SGA fic: Breaking Up in Three Easy Clichés (+ challenge)

[xparrot]

Firstly - McShep HappyFic Challenge! I've been waiting for something like this to pop up, since we all need it now. Since I not-so-secretly love unmitigated and absurdly happy endings even more than I love angst, I am all over this one (...whether or not I'll be able to write something for it is another matter, but we'll see...) It's very open-ended, so go! Sign up! Be happy!


Then, changing gears so fast that I apologize for the whiplash, a new fic:

This is...okay, I don't like the McKay/Keller pairing. My reasons range from my fairly levelheaded disinterest in seeing any romance in the show, to the increasingly emotional and irrational. But I don't want to take out that dislike on Keller, not when we have so little show left to enjoy; I don't especially like the char as she's been written anyway, but I'm trying. So really, this is less an actual fic and more me working to come to terms with the pairing, such as it is. Such as I see it, so I can move on and see Jennifer in her own right. Any McKeller OTPers will probably want to give this one a pass, for your own good.

(And next I will return you to your regularly scheduled Rodney/TEAM/McShep squee, before gnine has my head for straying!)

SGA: Breaking Up in Three Easy Clichés {~3,300 words}
PG, McKay/Keller, spoilers for "The Last Man" and "The Shrine"

Read it on AO3

Comments

[tiddletaddle.livejournal.com]

Hi. I've been lurking for a while, and I really love your fics. This one was brilliant (as usual) and really believable. I like Keller, but the idea of mckay and her in a relationship...no. I can't handle it, no matter how hard tptb push it. I also found it interesting in the ep. how rodney seemed to say everyones name but jennifers. You'd think, considering he's in 'love' with her, he'd have been calling for her?
Anyhow, I'll stop there, cause I can argue my mcshep view all night if I get going. :) just wanted to say that I love your work! and maybe ask if you're ever going to continue the dragon fics? Please?? *puppy eyes*

[ariadne83]

Oh wow, it's like you climbed inside my brain - just Wednesday I was hoping someone would write a story like this :)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So glad this fic worked for you - I don't know if this 'ship can never work, but at least how it's been written thus far, this is how I see it (And I don't especially want to see it working regardless - heh, if you want to argue McShep all night, you've come to the right place!)

And there will be more Pern-fic! Am working on a few things right now, but that's one of them...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee - I'm very glad I'm not the only one who sees it this way!

Perfect

[mezzo-cammin.livejournal.com]

You really. really, have the characters and their voices down so well...I love when that happens. And I loved this story, because most of us have had that conversation, one end or another of it, and it's never fun and it's always awkward, and you did such an excellent job portraying that. And I love the little ellipsis after Ronon's name, because sure, maybe that relationship could have a chance, now, eh? Jennifer has to be wondering what if...? Anyway - I friended you, hope that's okay. I really enjoy your work! :o)

[droolfangrrl.livejournal.com]

Hah! I love it when fans "fix" episodes, fill in the missing places as it were.

[jujuberry136.livejournal.com]

I am with you 100% on the not liking Keller/McKay as a pairing (though I love them both individually). Using Keller's POV here was a great choice- it really gave us a chance to see what's going on in Keller's mind about her relationship with Rodney.

I really liked the story and the title was just plain awesome.

Thanks for sharing with us!

This is not going to fit in one comment

[naye]

Since I promised you favorite lines and such... (Oh, this is probably going to kill LJ's comment character limit!)

The thing with clichés is that they're cliché for a reason. Because sometimes there's nothing else to say.

Because - yes. I mean. Yes. Even things you don't say - cliché situations are cliché because they really do happen like that. And I love how the title is a play on this! You do such good titles. I'm jealous. ♥

"Yes. Um. Could we...wait? Until after dinner? Or another week or two? A month? Forever?

Oh, RODNEY. This is what really broke my heart, because - um, yeah. When you've been there, and you have that moment of your heart plunging through your stomach and all the way down to your toes, you really would give anything to stop it falling. Even if you know it will; it has to, it's all given way... But you want it to stop, before it's too late - even after it already is.

mistaking a crush for something more, mistaking friendship for romance, mistaking loneliness for desire

Especially the last one of these - oh, yes. This is so... human. And I'm right there with Jennifer. It's such an easy mistake to make, such a pleasant mistake to make. I don't blame her for one minute, and I think she's doing an absolutely fabulous job of righting her mistake (and his, too - because like she says, it's not him, or her, it's both of them and John, of course).

It's a shame she's never been good at holding grudges, because she could get a spectacularly satisfying one out of this.

This made me giggle. Oh, yes. Another feeling I know so well. But I'm glad she doesn't hold a grudge against John. That'd be sad.

salutatorian

I'm being totally lazy and asking you to explain this instead of Googling it. Also, this way I can confess that I keep thinking that Jennifer is actually Canadian. XD (What? She sounds Canadian! When even the Swede can tell, it's got to be pretty obvious.)

He's awfully cute when he's vulnerable. That, at least, is too fundamentally true for her to feel guilty about it.

Eeee, yes! Oh, Rodney. ♥

"You weren't interested in me until John told you we hooked up in an alternate timeline,"

And I'm with Jennifer on her reaction to this line. It's kind of hysterical and twisty and weird and oh, Pegasus. Life in a different galaxy is so interesting. Plus, I am so very on board with the idea that John told Rodney, and that's why he started crushing on Jennifer...

Ronon Dex!

I love the way you transcribed it to sound exactly like Rodney was saying it! Aww. Ronon Dex! :D

Told you so!

[naye]

she can see herself, desperate to save someone after losing everything.

Fabulous take on TLM, as always. And this part really moved me, for Jennifer, who is almost more bothered by the hypothetical loss of Rodney's team, of Atlantis, of Pegasus, than she is of her own hypothetical death by alien respiratory disease.

Right now, she's happy with her job, happy with her place on Atlantis. She wants friends to grab a beer with, to watch the stars with, a shoulder to cry on when she needs it; she's not looking for someone to come home to. She doesn't want the noise of obligatory conversation filling up the peace of her quarters every evening, doesn't feel like arguing about the room temperature every night. She can still put off thinking about kids for another few years, and plans to. She likes what she has now.

Yes, hi. Have a paragraph! A paragraph of oh, I recognize this...! I'll just substitute a couple of words for ones more right for me - "tea" for "beer", and "Japan" for "Atlantis" - and then I can post this paragraph and explain exactly where I'm at right now. It really does feel like you've been in my head. ♥ (In a non-creepy kind of way, of course.) It also feels like we somehow have a lot in common. Hmm. Who'd have thought! XD

And she hasn't seen Teyla in a couple days and is missing her Torren time

Awww! Torren time! So sweet.

"Okay," Jennifer repeats, after the doors close behind him, and she's only a little surprised to discover that it really is.

*mad flailing*

SO PERFECT! Love this one to BITS, it's a wonderful fic, because it's so real and true to the characters, and to this situation, and just... everything. It's a happy break up fic. You really are a genius, to be able to write something like a happy break up fic. *hugs*

[facetofcathy.livejournal.com]

Now if TPTB want to write Jennifer/Rodney like this, well I'm in. Yes, I can see them dating, yes I can see her liking Rodney at first and yes I can see him liking her (not a spontaneous declaration of love, I mean really).

But..... It cannot last.

The story though, I love the way you twist those three cliches. I love the way she's got some anger that she doesn't quite know where to put. I love the way she's genuinely resentful of Rodney usurping her biggest brain in the room status and genuinely contrite for feeling it.

Great story, and I say that not just because I agree with your premis.

Re: Perfect

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yes...some of the emotion here definitely is adapted from personal experience, if not the particular situations. Relationships are such tricky things. And heh, yes, there was definitely a little emphasis on Ronon...

And you're welcome to friend, I hope you keep enjoying the fic!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee - this isn't quite a missing scene, maybe, but a "fix", yes!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I don't like Keller as much as I wish I did, so getting into her head was something of an exercise in making me sympathize with her. Which I can, here, and this is how I see it now, though future eps might force me to change it...

Thank you (and glad you liked the title, it kinda came after the fact, when I realized how many classic break-up lines were actually in the story!)

Re: Told you so!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

<33333

So glad you liked it! all of it!

Very glad you liked the title - I came up with it after I wrote the story and realized how many classic break-up cliches were in it. And then I wrote in Jennifer's early lines to make the title fit...

Poor John, so mixed up and mixing up all his friends with him.

And yes...Keller's final thoughts are one big "you don't need a guy to be happy! dammit!"

Oh, and "Salutatorian" is second to valedictorian - the person who graduates with the second highest GPA. (umm, I don't think it has anything to do with being Canadian or not - Canadian schools have it, too...? Canada's high schools work like the US's, I believe, though their university system is somewhat different...)

Thank you!!! <3

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I didn't mind the spontaneous declaration of love - but only because I saw like this, as Rodney confused and wanting to love someone, and Keller is there, and he was hoping, so he said it. I don't think it means that much, really (oddly, the way it played in the episode itself, I wasn't sure if we were meant to think it a grand declaration, or if we were actually supposed to question its truth. Considering he didn't even seem to remember Keller's name later...)

...but then I sort of liked Katie Brown/Rodney, too, only because I was sure it was destined to fail. I have this weird thing for the relationships that fail not out of any sort of malice or mistake, but simply because two people can't always make it work, even when they want to.

And heck, I love Rodney McKay, but he wouldn't be an easy guy to date. I'd have problems with being jealous of his genius myself...!

[water-soter.livejournal.com]

Veeeerrrrryyyyyyy interesting. I love your take on the situations that brought them together. Like I said, very interesting.

[horridporrid.livejournal.com]

I... yeah, I liked this. :) I'm highly impressed with how well, how sympathetically you wrote Jennifer, especially as she's not your favorite character. And I really like your take on her relationship with Rodney, as one of those, looks better on paper than in reality things. Which is one way I think it could turn out. (Honestly, I feel like that was what was going through Jennifer's mind when she watched that tape in the last scene of The Shrine. Does she want to go there? Is this a relationship she actually has an interest in and wants to pursue?)

In my personal take on Jennifer (and I say "my" because I'm not full on confident saying my view jells definitively with canon -- I mean, I hope it does, because I like my Jennifer *g*, but...) she's a lot more confident in her own intelligence. But, other than that, I liked how you wrote her. You caught her warmth and her courage, so in the end, I liked this. :)

FYI, I was recced this by ariadne83.

[astridv.livejournal.com]

Rodney/Jennifer isn't my OTP (I like him with John or with Sam at least as much) but the pairing definitely appeals to me. Still I like this fic a lot. While I like the thougth of them together, their relationship and breakup here feel really plausible. If they manage writing something like this on the show itself, I'll be happy.

Hm, I realized I'm happy to read believabe interaction of any kind between the two; doesn't have to end in romance or happily ever after.

I like how sympathetic you wrote her, especially in light of the fact that you don't like the ship all that much (which you can't tell from the story.) I wouldn't have clicked on the link had this been a random author at fanfic net, but I trust you. :)

[dragojustine.livejournal.com]

I'm actually startled by how much I liked this. There's such a really bad trend in fandom of ship-trashing fic that just exists to make one side look bad, and this... ISN'T that. It's an incredibly insightful look at both of them, and their motivations, and what would actually draw them together and why those things aren't enough. They're both so sympathetic and sincere and genuine, and there's no fault to be placed, and Keller is being so very very wise.

*loves*

[greyias.livejournal.com]

OMG yes! Thank you for this! You managed to put into words what really bugged me about that last bit in "The Shrine" and the inevitable relationship that's going to result from it. It's all so... more than plausible, it just clicks, makes so much sense.

Am I allowed to take all of naye's snipped bits and say "Yeah, that"? Because, really, that. (Torren time! Squee!) Okay, I won't snurch, but everything she said, as well as:

Rodney had been blunted, his sharp mind and his sharp tongue alike. -- because that's really how I felt about that scene, he's Rodney, but he's not Rodney. And I love the thought that Keller would realize this (maybe in hindsight, but still realize it nonetheless.)

-- John's smart, she thinks. Too damn smart, and he takes care of his team too well. -- Because it's so true, and says so much about Keller's view on John (part compliment, part consternation, and a teensy bit of jealousy?)

I'm not radically opposed to McKay/Keller, but I would really prefer it to not happen for a lot of the same reasons. But is it horrible that the thought of McKay and Keller having sex gives me the heebie jeebies? However, if it has to happen canonically, I'd love for it to be like this, where the friendship is something that stands out more than OTPness.

And "Torren time" is still making me grin like a loon. Everyone on Atlantis wants to play with the baby! :D

[propinquitine.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for this. I almost didn't read it, since I pretty vehemently dislike the McKay/Keller pairing, but between the title and the author, I decided to give it a shot, and boy am I glad I did! I think you articulate all of the (exceedingly rational) reasons why this pairing grates, and I really liked how you wove in so many standard break-up lines, but used them to develop the characterizations and achieve a pretty non-standard break-up.

I like your Keller, and that's a nice change of pace from recently on the show. Even though the line about her not minding it if his genius faded made me gasp in horror, I still felt sympathy for her, and found myself rooting for both of them to find some kind of happy (separate) ending. (And I loved that part of her calculus for whether to go to dinner was that she'd been missing her "Torren time". &hearts ) In short: this was great, and helped me get a better handle on how to regain some of my Keller love! Thanks!

[calcitrix.livejournal.com]

Fantastic. You made me realize what's been off about Keller for me this whole time. I know she must be smart...really really smart for her to be the head of medicine in Atlantis...but that never really comes through on the show. Carson developed the ATA therapy, the virus that changes the Wraith, figured out how to save Bug!John... Keller? Didn't save Weir, hasn't cured the Hoffan disease, didn't quite heal Carson, and couldn't save Rodney. They've just written her as competent, not brilliant. Your take on her--liking Rodney more when he wasn't as smart, yeah. That. Made me go, "Oh!" and realize all of the above.

[trishkafibble.livejournal.com]

Wonderfully well done. Absolutely spot-on in every way, to the point where I can feel this scene taking up residence in my personal fanon and making itself entirely at home there! I especially liked the presentation, with lots of waffling bits (i.e., it's not like that, except that it is), because that's exactly how it is in a situation like this!). Thanks so much.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad it worked for you!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was interpreting the end of "The Shrine" that way myself - or at least thought it could be interpreted that way, I was wondering what the writer/director actually intended. It did seem to me like Jennifer was considering Rodney's declaration with a good deal of thought, more than just enjoying it. (Quite frankly? If a guy who I was friends with, who I'd gone on maybe one and a half dates with, started losing his mind and then said he loved me - that would freak me out, more than make me swoon. One reason (among many) that I'm glad Rodney went to John's quarters, and was crying out for John, is that I think for him to call out to Jennifer would've been one hell of an imposition on a nascent relationship...)

I wish Keller did come across as more confident - I know that some people enjoy her more hesitant aspects, but the only times I've really liked her character is when she is sure of herself. It just hasn't happened as much as I'd like (it's why I prefer Gero's Keller.) That being said, I didn't mean for the bit about IQs to be a slight on her - I do think Rodney is smarter than her, but Rodney is smarter than almost anyone, and I think that would be a problem with any relationship he'd have with another genius intellect (except Sam!) - because most geniuses are used to being special, and Rodney's very competitive, and not very sympathetic about it. Jennifer's not in the same field, but I still think it might be difficult for her...I know I'd have problems with it myself!

(and ee, thanks for telling me about the rec (was it private?) - that always excites me! and thanks, too for giving the story a chance - I'm getting such thoughtful reaction to this, it's wonderful!)