A Matter of Spandrels, by Nu Hiep [Food and Buildings Challenge]

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Title: A Matter of Spandrels
Author: nuhiep
Rating: G
Character: Rodney McKay
Spoilers: None. All pre-Atlantis.
Notes: Thank you, covertpurin for the quick beta.

Summary:Spandrels are the triangular space between the tops of two arches that abut each other in architecture.



Spandrels are the triangular space between the tops of two arches that abut each other in architecture.

* * *

“What are we going to do with him?”
“Lord only knows. Jeannie’s staying on for the summer term this year.”

Soft clinking, silver taps porcelain. Fine, good cloth rustles in elegant colors to the sound of lifted flutes of gold champagne.

“Well, we can’t take him with us, Edward. Goodness knows what he’ll say to the other couples.”
“Can’t he stay with your mum?”

Soft light glints through crystal chandeliers. Candles dance steady-rapid shadows on the oak-paneled wall.

“Mum’s off to Majorca this year. What about yours?”
“She’s refused to take him after last year, remember?”

Empty rimmed soup bowls, traces of watercress cling dryly to antique china patterns. Pungent Beef Wellington, mushroom-shallot-garlic scent wafts past still full plates of Brussels sprouts and chestnuts.

“Oh, perhaps an educational program, Edward. One of those away camps where children study things at school campuses for the summer.”
“Ah, brilliant. Keep the boy out of trouble.”

Carrot custard melts smooth, rich, perfect on his tongue. He’ll have the bread and butter pudding next, the cinnamon and raison exploding in his mouth against soft, sweet milk-bread.

“How about it, son? You want to go stretch your mind a bit this summer?”

The sensation of fingernails digging into his palm under the table, teeth bite down on metal spoon, copper-bile.

* * *

They are the often exploited extra space. Unneeded, but used when they exist.

* * *

“Congratulations, Doctor. You’ve been approved as Head of Science for the Atlantis mission.”

No handshake. The harsh fluorescent lighting washes out the heavy-weight gabardine of Air Force dress blues.

“Excellent. Thank you, General.”

One corner of the mouth tilts up in acknowledgement, lips pressed tight. The ventilation kicks on 28 floors down under Cheyenne Mountain.

“I’ll need to speak to Colonel Carter about certain power modifications for the – uh – the gate.”

He rubs dry hands together.

“I’m afraid she’s been assigned to look after research at Area 51 right now. We’ve got other things for her to do.”

* * *

Well-decorated afterthoughts, they serve merely to enhance the foundational arches holding up the soaring, vaulted ceilings where angels fly on star-studded skies.

* * *

Spandrels.

Rodney hates them.

Comments

[sjkasabi.livejournal.com]

Nice, in a way that is both subtle, and actually, nasty. Especially the middle bit.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Nasty! I like that. Thanks.

[cybersyd.livejournal.com]

So good, and genius, in that it says so much in so few words. And *that* is exactly the way I see Rodney's childhood. Beautiful.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it. Rodney's childhood is inspired partly out of comments my beta made on Rodney's relationship to food. Good food is probably attached to emotionally crippling memories of his parents. Bad food is associated with periods of professional satisfaction - grad school and accomplishments in the military research.

[ex-zombieham605.livejournal.com]

Oh, *ow*. So much in so few words.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[torakowalski.livejournal.com]

*pets Rodney*

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

^_^

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

A fascinating take on Rodney's background.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Can't claim all the credit, because they were my beta's speculations. Metaphor and conception was mine.

[stillane.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. I like that it's a collection of impressions, and that it gets the point across without having to spell it out. Very cool.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[bobberina.livejournal.com]

ohh hello spandrels. This is brilliant. Architecture and Rodney, feeling bitter and only needed as an afterthought.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

LOL. I'm glad you like it. It's probably the only feature of architecture that I remember from world history in high school. I liked that in Rodney's own mind he feels like he's an afterthought when, in reality, he's so important to everyone on Atlantis.

[toniabarone.livejournal.com]

*blinks* Huh. Nice look inside Rodney's head.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[zulu.livejournal.com]

Cool metaphor.

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Ow, ow, ow.

This stings.

*loves*

[nuhiep.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.