Pure Bodies and Clean Hearts by Speranza (Virgin Challenge)

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Title: Pure Bodies and Clean Hearts (26k)
Author: Speranza
Pairing: McShep
Summary: John gets a do-over.

Thanks to shalott, giddy, and res for beta beyond the call of duty.

Comments

[bibliokat.livejournal.com]

I have to apologize for not commenting the first time round! Someone asked about it on sgastoryfinders so I happily read it again. Made even better with Lim's "Mission Report" playing on repeat in the background;)

I really admire the way you wrote John feeling new. I don't have the words to describe why I love it so much, but I totally do. Especially with the Rodney parallel, which is probably my favorite part.

Rodney hissed softly, and, God, yes, the years had passed while Rodney had been working; the stream of time had dragged Rodney down and battered him against its own sort of rocks, and now it had brought him to John, gasping for breath and brand new.

I also like the idea of Teyla being someone like Artemis's (or another goddess's) virgins. It just fits with the way she sometimes seems to stand apart and above everyone else, untouched and serene. And I adore the image of Ronon chilling by the fire with an amused grin on his face.

Wonderful fic!

Belatedly but very gratefully replying--

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's a weird story, but it worked in my head--in fact, probably the only problem with it is that the first part kind of outweighs the second part: the pairing is really John/Water. *g* But Rodney's got an important part to play, too, even if it's less visually thrilling (I can hear Rodney complaining now, "Great, even John's virginity is more exciting than mine!")