It's not hypocritical, because all of those things you listed are between people John knew and it might've had issues following, but he'd be there to handle it - or, you know, not handle it - whatever happened. It'd be something he knew and could touch and deal with, and that one tiny little line in your fic meant he didn't know. He'd been reduced to the level of a thing on a scale not even Rodney's "just touch this" could ever get him to.
And jesus, yes, that might be a sketch but it's no less powerful.
You know what, apart from that last sentence I am not sure that we need the extra story. Suprisingly enough the desert porn actually kinda got all that across, or at least all that Rodney and John were feeling. It also very nearly got across the more mercenary attitudes of everyone else in their conversation about wives and 'other offers'... and with some tweaking to amke it less vague it probably could too. The only thing this really adds for me is that last line, which in some way just magnifies the whole thing, and makes the desert porn that much more resonant. Or the position they are in being fawned over.
Although I do like the image of Rodney convincing Elizabeth to never go there again, using the Canadian stereotype he so very much isn't. Interesting thoughts.
Yeah, I could not figure out a way to make the fact that not just they had sex, but John was reaching for it himself, wanting it, was a fairly big deal, or that Rodney only did it when he knew John wanted him to.
I love the idea of Rodney *arguing*, bringing up everything he can think of so Elizabeth *won't* do this again and also won't just call a meeting and take a vote or something, or figure out that John was hit by it. I'm almost sure he used the words 'human trafficking' at least once to make her twitch, so she'd see what they were doing.
Kinda figured something was up in the story when Rodney was waiting for John to reach for him and almost begging for him to touch. Or when he made no move at all whilst out star watching. Interestingly enough it made it sound like they had traded John more than just that once. Still, kinda hard to work in that much backstory into a small fic .. the fact that you did so much is kinda astounding. :)
In effect Rodney is doing all that he would normally do to persuade Elizabeth to allow him to take a ZPM (Like in Childhood's End), but using it to make sure that John is kept safe. Powerful reversal.
HOpefully he pointed out that it isn't just trafficking of John either, but also any child conceived. He has a way bludgeon with words.
But, in a way, you really already almost did (b/c everything but the amazing aftermath is in that other story...the seeming OKness and the sudden realization of whoring John out and Rodney's discomnfort and Rodney being there for John...)
I love the aftermath, esp the flying lesson and letting john be in charge and take control and be proficient and useful for more than his potential to father a gene carrier...and I love the cheesy sf movie, b/c that's very Rodney and the bruised behind the eyes John needs the levity and distraction and cameraderie that this affords, needs touching that is clearly not sexual in this context and...yes@!!!
my heart breaks for them both in this story, b/c John would do it all over again when given the choice and Rodney would have to watch...b/c they need the ZPM and...yes...
The scenario I imagined just from the line in the story was that they got this offer, one night for the ZPM, and it sounded like no big deal, since it wasn't like they hadn't had sex on alien planets before, etc. I could even see Ronon and Teyla and Elizabeth being the ones to have the reservations about it, with Ronon and Teyla not trusting the people, thinking it's a weird way to make the offer, and Elizabeth just thinking it's a slippery slope at best and no good will come of it. Then once John's there alone, things get freaky in some unspecified way and not what he expected at all, and afterward he wouldn't say anything but they all knew it was a big big mistake, even though they got the ZPM, and it's just another example of how they can't trust other cultures until they get to know them really well.
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And jesus, yes, that might be a sketch but it's no less powerful.
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Exactly! Not just sex, but being reduced to a commodity, a trade item. Some part of him would be killed by that once it sank in.
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*taps finger on desk and thinks*
You know what, apart from that last sentence I am not sure that we need the extra story. Suprisingly enough the desert porn actually kinda got all that across, or at least all that Rodney and John were feeling. It also very nearly got across the more mercenary attitudes of everyone else in their conversation about wives and 'other offers'... and with some tweaking to amke it less vague it probably could too. The only thing this really adds for me is that last line, which in some way just magnifies the whole thing, and makes the desert porn that much more resonant. Or the position they are in being fawned over.
Although I do like the image of Rodney convincing Elizabeth to never go there again, using the Canadian stereotype he so very much isn't. Interesting thoughts.
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I love the idea of Rodney *arguing*, bringing up everything he can think of so Elizabeth *won't* do this again and also won't just call a meeting and take a vote or something, or figure out that John was hit by it. I'm almost sure he used the words 'human trafficking' at least once to make her twitch, so she'd see what they were doing.
Reply
In effect Rodney is doing all that he would normally do to persuade Elizabeth to allow him to take a ZPM (Like in Childhood's End), but using it to make sure that John is kept safe. Powerful reversal.
HOpefully he pointed out that it isn't just trafficking of John either, but also any child conceived. He has a way bludgeon with words.
Reply
But, in a way, you really already almost did (b/c everything but the amazing aftermath is in that other story...the seeming OKness and the sudden realization of whoring John out and Rodney's discomnfort and Rodney being there for John...)
I love the aftermath, esp the flying lesson and letting john be in charge and take control and be proficient and useful for more than his potential to father a gene carrier...and I love the cheesy sf movie, b/c that's very Rodney and the bruised behind the eyes John needs the levity and distraction and cameraderie that this affords, needs touching that is clearly not sexual in this context and...yes@!!!
my heart breaks for them both in this story, b/c John would do it all over again when given the choice and Rodney would have to watch...b/c they need the ZPM and...yes...
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*pets them both*
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The scenario I imagined just from the line in the story was that they got this offer, one night for the ZPM, and it sounded like no big deal, since it wasn't like they hadn't had sex on alien planets before, etc. I could even see Ronon and Teyla and Elizabeth being the ones to have the reservations about it, with Ronon and Teyla not trusting the people, thinking it's a weird way to make the offer, and Elizabeth just thinking it's a slippery slope at best and no good will come of it. Then once John's there alone, things get freaky in some unspecified way and not what he expected at all, and afterward he wouldn't say anything but they all knew it was a big big mistake, even though they got the ZPM, and it's just another example of how they can't trust other cultures until they get to know them really well.
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