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sga_flashficTITLE: Presidential Dinner, With Gold Cufflinks - Part Two
SUMMARY: Hiding white tigers among other white tigers takes paperwork. And a few surprises.
RATING: PG-13
WORDCOUNT: 5,000 words or so. Plus images.
NOTES: The documentation took nearly as long as the rest of the writing!
Part One
Act Two: Priceless
--
The shopping trip with Teyla was fun. It had been a while since Elizabeth had really had a chance to relax with a female friend.
Granted, she'd spent the last few years in Atlantis, but even before that, she hadn't had too many people with whom she could really relax. The problem with being competent and in control of situations was that it was difficult to stop being competent and in control, and that tended to scare people away.
Although she'd never discussed it with Teyla, she had the feeling the other woman understood.
Then, too, Elizabeth didn't have to watch everything she said with Teyla. And it was enjoyable to wander through the Mazza Gallerie, pointing out shops of interest and looking for a couple of gowns suitable for dinner at the White House.
Elizabeth wasn't privy to all the details, but she gathered that General O'Neill had something to do with their invitation to the state dinner for a number of high-ranking foreign diplomats. Colonel Caldwell reported that the General had said something about hiding white tigers among other white tigers - which made a certain kind of sense.
"You have so many choices," Teyla murmured as they looked through the ready-to-wear collection in one of the designer shops. "So much colour and the materials..." She pulled out a velvet skirt of royal blue. "This is one of the rarest colours to create and dye. The colours fade swiftly and it is not always worth the trouble of dyeing it in the first place."
Elizabeth thought of the blue velvety top that Teyla sometimes wore when trading off-world, then looked at the vivid colours of the clothing around them and shook her head. "We're so used to it here..."
Teyla's smile was wry, "In truth, I and my people have become accustomed to it while working with the expedition. And yet," one hand indicated the shop, "it is a poignant reminder."
"Well, find something to wear for tonight," Elizabeth said, both touched by Teyla's delight, and noting that it was nearly two o'clock. "Otherwise we'll be poignantly underdressed."
In the end, they found their dresses. Expensive, but stunning - especially Teyla's. Elizabeth was a little shocked at herself for allowing Teyla to purchase such a style for a state dinner. Still, as her grandfather had used to say, sometimes you should step back and blend in, and other times, you had to step out and take a gamble.
This was a gamble. But it was going to be an extremely enjoyable one if Elizabeth was right. Especially once the guys saw Teyla in her dress.
It all played out as perfectly in reality as it had in Elizabeth's mind.
The best part of it was that Teyla was nearly oblivious to the stir - and Elizabeth didn't just mean 'commotion' - that her dress was causing in the guys. To her, it was beautiful fluid material in a cut similar to a dress she remembered on Athos, suitable for an evening of formalities in the muggy July weather of an evening in Washington, D.C.
To anyone who lived in noughties America, it was daring, sexy, and would have a large number of women of all ages chewing their livers before the night was out.
Elizabeth had done her liver-chewing earlier. She was over it.
And it was extremely amusing to see the guys stare.
"Wow," Rodney managed, tugging at the collar of his shirt. He looked quite neat in his suit - not a tuxedo, but something with hints of brown in it that made him look less bleached than the military green usually did. Elizabeth grinned as the usually voluble scientist was lost for words.
"Nice," Ronon said with a grin. Teyla shot him a narrow look, almost as if she expected him to be making fun of her. He shrugged and turned to Elizabeth with eyes that suddenly seemed more wolfish than human. Abruptly, she wished she hadn't chosen red for her dress; black would have been better, less vivid - less noticeable. "You, too, Dr. Weir."
His words gave her a warm feeling inside, however understated the compliment. "Thank you, Ronon."
It seemed that Ronon did have an idea of how to behave like a gentleman, even if he played the savage in Atlantis. Certainly, to Elizabeth's mind, he looked barely more tame than usual in a Turkish shirt - the kind with the high, flat collar that circled his throat but didn't hide his tattoo - and black evening trousers that fit him nearly as well as his leathers usually did. Gold cufflinks gleamed at his wrists, his dreadlocks were tied back, and he looked...rakishly elegant.
Teyla definitely wouldn't be the only one drawing gazes tonight.
John, it seemed, had opted out of the tuxedo or suit option, and was neat and smart in dress blues - although his hair looked no neater than it ever did. Right now, he was looking at Teyla as though he'd never seen her before. Which was decidedly odd, since Elizabeth figured he would have seen Teyla in her sparring outfits many times before - and this wasn't that much different.
Then again, Atlantis was Atlantis - this was Earth.
"That's some dress," General O'Neill said with a slight grin on his face. He'd risen to his feet as the two women came in, and was now shoving his hands into the pockets of his dress uniform. "You both look beautiful, Dr. Weir, Ms. Emmagen."
"Thank you, General."
Teyla's smile was brilliant. "Thank you, General O'Neill. Please, just call me 'Teyla.'"
O'Neill quirked an eyebrow and spread his hands wide. "Whatever you prefer, Teyla."
"Can I have my knives back?" Ronon asked abruptly.
Silence permeated the room as they processed the question. "Why?" Elizabeth asked after a moment, bewildered.
She wasn't sure what kind of an answer she'd expected, but it certainly wasn't the answer he gave. "Someone's going to have to fight the guys off."
Elizabeth hid her smile as Teyla glared at Ronon. "You do not believe I can defend myself?" There was a dangerous note to her voice which didn't seem to faze her team-mate at all.
"I'm saying you might need a bit of help," Ronon said, in a matter-of-fact tone of voice that didn't disguise any of the mischief in it. Whether it was Teyla's reaction, the dress, or Teyla in the dress, Elizabeth didn't know - but the Satedan was definitely looking at the teasing potential.
And John still hadn't manage to get a word out. He was just standing there, looking at his team-mate with an expression that wasn't quite like he'd been smacked over the head with a wet fish, but came pretty close.
Elizabeth caught his eye and arched a brow at him as the General stepped into the conversation. "She might need some help at that. Although certainly not at defending yourself," he added when Teyla bristled. "Calm down, Teyla. God, you're as bad as Carter when McKay her suggests her theories have flaws." One hand pointed at Rodney as he opened his mouth. "Don't start!"
It didn't stop Rodney. "I was just going to say--"
"Rodney," Elizabeth said, terminating his launch into full-fledged lecture mode, "please."
"Yes, Rodney," O'Neill said dryly, "please." He turned to John. "All right then. Now that you guys are assembled... Sheppard?"
"Sir?" John was attentive, but uncharacteristically close-lipped.
"Sheppard, you're going to be looking after Teyla tonight as far as the social thing goes. I'm sure you'll do fine. Pretend to be a diplomatic aide or something."
John glanced at Teyla who was regarding him with a very direct, questioning gaze. After a split-second hesitation, he smiled. "We'll work it out," he said, relaxing a little. "Although I think I should get a knife. Just in case," he added hastily as Teyla's eyes narrowed.
"No knives," the General said sternly. "Diplomacy. Negotiation. Tact."
"I think I skipped those lessons at the Academy, sir."
"Then let's hope you picked them up in Atlantis," retorted General O'Neill. "Diplomacy, Sheppard. No incidents. Please."
There was no hope of stopping Rodney this time. "No incidents? I'm sorry? This is Sheppard we're talking about - the man whose personal vendetta with Kolya of the Gennii is already legendary!"
It was John's turn to glare - this time at Rodney. "Gee, McKay. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You're welcome."
General O'Neill smirked and clapped John on the shoulder. "You'll do fine. Just don't say anything that could get our funding cut or you might find yourself out in Atlantis without backup. Dr. Weir?"
"General O'Neill?"
"Your assignment is to keep an eye on Ronon here. Make sure he doesn't get creative with the cutlery."
"Wouldn't need it," Ronon said with a smirk.
"Then don't get creative at all," said the General with a pointed look. "You're here to meet the President, not cause an interplanetary crisis - we have enough of them around already." The intense, dark gaze took them all in. "Everyone's clear on the details?"
There were nods all round.
"So, I don't have to look after anyone?" Rodney asked hopefully.
General O'Neill sighed. "No, McKay, you don't."
Rodney beamed, then paused as the General added, "I wouldn't be that cruel."
Elizabeth bit back a smile and saw that Rodney's team-mates were doing the same. Rodney opened his mouth, fielded a look from the General and shut up.
Priceless.
- TBC -
Part Three
SUMMARY: Hiding white tigers among other white tigers takes paperwork. And a few surprises.
RATING: PG-13
WORDCOUNT: 5,000 words or so. Plus images.
NOTES: The documentation took nearly as long as the rest of the writing!
Part One
Act Two: Priceless
A cab from Reagan National to the Mazza Galleries in DC?
$25.
Lunch at the Terrace on Potomac?
$90.
Two gowns suitable for a state function, plus shoes, accessories, and jewellery?
$2,500
Watching the jaws drop when Teyla emerges from the room in gown, shoes, jewellery, and accessories?
Priceless.
There are some things money can't buy.
For everything else, there's the SGC account.
$25.
Lunch at the Terrace on Potomac?
$90.
Two gowns suitable for a state function, plus shoes, accessories, and jewellery?
$2,500
Watching the jaws drop when Teyla emerges from the room in gown, shoes, jewellery, and accessories?
Priceless.
There are some things money can't buy.
For everything else, there's the SGC account.
--
The shopping trip with Teyla was fun. It had been a while since Elizabeth had really had a chance to relax with a female friend.
Granted, she'd spent the last few years in Atlantis, but even before that, she hadn't had too many people with whom she could really relax. The problem with being competent and in control of situations was that it was difficult to stop being competent and in control, and that tended to scare people away.
Although she'd never discussed it with Teyla, she had the feeling the other woman understood.
Then, too, Elizabeth didn't have to watch everything she said with Teyla. And it was enjoyable to wander through the Mazza Gallerie, pointing out shops of interest and looking for a couple of gowns suitable for dinner at the White House.
Elizabeth wasn't privy to all the details, but she gathered that General O'Neill had something to do with their invitation to the state dinner for a number of high-ranking foreign diplomats. Colonel Caldwell reported that the General had said something about hiding white tigers among other white tigers - which made a certain kind of sense.
"You have so many choices," Teyla murmured as they looked through the ready-to-wear collection in one of the designer shops. "So much colour and the materials..." She pulled out a velvet skirt of royal blue. "This is one of the rarest colours to create and dye. The colours fade swiftly and it is not always worth the trouble of dyeing it in the first place."
Elizabeth thought of the blue velvety top that Teyla sometimes wore when trading off-world, then looked at the vivid colours of the clothing around them and shook her head. "We're so used to it here..."
Teyla's smile was wry, "In truth, I and my people have become accustomed to it while working with the expedition. And yet," one hand indicated the shop, "it is a poignant reminder."
"Well, find something to wear for tonight," Elizabeth said, both touched by Teyla's delight, and noting that it was nearly two o'clock. "Otherwise we'll be poignantly underdressed."
In the end, they found their dresses. Expensive, but stunning - especially Teyla's. Elizabeth was a little shocked at herself for allowing Teyla to purchase such a style for a state dinner. Still, as her grandfather had used to say, sometimes you should step back and blend in, and other times, you had to step out and take a gamble.
This was a gamble. But it was going to be an extremely enjoyable one if Elizabeth was right. Especially once the guys saw Teyla in her dress.
It all played out as perfectly in reality as it had in Elizabeth's mind.
The best part of it was that Teyla was nearly oblivious to the stir - and Elizabeth didn't just mean 'commotion' - that her dress was causing in the guys. To her, it was beautiful fluid material in a cut similar to a dress she remembered on Athos, suitable for an evening of formalities in the muggy July weather of an evening in Washington, D.C.
To anyone who lived in noughties America, it was daring, sexy, and would have a large number of women of all ages chewing their livers before the night was out.
Elizabeth had done her liver-chewing earlier. She was over it.
And it was extremely amusing to see the guys stare.
"Wow," Rodney managed, tugging at the collar of his shirt. He looked quite neat in his suit - not a tuxedo, but something with hints of brown in it that made him look less bleached than the military green usually did. Elizabeth grinned as the usually voluble scientist was lost for words.
"Nice," Ronon said with a grin. Teyla shot him a narrow look, almost as if she expected him to be making fun of her. He shrugged and turned to Elizabeth with eyes that suddenly seemed more wolfish than human. Abruptly, she wished she hadn't chosen red for her dress; black would have been better, less vivid - less noticeable. "You, too, Dr. Weir."
His words gave her a warm feeling inside, however understated the compliment. "Thank you, Ronon."
It seemed that Ronon did have an idea of how to behave like a gentleman, even if he played the savage in Atlantis. Certainly, to Elizabeth's mind, he looked barely more tame than usual in a Turkish shirt - the kind with the high, flat collar that circled his throat but didn't hide his tattoo - and black evening trousers that fit him nearly as well as his leathers usually did. Gold cufflinks gleamed at his wrists, his dreadlocks were tied back, and he looked...rakishly elegant.
Teyla definitely wouldn't be the only one drawing gazes tonight.
John, it seemed, had opted out of the tuxedo or suit option, and was neat and smart in dress blues - although his hair looked no neater than it ever did. Right now, he was looking at Teyla as though he'd never seen her before. Which was decidedly odd, since Elizabeth figured he would have seen Teyla in her sparring outfits many times before - and this wasn't that much different.
Then again, Atlantis was Atlantis - this was Earth.
"That's some dress," General O'Neill said with a slight grin on his face. He'd risen to his feet as the two women came in, and was now shoving his hands into the pockets of his dress uniform. "You both look beautiful, Dr. Weir, Ms. Emmagen."
"Thank you, General."
Teyla's smile was brilliant. "Thank you, General O'Neill. Please, just call me 'Teyla.'"
O'Neill quirked an eyebrow and spread his hands wide. "Whatever you prefer, Teyla."
"Can I have my knives back?" Ronon asked abruptly.
Silence permeated the room as they processed the question. "Why?" Elizabeth asked after a moment, bewildered.
She wasn't sure what kind of an answer she'd expected, but it certainly wasn't the answer he gave. "Someone's going to have to fight the guys off."
Elizabeth hid her smile as Teyla glared at Ronon. "You do not believe I can defend myself?" There was a dangerous note to her voice which didn't seem to faze her team-mate at all.
"I'm saying you might need a bit of help," Ronon said, in a matter-of-fact tone of voice that didn't disguise any of the mischief in it. Whether it was Teyla's reaction, the dress, or Teyla in the dress, Elizabeth didn't know - but the Satedan was definitely looking at the teasing potential.
And John still hadn't manage to get a word out. He was just standing there, looking at his team-mate with an expression that wasn't quite like he'd been smacked over the head with a wet fish, but came pretty close.
Elizabeth caught his eye and arched a brow at him as the General stepped into the conversation. "She might need some help at that. Although certainly not at defending yourself," he added when Teyla bristled. "Calm down, Teyla. God, you're as bad as Carter when McKay her suggests her theories have flaws." One hand pointed at Rodney as he opened his mouth. "Don't start!"
It didn't stop Rodney. "I was just going to say--"
"Rodney," Elizabeth said, terminating his launch into full-fledged lecture mode, "please."
"Yes, Rodney," O'Neill said dryly, "please." He turned to John. "All right then. Now that you guys are assembled... Sheppard?"
"Sir?" John was attentive, but uncharacteristically close-lipped.
"Sheppard, you're going to be looking after Teyla tonight as far as the social thing goes. I'm sure you'll do fine. Pretend to be a diplomatic aide or something."
John glanced at Teyla who was regarding him with a very direct, questioning gaze. After a split-second hesitation, he smiled. "We'll work it out," he said, relaxing a little. "Although I think I should get a knife. Just in case," he added hastily as Teyla's eyes narrowed.
"No knives," the General said sternly. "Diplomacy. Negotiation. Tact."
"I think I skipped those lessons at the Academy, sir."
"Then let's hope you picked them up in Atlantis," retorted General O'Neill. "Diplomacy, Sheppard. No incidents. Please."
There was no hope of stopping Rodney this time. "No incidents? I'm sorry? This is Sheppard we're talking about - the man whose personal vendetta with Kolya of the Gennii is already legendary!"
It was John's turn to glare - this time at Rodney. "Gee, McKay. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You're welcome."
General O'Neill smirked and clapped John on the shoulder. "You'll do fine. Just don't say anything that could get our funding cut or you might find yourself out in Atlantis without backup. Dr. Weir?"
"General O'Neill?"
"Your assignment is to keep an eye on Ronon here. Make sure he doesn't get creative with the cutlery."
"Wouldn't need it," Ronon said with a smirk.
"Then don't get creative at all," said the General with a pointed look. "You're here to meet the President, not cause an interplanetary crisis - we have enough of them around already." The intense, dark gaze took them all in. "Everyone's clear on the details?"
There were nods all round.
"So, I don't have to look after anyone?" Rodney asked hopefully.
General O'Neill sighed. "No, McKay, you don't."
Rodney beamed, then paused as the General added, "I wouldn't be that cruel."
Elizabeth bit back a smile and saw that Rodney's team-mates were doing the same. Rodney opened his mouth, fielded a look from the General and shut up.
Priceless.
- TBC -
Part Three
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 06:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 02:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 06:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 02:55 pm (UTC)The knives idea came from 'The Hive' and Shep's "you must be fun going through airports" comment. Because Ronon so would!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 06:52 am (UTC)"Well, find something to wear for tonight," Elizabeth said, both touched by Teyla's delight, and noting that it was nearly two o'clock. "Otherwise we'll be poignantly underdressed."
I really like your Elizabeth here.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 02:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-28 05:25 pm (UTC)Because we all know Jack is an expert at those, especially the last one *g*
Also like the description of Ronon. Yum :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-29 02:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-01-30 11:58 am (UTC)For everything else, there's the SGC account.
OMG .....*dies laughing*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-01 10:03 pm (UTC)*howls with laughter*
CLASSIC!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-02 01:05 am (UTC)Tho not sure I could take Jack, Shep *and* Ronon in same room. mmmmmmmm.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-09 10:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-11 02:26 pm (UTC)Those receipts look realistic. Love the line about "for everything else there's an SGC account." LOL.