canon canon but for me an official book series is confirmation enough ;)) and I just can't bring myself to accept that part of canon. But yeah... the whole thing could have been pretty funny with Jen and Ronon... I think I'll try to find a point in the PAS-verse where I pay a little more attention to them again.

Agreed on John as general EXCEPT he's obviously more of a career soldier and patriotic than anyone except miss_porcupine gives him credit for to make more than twenty years and through some awful treatment

Mh, okay, good point. However, I had the feeling that he chose the Air Force because above all they would let him fly (or do some 'real' soldiering, respectively) and I'm not sure if he could handle (and want) the transition from flying jumpers and F-302's to flying a desk, even if it was what he had to do to protect his people and essentially 'his' city (because that actually was a good point as well).

Then gratefully retiring to become the civilian head/consultant of Atlantis in Pegasus as soon as he's held the post long enough for Lorne to take it from him (5-6 years since Lorne's at least that behind him in the promotion cycle).

That, however, is something I can agree on. Maybe John would be willing to hold a position beyond Colonel just long enough until someone he trusted was there to succeed him. Kind of like "Better me having to fly a desk than some idiot stepping up and making a mess of things." ;)

And now I want to read a story with Sam as the head of Homeworld Security (because that? Awesome idea!). Aw, dangit ;)

Edited Date: 2010-03-22 07:11 pm (UTC)

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Again with no LJ notification! HMPH.

Very glad I've got the fic bunnies breeding for you. I want to see all of these stories. I don't see Sam wanting to do it for long. She could transition to civilian consultant role with little to no change better than anyone else.

Agreed on why John chose AF but he's committed his life to them at this point with all the acceptance and even grudging fondness of its strengths and weaknesses that anyone has after twenty plus years of marriage (of a sort). I can see John heading up homeworld as we both imagine (now that I've infected you, evil laugh) and driving his aides and everyone else nuts by disappearing to fly anything he can and participate in missions. Jack did/does and John's much younger and more restless so I imagine him ten times worse. I don't think there'd be a stopover post in between at the SGC since Atlantis over time has to grow to be as large. There'd be no point. Wow, this story would be so much fun. "The Two Heads of Homeworld Security That Preceded General Lorne" or someother catchier title. I suck at naming things even worse than Ford. Please, please write it now!

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Again with no LJ notification! HMPH.

Huh, it did that a while ago to a lot of other people... maybe mail someone from tech support?

Agreed on why John chose AF but he's committed his life to them at this point with all the acceptance and even grudging fondness of its strengths and weaknesses that anyone has after twenty plus years of marriage (of a sort).

Great comparison actually... Seen like that it makes sense. He can't really live with her/it but he can't live without her/it, either.

I can see John heading up homeworld as we both imagine (now that I've infected you, evil laugh) and driving his aides and everyone else nuts by disappearing to fly anything he can and participate in missions.

Argh, I can see that as well. Plenty of opportunities for crack bunnies and clueless ~~minions~~ subordinates running around like headless chicken or some of the more senior ones having fun misleading the younger ones or them having to cover John's ass to the higher ups... Argh! You are evil!

Please, please write it now!

But I have so many other unfinished stories on my hard drive. I can't start another one!

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But I have so many other unfinished stories on my hard drive. I can't start another one!

Exactly! If you start another story that isn't already in the rotation it will throw off the alignment of the planets and the stars and the bunnies will get you. *cues creepy stalker bunny music*

Also I will then be forced to bomb the bunnies and that wouldn't do now would it?

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Also, sorry for the delay in responding. LJ didn't notify me that you replied.

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scherryzade.livejournal.com

Nifty idea, I might nick it too...

Strange Bedfellows, Dusty and Rodney - how did that happen?

(You could treat this as a timestamp (somewhere between 'Potato, potahto' and 'I hate you') or just a question about the fic ;)

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Okay, here we go:

He has no idea what he's doing in front of Sergeant Whatshername's door and he's about to turn around again but unfortunately in the same moment, the Sergeant appears in the doorway, her face almost surprised and a little irritated. "Something up, Doc?"

Right. Of course a little respect was asked too much of a member of the city's Marine population. "Hey Dusty, who's the unfortunate soul who dared to disturb Slasher Night?"

Just great. He could finally make up his mind and go to thank Menda for carrying him to the 'Gate first and then donating blood for him and it just has to be the night she has Cadman over.

The Sergeant turns around and calls back, "Dr. McKay, ma'am. Any idea what he could want from me?"

It's followed by a snort from Cadman. "Dunno. Ask him about that?"

"Sounds like a plan, ma'am." The smirk on Melvin's face tells him she's enjoying this way too much, considering she's just a grunt and he's the guy that saved the galaxy multiple times. "Okay, Doc... what brought you here to my humble abode?"

Very funny. But yeah, he should just get it over with. "Actually... I'mheretothankyouforsavingmylife." Okay, that didn't come out like it was supposed to.

It also made Cadman curious enough to come to the door. "Excuse me, Rodney, I think we didn't quite get that, did we, Dusty?"

"Nope, ma'am." God, how he hates it when those women soldiers do that 'us against the male world' thing. "Could you please repeat that, Doc?"

He's about to give her something scathing but an evil look from Cadman that promises all kinds of very private things to be revealed if he says anything insulting makes him grit his teeth and grind out, "I'm here to thank you for saving my life." And since he's at it he can very well add the thing John dared him to and Lorne bet against him having the guts to do, "And if you... want to... we could... maybe... talk over coffee? I mean, no idea..."

"Hey Dusty, I think he just asked you out for a date." He did not. Really, there's no reason why he should ask that woman out. She's not his type, she's annoying, she's dangerous... but unfortunately, there's just something about her that won't let him stop thinking about her.

However, right now she seems to be absolutely unaware of it, thank God. "Are you sure, ma'am?"

Cadman, though... oh God, did she notice something? That smirk does not bode well. "Pretty much, yeah. I mean, we could radio Major Lorne for a second male opinion..."

Oh God, please, not Major G.I. Joe. "No, no, that won't be necessary. I did indeed ask Sergeant Mehra out for a date." Wait! Why did he just say that? "Well, kind of. In a very... general way."

Now there's... disbelief on her face. "Did you just call me Mehra?"

Dammit, he messed up her name again, didn't he? "What, why... did I?"

And could Cadman please stop being such a smug bitch? "Yes, Rodney, you did. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while." What... oh. That is her name. Sergeant Dusty Mehra. He just got it right. The surprise makes him grin a little disbelieving and suddenly... there's one like that on Mehra's face and that makes her eyes light up and... "Come on, Dusty, don't make me order you to say yes."

Dammit, someone should tell Cadman that her timing sucks. "Oh, uh... sure, ma'am." She clears her throat again. "Uh... how about... maybe... tomorrow afternoon? I'll be in the mess hall. If you happen to come by..."

He swallows... and catches another death glare from Cadman. Seems that maybe she can't order him to do anything... but blackmail is well within range. "Yeah, sure. I uh... I have... to do this extremely important thing and I need to... uh... excuse me, please." With that, he gives them a caricature of a self-assured grin and all but runs off to... somewhere. However, there's this giddy feeling and it hasn't got anything to do with just having had proven Lorne wrong. Well, okay, a bit of that as well but... a lot of the giddy feeling... whoa.

-------

Nyah, it's not the actual date but

rodlox wrote one in Stubborn Steps (http://rodlox.livejournal.com/321936.html) and I don't think I could top it ;)

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First of all Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. had me LOL forevers.

Oh and its absolutely adorable. But you so could write a Dusty/McKay date that would rival rodlox's date :P Just saying.

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scherryzade.livejournal.com

Hee! I love this!

"Well, kind of. In a very... general way."

That whole exchange is priceless :)

I can't help feeling Lorne and Cadman having been plotting this... (Of course, they think it'll end in highly watchable disaster, when in fact it is meant to be ;)

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I can't help feeling Lorne and Cadman having been plotting this...

Me, neither. Deep down they're just ~~evil manipulating hedonists who like to watch other people's misery for fun~~ too damn tenderhearted and concerned about the people around them, you know :D

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scherryzade.livejournal.com

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HEE HEE!!!!!!!!! ROFL. Love this so much and wish Lorne HAD weighed in.

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Well, he could still weigh in on the actual 'date' since they agreed to 'meet' in the mess ha... argh. You did it again! How can you do that?

mackenziesmomma kind of put a stop on all stories not already in rotation :S (she actually forced me to give her a rough outline of the PAS stories that are to be expected, saying we should be careful that I don't end up with PAS 25 (which is a good point, BTW))

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I have a gift for sparking plot bunnies in others, what can I say? LOL

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