Oceans Over The Horizon by elenariel (amnesty 2007, folklore challenge)
Title: Oceans Over The Horizon
Author: elenariel
Rating: PG (gen)
Words: 479
Spoilers: None
Summary: The scientists are arguing over a legend; John explains to Teyla and Ronon.
A/N: Mild crack, I know, but this crossover was always going to be like that.
“Who is this… Dutchman of which they speak?” Teyla asked when John sat down at the table. John, just in the process of swallowing, nearly choked until Ronon leaned over and slapped him on the back.
“…thanks.” He coughed. “Where did you hear that?” John looked round when Teyla indicated to see Rodney sitting with a group of his scientists, all of them vehemently arguing. That itself wasn’t unusual, until he caught snatches of said argument.
“…haven’t seen it!”
“…telling you…”
“…can’t explain everything Rodney.” This from Zelenka, apparently determined to get his word on the matter in.
John turned back to Teyla and Ronon, both looking expectantly at him. “Well, it’s kind of a legend,” he said.
“They don’t seem to think so.” Ronon nodded his head at the table behind John.
“It’s the same with any myth or legend,” John took a proper bite this time and swallowed before continuing. “One of Rodney’s staff claims he’s seen a ship called the Flying Dutchman, whose Captain is supposed to go around collecting the souls of people who die at sea. They’re all just arguing over whether something like that could be true or not.” He returned to his food, unconcerned.
“I’ve heard something like that,” Ronon broke in. “Back home. We had a story, about a big sailing ship. Was supposed to appear in a green flash.” Ronon talked so rarely about home that John would have listened to what the big guy had to say anyway, never mind had it given him goosebumps with the last comment.
“We did not live close to a large body of water to have many stories concerning the ocean.” Teyla put in. “And neither did we trade with many who did live near one. When I came to Atlantis it was the first time I had seen so much water.”
John grinned. “It’s the first time I’ve seen so much water too. We only have one ocean that can compare.” He shrugged. “The point is, it’s just one of those things, that inevitably every so often somebody spots something weird and attributes it to something like this, whether it’s a strange blip on the horizon or UFO’s.”
“UFO’s?”
John sighed.
*
John swung the rather unusual key in his left hand while he took a quick swallow of the marine brand moonshine held in his right. He'd an uncle who'd taught him to handle strong stuff a long time ago, a skill he didn't quite think his parents appreciated being passed on. Came in handy now and again though.
“You’ve been seen,” he said as he looked out of Atlantis and across the ocean. The moonlight shone straight through the windows of his quarters, bathing the room in an eerie glow and reminding him of stories his mother once told him.
“How did you know I was here?” The voice spoke up from the shadows behind him.
John snorted. “Even if you hadn’t left your ship where I can see it? You’ve never been able to sneak up on anyone.”
He turned around.
“Father.”
Author: elenariel
Rating: PG (gen)
Words: 479
Spoilers: None
Summary: The scientists are arguing over a legend; John explains to Teyla and Ronon.
A/N: Mild crack, I know, but this crossover was always going to be like that.
“Who is this… Dutchman of which they speak?” Teyla asked when John sat down at the table. John, just in the process of swallowing, nearly choked until Ronon leaned over and slapped him on the back.
“…thanks.” He coughed. “Where did you hear that?” John looked round when Teyla indicated to see Rodney sitting with a group of his scientists, all of them vehemently arguing. That itself wasn’t unusual, until he caught snatches of said argument.
“…haven’t seen it!”
“…telling you…”
“…can’t explain everything Rodney.” This from Zelenka, apparently determined to get his word on the matter in.
John turned back to Teyla and Ronon, both looking expectantly at him. “Well, it’s kind of a legend,” he said.
“They don’t seem to think so.” Ronon nodded his head at the table behind John.
“It’s the same with any myth or legend,” John took a proper bite this time and swallowed before continuing. “One of Rodney’s staff claims he’s seen a ship called the Flying Dutchman, whose Captain is supposed to go around collecting the souls of people who die at sea. They’re all just arguing over whether something like that could be true or not.” He returned to his food, unconcerned.
“I’ve heard something like that,” Ronon broke in. “Back home. We had a story, about a big sailing ship. Was supposed to appear in a green flash.” Ronon talked so rarely about home that John would have listened to what the big guy had to say anyway, never mind had it given him goosebumps with the last comment.
“We did not live close to a large body of water to have many stories concerning the ocean.” Teyla put in. “And neither did we trade with many who did live near one. When I came to Atlantis it was the first time I had seen so much water.”
John grinned. “It’s the first time I’ve seen so much water too. We only have one ocean that can compare.” He shrugged. “The point is, it’s just one of those things, that inevitably every so often somebody spots something weird and attributes it to something like this, whether it’s a strange blip on the horizon or UFO’s.”
“UFO’s?”
John sighed.
*
John swung the rather unusual key in his left hand while he took a quick swallow of the marine brand moonshine held in his right. He'd an uncle who'd taught him to handle strong stuff a long time ago, a skill he didn't quite think his parents appreciated being passed on. Came in handy now and again though.
“You’ve been seen,” he said as he looked out of Atlantis and across the ocean. The moonlight shone straight through the windows of his quarters, bathing the room in an eerie glow and reminding him of stories his mother once told him.
“How did you know I was here?” The voice spoke up from the shadows behind him.
John snorted. “Even if you hadn’t left your ship where I can see it? You’ve never been able to sneak up on anyone.”
He turned around.
“Father.”