Challenge Fic: New Customs. John/Rodney. Pre-Slash. G.

[velocitygrass]

Title: New Customs
Author: velocitygrass
Pairing: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Rating: G
Word count: 2129
Summary: "Listen. I don't want to date Teyla. But she gave all of us Valentines and I think after what Ford told her she'll expect something in return."
Notes: Set in season 1. Pre-Slash.

Comments

(Spoiler for the sequel, "Old Customs")

[wanted_a_pony]

This is so adorabobble! I love that Ford sends his gramma a valentine every year; & that Teyla "wants John to be her Valentine" because of his bravery, cunning and strength & because he trusted her to fight (no squishy hearts&flowers crap for her ;-). Did she deliberately deliver her Valentines early in the day to subtly coerce John & Rodney into reciprocating? I bet she did--I wonder if Ford conspired? And I don't think John's verbal valentine to Rodney is so inarticulate. It might not be in complete sentences, but it's certainly clear, & eloquent, & heart-felt enough.

I'm really impressed with Rodney's valentines, tho'. It's funny how he can be so effortlessly, smoothly gallant with Teyla's, yet has to struggle so hard to write a few stiff lines to John. I actually read your "sequel," Old Customs, before this fic, & I particularly appreciate how Rodney's valentine 3 years later is direct, easy, all about Rodney's feelings for John, rather than defensive & self-centered like this one. It really shows Rodney's evolution as a

Re: (Spoiler for the sequel, "Old Customs")

[velocitygrass]

Thank you!

I'm not sure Teyla delivered her Valentines early on purpose. I think at first she really thought it was a custom that most people engaged in, but when she saw John and Rodney hesitating she saw the need to... encourage them ;)

Thank you so much about your kind words about Rodney's Valentines. I actually can't say it was a conscious decision. I simply wrote them the way I felt it would fit in the particular situation. The first one for John is all about him, because I think back then he still feels he needs to validate himself. Which is why the fact that John doesn't just like his brain, but likes him is such a wonder to him. And he doesn't know what to think of that and I actually believe in a way he's bewildered that it means so much to him to be liked by John. By season 4 he knows how much John means to him and he has accepted that John loves him (in whatever way), so there is no need anymore to talk about himself.

Well, whether I can take credit for it or not, I'm glad you enjoyed how I wrote Rodney here :)

[bitter_crimson]

D'awwwwww! Things this cute should be illegal.

[velocitygrass]

Awww. Thank you :)

[roaringmice]

That made me smile, big and shiny.