SGA: Less Like Freedom Than You Might Assume (Lorne, Sheppard, Parrish)

[bluflamingo]

Title: Less Like Freedom Than You Might Assume
Author: bluflamingo
Fandom: SGA
Characters: Lorne, Sheppard, Parrish
Rating: PG
Words: 7374
Disclaimer: No, I don’t own them. To my profound disappointment.

Summary: You don't always get to decide for yourself.

A/N: Written for lgbtfest; beta'd by domtheknight and tesserae_, who made this much better than it was when I started.

Comments

[soft_princess]

This was lovely! I really love Lorne's characterization, and his relationships with everyone, and that ending was awesome.

[bluflamingo]

Thank you. I love writing the realtionships between the characters who we don't see so much of (mainly because I love being able to write oddball groups of friends!)

[gaffsie]

Oh, I like this. It's nice to read fics where the termination of DADT doesn't immediately lead to orgies in the gate-room. Also, you give great Lorne. :)

[bluflamingo]

Thank you!

It's nice to read fics where the termination of DADT doesn't immediately lead to orgies in the gate-room

See, I get why people do that - it's nice to think that the termination would lead to everything being fine, but I find it hard to buy, because we're talking about people, here,who are in their late thirties at least. It's going to be hard to let go of years of conditioning to be one way.

[gaffsie]

I get it, and it can be pretty entertaining to read about, but I like this slightly more realistic take on it. The fandom is big enough for both interpretations. ;)

[bluflamingo]

The fandom is big enough for both interpretations. ;)

Very true - the idea that abolishing one policy would make everything sunshine and roses is very appealing sometimes (and frequently leads to some great stories) :)

[bluflamingo]

Thank you!

[skieswideopen]

Very nice. I always like Lorne-fic--he's an underused character. :)

I've sometimes wondered how the Atlantis leadership deals with DADT given that they seem to have at least some non-American soldiers who come from countries which allow openly gay people to serve in the military. How does a leader enforce two separate sets of rules for people who are all under his command? Seems like it would be bad for morale....

[bluflamingo]

Thank you!

I've sometimes wondered how the Atlantis leadership deals with DADT

I think John wouldn't really care (and not just because I think John's gay), but I don't know that that would make it any easier really - as much as we like to write Atlantis as being full of open-minded people, I don't think it really is. Especially when you're talking scientists who are the best in their field, and necessary (they'd be able to get away with a lot more because the city needed them, not all of it good) and the potential for the military command on Earth to send away anyone they thought was trouble, for whatever reason. None of which answers your wonderings, sorry.

[skieswideopen]

Oh, I agree John wouldn't personally care. I was thinking more along the lines of the conflict involved in trying to enforce two sets of rules within one military structure. Or maybe they wouldn't try and would simply forbid openly gay soldiers from every military, but I think other countries might have something to say about that. Alternately, I've heard that many U.S. military commanders don't really enforce DADT and that in some postings, it's possible for a gay couple to actually live together, as long as they don't go around making out on base or anything. So maybe Atlantis would just take a very relaxed approach

[bluflamingo]

I think, as you say, Atlantis would probably just take a relaxed approach to it - you know, no kissing over your morning cornflakes, but otherwise, whatever. Partially because of the people in charge (probably wouldn't happen that way if Sumner was still around for example) and partly because it's just easier

[10pmpacifictime]

I don't buy Lorne as gay. In my mind he's straightstraightstraight. But I actually believe this Lorne could be gay.

This was wonderful. From Lorne's hapless gaydar to the way everyone in the city knows, has probably known forever, and just hasn't cared. I loved this.

[bluflamingo]

I don't buy Lorne as gay.

I don't know - I could imagine Lorne with pretty much anyone from Atlantis, male or female, but I tend to write him as gay anyway, since I don't have any trouble imagining that he could be, and I don't write het much.

Thanks for commenting!

[10pmpacifictime]

Maybe it's not that I don't see him as gay so much as I have a hard time with the way most slash authors portray him. Your fic (especially this fic) and "Where Parallel Lines Intersect" by SA are the only fics where they seem to get Lorne right

[bluflamingo]

I don't buy him as the kind of guy who'd angst unendingly over being gay or wander around talking about what his boy/girlfriend did on their date the night before.

No, me either. Even if he had gone through a period of angsting over it, he's got to be in his thirties at this point, I'm pretty sure he'd be done by now! Plus, you know, bigger things to worry about.

The show doesn't really provide us with people he could interact with on a social level.

This is very true! It'd help if they gave the other people on his team names, or even an occasional line - I mean, John has a ready-made social group with his team, but Lorne's are too anonymous to work like that.