Story preview: 'Time & Tide' by Bluespirit (McKay/Sheppard)
Time and tide ~ a love story with interruptions for murder
by
Bluespirit
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Summary: Lord John Sheppard was no stranger to the business of murder, but he’d hardly expected to find it on a weekend in the country. But murder it was, and what’s more, Rodney McKay was the prime suspect. Can John find the real murderer and, in the process, prove McKay’s innocence? Time is running out, and he’ll need all of his famous sleuthing skills - and McKay’s help - to keep the man he’s falling in love with from the hangman’s noose.
Notes: This is an Atlantis AU written as an homage to the murder mystery novels of the 1930s. Particular and fond reference has been made to the works of Dorothy L Sayers, especially ‘Strong Poison’, and of course, to her wonderful creation, Lord Peter Wimsey. The writing style is a deliberate blending of the two genres to allow accessibility whilst still giving a flavour of the era and maintaining the characters we know and love so well.
An excerpt:~
John took the opportunity to join the conversation; he wanted to have those bright blue eyes focused on him again. “You write detective novels, Doctor McKay?”
McKay nodded absently and then paused as he cocked his head to one side and seemed finally to notice John. “Oh, wait.” He clicked his fingers a couple of times and pointed. “You must be Sheppard - the aristocratic saviour of Scotland Yard.”
John ducked his head and grinned. “I suppose I must be.”
McKay grinned back, and John was enchanted.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Miss McKay said, sounding embarrassed. “Lord John Sheppard - this is my brother, Doctor Rodney McKay.”
John smiled at her before turning to McKay and offering his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Doctor McKay.”
“Yes, well, you’ve haven’t known me long.” McKay shrugged and took John’s hand.
John felt a flare of heat surge through him as their hands met. McKay’s skin was warm and soft, and his hand seemed to fit perfectly against John’s own. He looked into McKay’s eyes and saw a surprised flash of recognition.
“Well, I look forward to changing that, Doctor.” John could hear the growl as his voice dropped lower.
McKay didn’t break his gaze, but his eyes widened fractionally and seemed to shine even brighter - and then the moment was broken as Elizabeth announced that dinner was served.
Around them everyone began to move towards the dining room, and John smiled as McKay remained still, almost frozen in place. “Looks like it’s time to go.”
“What? Oh!” McKay’s cheeks flushed a dull pink that John found ridiculously charming, and he dropped John’s hand. “Of course, yes. Dinner. Good, that’s… um… good. I’m starving.”
“So we heard,” Miss McKay laughed, nudging her brother playfully and taking his arm.
John stood at Miss McKay’s other side and waved them forward. Miss McKay smiled prettily, and they headed towards the door.
McKay caught John’s eye again, giving him a soft - almost shy - smile, and then escorted his sister towards the dining room.
John grinned and followed them from the room.
~*~
by
Bluespirit
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Summary: Lord John Sheppard was no stranger to the business of murder, but he’d hardly expected to find it on a weekend in the country. But murder it was, and what’s more, Rodney McKay was the prime suspect. Can John find the real murderer and, in the process, prove McKay’s innocence? Time is running out, and he’ll need all of his famous sleuthing skills - and McKay’s help - to keep the man he’s falling in love with from the hangman’s noose.
Notes: This is an Atlantis AU written as an homage to the murder mystery novels of the 1930s. Particular and fond reference has been made to the works of Dorothy L Sayers, especially ‘Strong Poison’, and of course, to her wonderful creation, Lord Peter Wimsey. The writing style is a deliberate blending of the two genres to allow accessibility whilst still giving a flavour of the era and maintaining the characters we know and love so well.
An excerpt:~
John took the opportunity to join the conversation; he wanted to have those bright blue eyes focused on him again. “You write detective novels, Doctor McKay?”
McKay nodded absently and then paused as he cocked his head to one side and seemed finally to notice John. “Oh, wait.” He clicked his fingers a couple of times and pointed. “You must be Sheppard - the aristocratic saviour of Scotland Yard.”
John ducked his head and grinned. “I suppose I must be.”
McKay grinned back, and John was enchanted.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Miss McKay said, sounding embarrassed. “Lord John Sheppard - this is my brother, Doctor Rodney McKay.”
John smiled at her before turning to McKay and offering his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Doctor McKay.”
“Yes, well, you’ve haven’t known me long.” McKay shrugged and took John’s hand.
John felt a flare of heat surge through him as their hands met. McKay’s skin was warm and soft, and his hand seemed to fit perfectly against John’s own. He looked into McKay’s eyes and saw a surprised flash of recognition.
“Well, I look forward to changing that, Doctor.” John could hear the growl as his voice dropped lower.
McKay didn’t break his gaze, but his eyes widened fractionally and seemed to shine even brighter - and then the moment was broken as Elizabeth announced that dinner was served.
Around them everyone began to move towards the dining room, and John smiled as McKay remained still, almost frozen in place. “Looks like it’s time to go.”
“What? Oh!” McKay’s cheeks flushed a dull pink that John found ridiculously charming, and he dropped John’s hand. “Of course, yes. Dinner. Good, that’s… um… good. I’m starving.”
“So we heard,” Miss McKay laughed, nudging her brother playfully and taking his arm.
John stood at Miss McKay’s other side and waved them forward. Miss McKay smiled prettily, and they headed towards the door.
McKay caught John’s eye again, giving him a soft - almost shy - smile, and then escorted his sister towards the dining room.
John grinned and followed them from the room.
~*~