MVP by Speranza

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Title: MVP (74k)
Author: Speranza
Pairing: Sheppard/McKay
Postcard: here
Summary: "All right, all right, nothing to see here," he heard Sheppard say. "You've seen one giant snake, you've seen 'em all."

Comments

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Ooh, dysfunctional John. Kind of reminds me of Scrabble, the death-wish thing overcome by the love of a good man. And the Berkeley Planet cracked me up!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Hm yeah, I can see that--(mmm, bring on the dark-haired loners! *g*)--though God, Fraser such a different guy. He's just so competent and otherworldly, where John is, hell, a slacker from California! In a way, though, I suppose they're really both two generations of cowboy. Anyway-thanks!

[kickthebeat.livejournal.com]

ooooooh. that was very enjoyable. :D oh, John.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

heee, thank you! (And, er, yes, I'm something of a John-babe; is it that obvious? *g*)

[xanphibian.livejournal.com]

So very, very good. I love your Rodney here, and your John, and I found myself just as angry as Rodney in a lot of this.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thank you!--and I'm glad that anger and frustration came through!

[pentapus.livejournal.com]

I loved that so much. There was so much good, but if I had to pick one part that sticks in my mind, it would be Rodney shouting at Elizabeth because it really felt like he was so wrong and yet more than a little bit right at the same time.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

one part that sticks in my mind, it would be Rodney shouting at Elizabeth because it really felt like he was so wrong and yet more than a little bit right at the same time.

I kind of feel bad for Elizabeth there, because Rodney is just projecting his own issues so massively. In fact, Elizabeth really does bear the brunt of all of Rodney's projections and fears for John's safety, even though it's really mostly not her fault. Anyway--thanks! (and FWIW, your icon, the cake, it makes me so, so, so happy.)

[amalthia]

I loved this story a lot. :) I just got one question and it's probably going to be a dumb one, but what does MVP stand for????

[neery.livejournal.com]

I had to look it up, too - seems to mean "most valuable professional".

Sequel?

[susan-wang.livejournal.com]

i am probably going to be know as the sequel chick soon, but i love sequels. Especially of good stories like yours. It was amazing.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Sequels? Where John continues not to die in stupid ways? *g* I'm not sure that's very exciting, but I appreciate the thought!

[boggit.livejournal.com]

It's really a perfect day when Speranza writes Sheppard/McKay slash. With giant snakes, and spying into personnel files, and general OMGness. This was so good!!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyted it! (And your cat icon is killer cute, and I say that not at all being a cat icon person, or even a cat person.)

[copracat]

You own my buttons. You just -- they're yours.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Clearly we share custody of the buttons. Some weekends the buttons will come with me, and I'll take them to the zoo and the circus, and then you can have the buttons other times and take the to the movies, etc. (Seriously: thank you!)

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

This was exactly what I needed to read tonight. It was serious, but satisfied my fannish soul, and it was angsty, but not depressing, and it was sexy and loving without being too happy/schmoopy/romantic for me at the moment.

Thank you.

I especially liked the way you used the review comments again at the end. A deft way of bringing the catalyzing event back into the story and into the crisis of their relationship.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

it was angsty, but not depressing, and it was sexy and loving without being too happy/schmoopy/romantic

Seriously, that's all I want out of life; to plop a story right there at that crossroads. And I"m glad you liked the review comment stuff--it really was the only way I could think of to bring to the front this idea of value--personal value, self-value, professional value, love, etc. It's very much a story about being valued and who/what you value. Thanks!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thanks! John's "heroism" kind of turns me on and freaks me out at the same time; it kind of obsesses me actually. Some days I think he's the very worst commander in the world, and other moments, I'm all---gah! hero! self-sacrifice! So I guess I'm trying to negotiate that a little for myself!

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

Terrific fic! Loved the progression of their relationship from John just falling into Rodney's lap to the really hot sex (handcuffs!) to the emotions behind Rodney's anger and the final very satisfying resolution. Fantastic. :)

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm thinking about that description--falling into Rodney's lap--and I think I really like it, because it has that sense of unintentionality, and "WTF is this?" and gets at the weirdly capricious nature of their relationship in the first half of the story, especially from Rodney's POV. Thought-provoking feedback, thanks!

[nova-bright.livejournal.com]

mmm....my brain is melty at the moment, so I apologise for the lack of coherency.

I'd just like to say that this was an awesome fic, emotive, and clever, and Rodney was perfect!

Excellent work!
...Now, back to sleep...

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

*Ces tucks you in* Glad you liked it!

[kueble.livejournal.com]

OMG! That was brilliant. You have just made my day.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[reginabellatrix.livejournal.com]

Loved, loved, loved this story. It's too late, and I'm too tried to be much more coherent than that, but know that it made me happy.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

I'm very very HAPPY to hear that it made you happy. Man, that's what fanfic is FOR.

[neery.livejournal.com]

There is a city called GEILENKIRCHEN? *goggles frantically* Oh my God, there is.

(UM, will write you real feedback as soon as I have actually read the story, but for now I had to stop and laugh hysterically for a bit. Because obviously I'm a thirteen-year-old, or something. Geilenkirchen.)

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Yes. And there's really a base there--those are all real Air Force Bases, I looked 'em up!

[grey-bard.livejournal.com]

There's only one thing to say to this story:

Dude! (hug)

I mean, yes, derivative, but completely the most appropriate response.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Dude! *hug*

[wagacca.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, this was just so wonderful! I'm in love with the guys in this. Your John is just right and your Rodney truly is a genius for seeing the dark side of John's bravery. Great fic!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much; and also for following me to the darker sides of John's bravery!

[tovalentin.livejournal.com]

Oh! You always just nail that basic thing in a character that defines him, and you always do it in an original and gobsmacking way. This was wonderful! Thank you!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I wondered if you meant a specific HIM there--but I'll take a general all-purpose compliment! *g* Actually, if there's one thing I learned from fandom, it's that there are lots of takes on the character--some I can see, and some I can't, but most of them reasonable in one way or another! (But I'm glad you like mine! *g*)

[moxie-brown.livejournal.com]

I love Rodney getting peaved on the missions, and John completely thinking Rodney's problem was OMG!gay and not OMG!deathwish. And hurrah for making John a UT-Austin grad. *shakes pompoms* go team!

[moxie-brown.livejournal.com]

Oh! And this quote: Rodney's head thunked back against the wall; his sexuality had always been basically, "Yes, please," or, as he'd sometimes conceptualized it, "No reasonable offer refused."

Totally love it! It's so practical yet utterly slutty. :)

dude!

[meelie.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay! I really loved this, it was great!

Re: dude!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Dude! Thank you so much! *hug*

[madwomanupthere.livejournal.com]

Dude! Excellent. :D

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Dude, you're so welcome! *hug*

Dude!

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

Because of course this fic has more cool lines than you can shake a stick at, including:

"The ZPM," Rodney interrupted. "Your power source. How depleted is it?"

Kartus looked confused. "Which one?"

"Dude!" Rodney said, and hugged him.

Hee!

And of course, your characterization is awesome (how poignant was it that Rodney was all amazed that people had nice things to say about him? jeez), and the action scenes are thrilling (Giant. Fucking. Snakes.), and the sex is hot (the kissing scenes alone--whew! ::fans self::). But, wow, the pacing -- this story just wouldn't let me stop reading it. It felt like falling off the side of a cliff or getting strapped into some wild ride--no way off but through.

Woo Hoo! It was fun! Awesome! Thanks.

wags, springwoof

Re: Dude!

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Dude! *hug*

Seriously, I'm glad you liked the characterization and the action scenes and the sex--and I'm glad the pacing held up. It's maybe even a bit fast, but hey: you know I like the roller coasters, baby!

[renenet.livejournal.com]

I am in my happy place. The really, really good one.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thank you renenet! (And I owe you email--I haven't forgotten!)

[neery.livejournal.com]

I love this story so, so much, and it came at a time where I really desperately needed to read a good, long story in this very fandom. Thank you so very, very much.

I think the thing that got to me most was John's absolute delight at getting to have sex with Rodney: John was cupping Rodney's jaw and leaning in to kiss him, hard and sweet. "God, you're perfect." , which is really evident in all the sex scenes.

I don't know if that was your intention, but I got the feeling that John is very much in love with Rodney here, right from the start, but is a bit afraid that Rodney is only in this for the sex. His willingness to do whatever Rodney wants, "Tell me what you want," John murmured, hot against his face. "I want to make sure you're getting what you--" , and the attempts to distract him and apologize with sex whenever they are having an argument seem a little desperate to me, like he's really afraid of losing Rodney.

I can't even tell you how hot the sex scenes were, all of them - the image of Rodney lying on the sofa on the edge of a blowjob that lasted forever, and the wrestling/sex, and the hadcuffs - guh.

And I loved that Rodney was such a hero in the scene with the Cartum's DHD. That seems to get overlooked in fiction a lot, that Rodney is willing to risk his life for everyone else, quietly and without fuss, if it seems really neccessary, even if he doesn't have John's insane death wish.

And the Mingary made me laugh so much, with the "Dude!" and the hugging.

You made my week. Thank you.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

First of all--thank you! Im so glad you liked it! And I appreciate your comments about the sex and the heroism, because man, if I got that stuff right, I'm rockin. *g*

The other part--I got the feeling that John is very much in love with Rodney here, right from the start, but is a bit afraid that Rodney is only in this for the sex. His willingness to do whatever Rodney wants, "Tell me what you want," John murmured, hot against his face. "I want to make sure you're getting what you--" , and the attempts to distract him and apologize with sex whenever they are having an argument seem a little desperate to me, like he's really afraid of losing Rodney. --well, I obviously have an opinion about this, though I'm reluctant to bring it out, because your interpretation is entirely reasonable and mine is no more valid than yours, now: the words are what they are. But I'll say this much--I'm not so sure it's "love" right from the start, though you're bang-on with the neediness: John is, I think, totally desperate for what Rodney's offering. I just think that Rodney ends up offering more than John was expecting, and that John didn't see it for a while because he wasn't even looking for it. But your interpretation is as good as mine!

[shoemaster.livejournal.com]

Glee. Utter. Glee. I was copying my favorite bits to a friend and ended up saying "just read it before I paste the whole damn thing in here" because I loved it a lot. Rodney reading John's file, John assuming gay! sex! Rodney's worry, John's WTF... it was all GRAND.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Hee--I'm not proud, I love being quotable! ROCK! So very glad it worked for you--so much for flashfiction, but it's nice that the extra K was worth it!