-.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -. by Mad Maudlin (PG)
I'm back to rec John and Rodney friendship this month!
Rec Category: John Sheppard & Rodney McKay friendship
Pairing: none
Category: hurt/comfort, Rodney McKay
Warning: none
Author on LJ: mad_maudlin
Author's Website: n/a
Link: -.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -.
Why This Must Be Read: A mission gone wrong (and when do they ever go right?) leaves Rodney temporarily bereft of his senses of sight and hearing. John hits on the idea of using Morse code to communicate with him. This story features a delightful blend of sweetness, gentle pathos and sparkling humor; Rodney's condition is frightening and even a bit heartbreaking, but the author uses a light touch that keeps it from being overwhelmingly angsty. It's hard to write a story in which the viewpoint character is missing one or more major senses (I know; I've tried!) but the narration is perfect, conveying a clear idea of what's happening without ever breaking out of Rodney's currently limited point of view. And, of course, the affection and trust between Rodney and John forms a strong thread running throughout the story, even when they're bickering in Morse code.
When he'd decided that his nerves were under as great a control as they were getting, he called out, "Okay, I'm, uh, decent," and felt the little breeze as the curtain was pushed back. Somebody who used floral shampoo stood directly in front of him, and somebody ripely sweaty climbed up onto the bed next to him, and took his hand.
OK? John tapped out.
"Well, obviously not," Rodney snapped. "But, um, I'm working on reducing the, you know, screaming part."
GASP.
"Still hate you, by the way."
Jennifer went slow and methodical, checking Rodney's eyes and ears again, cleaning the scrapes on his face and hands from his various collisions, and examining the device without actually touching it. John kept up a steady stream of updates like some kind of old-fashioned news ticker with calloused fingers. PUPILSOK. EARSOK. NEONBANDAIDSCOOL. WIRESBAD. CALLZELENKANOW. WHEREHURT?
Rec Category: John Sheppard & Rodney McKay friendship
Pairing: none
Category: hurt/comfort, Rodney McKay
Warning: none
Author on LJ: mad_maudlin
Author's Website: n/a
Link: -.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -.
Why This Must Be Read: A mission gone wrong (and when do they ever go right?) leaves Rodney temporarily bereft of his senses of sight and hearing. John hits on the idea of using Morse code to communicate with him. This story features a delightful blend of sweetness, gentle pathos and sparkling humor; Rodney's condition is frightening and even a bit heartbreaking, but the author uses a light touch that keeps it from being overwhelmingly angsty. It's hard to write a story in which the viewpoint character is missing one or more major senses (I know; I've tried!) but the narration is perfect, conveying a clear idea of what's happening without ever breaking out of Rodney's currently limited point of view. And, of course, the affection and trust between Rodney and John forms a strong thread running throughout the story, even when they're bickering in Morse code.
When he'd decided that his nerves were under as great a control as they were getting, he called out, "Okay, I'm, uh, decent," and felt the little breeze as the curtain was pushed back. Somebody who used floral shampoo stood directly in front of him, and somebody ripely sweaty climbed up onto the bed next to him, and took his hand.
OK? John tapped out.
"Well, obviously not," Rodney snapped. "But, um, I'm working on reducing the, you know, screaming part."
GASP.
"Still hate you, by the way."
Jennifer went slow and methodical, checking Rodney's eyes and ears again, cleaning the scrapes on his face and hands from his various collisions, and examining the device without actually touching it. John kept up a steady stream of updates like some kind of old-fashioned news ticker with calloused fingers. PUPILSOK. EARSOK. NEONBANDAIDSCOOL. WIRESBAD. CALLZELENKANOW. WHEREHURT?