Constitutional Crisis

[rachael-recs.livejournal.com]

My Sheppard/McKay rec50 table.

Claim: Stargate Atlantis: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Title: Constitutional Crisis
Author: Fabularasa (fabularasa)
Characters: Elizabeth, Sheppard/McKay
Prompt: 13 - Established Relationship
Rating: Mature
Length: long
Brief summary: It's hard for established relationship stories to hook me, as that slow build of 'the first time' isn't there. The sex and relationship is frequently tacked on in these kind of stories, and not integrated into the plot such that the action stops, there is sex, and then the action starts up again. There is little at risk for the characters either for their relationship or for themselves.

It's also the total antithesis of this story.

In Constitutional Crisis there is a ton of risk, to the characters, the relationship, and to Atlantis. The sex is hot (incredibly hot. This is one of my favorite sex scenes.) and it moves the plot along in an intense, tightly-packed story of John's breakdown over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" regulations and its aftermath -- along with a little dash of what friendship really means. It also does a great job of playing with the universe.


“I won’t enforce these regs, Elizabeth,” John said, and his voice was as quiet as hers. “I’ve been base commander for a year and a half, and I’ve looked the other way plenty of times. I put up with the regs because I thought that was the best we could do. But now we have a chance to do better. We have a chance to build a new world out here, and this is what we drag with us? The same old crap the old world gave us?” He tossed the disc on her desk with a flick of his wrist, and again, she saw in the controlled motion how close it was to becoming a hurl across the room. “Take it back.”

She watched the disc for a minute, in order not to watch John’s face. It was a diplomat’s reflex; when people were angry, you avoided looking at them. Direct gazes could stoke anger, and anger clouded issues, made discussion difficult.

“The opening paragraphs of the new constitution make it clear that Atlantis is a free, open, and non-discriminatory society,” she began carefully.

“Except if you happen to be wearing a uniform.” He rose, his movements still slow and controlled. “Take it back.” He rose and held up a hand to forestall her, though in truth she didn’t know what she would say. “Take it back. Or get yourself a new base commander.”

He was out the door as quickly as he had been earlier this afternoon in her office, and she knew then that he had been angry even then, that he had seen what he was looking for then, and had waited.


Link to the story: Constitutional Crisis

Comments

[walkingshadow.livejournal.com]

yes, oh yes. fantastic rec, especially for this category. what always gets me—apart from rodney going to him, and how tired they are, and god YES the sex is so incredibly hot—is rodney repeatedly asking, "is it possible you just don't get it?" which speaks so many volumes about what a long, slow, stumbling trip it's been for them. the relationship's established, but the uncertainty is still there.

[rachael-recs.livejournal.com]

It is a wonderful piece, isn't it? And you're right about that repeated motif, it just nails how unsettled things are between them, and shows the tension in their relationship, even though it's an established one. It's very cool.