[identity profile] neonhummingbird.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] sga_flashfic
Title: Playground of the Mind
Author: Perri Smith [livejournal.com profile] neonhummingbird
Pairing: none
Rating: PG
Warnings: Silliness. Rampant silliness.
Spoilers: "Hide and Seek" and "Sanctuary"

~27 minutes to write, 9 minutes to edit. A little more to format, but I'm not counting that. And another minute to remember the frelling cut tag. :P Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] butterflykiki for the lightning beta. My first Flashfic, probably not my last, god(dess) help you all.

*****

When Elizabeth Weir had taken on the job of leading Atlantis, she'd had visions of daring voyages and great discoveries. Like minds meeting to determine a bright new future for Atlantis and for Earth.

Never had she anticipated reaching the great city of the Ancients with a group of 12-year-olds.

Rodney and John are the worst of the bunch, of course, with their endless sniping and arguing, and occasionally throwing each other off of balconies and exclaiming how cool it was. But every single scientist -- and not a few of the military personnel -- has their moments.

She sits in staff meetings sometimes and mentally translates their dialogue from ersatz adult back to the actual age group -- unprofessional, but it certainly makes the tedious parts of the meetings pass more quickly.

"So if you would let me finish a sentence, I was trying to tell Elizabeth--" Stop interrupting me, I'm trying to talk. Mom! Make him stop interrupting me!

"You're always trying to talk, Rodney; if we didn't interrupt, we'd never get to say anything. " Rodney's on my side of the conference table!

"As I was saying! If we'd been allowed to remain longer on P3X-794, we might have been able to truly understand what the Ancient technology was used for!" John made me come home before I was ready, and if you really loved me, you'd let me go back!

"And we could have truly gotten our butts kicked by the locals while you were busy pushing buttons." They started it, I had to shoot them!

"If we went back, we could take them in a direct assault, sir. We have them heavily out-gunned." Let me blow something up! I want to blow something up, pleeeease!

"They were merely trying to protect their territory, Lieutenant. I hardly think they deserve to be killed for that." No translation necessary for Teyla. Thank god for the presence of one adult, or the other three would probably have managed to destroy the universe by now.

"If we were able to bring device back to Atlantis, we could study at our leisure. It would take less time, less trouble, perhaps?" I want a new toy! I'm the good child, and I should be rewarded with a new toy!

"... Maybe. But we'd have to go fast. No time for sightseeing." I don't wanna. It's not a new toy for me, I won't get to fly or do anything fun, so I don't wanna.

"Oh, so you'll listen when Radek suggests it, but I get ignored?" Mom, nobody's paying any attention to me! Mo-om!

"Dr. Weir? What do you think? Dr. Weir?"

She shakes herself from her thoughts and finds the other five looking at her, waiting for a response. She's horrified to discover she's smiling slightly, and hides it quickly. "I, ah... it's a risk. Rodney, how certain are you that the device will actually prove useful?"

He crosses his arms. "Well, no, I can't be certain, no, as Major Sheppard didn't allow me time to do, well, anything!" John keeps spoiling my fun! Spoilsport! "But I'm sure you'll agree that we can't afford to cavalierly dismiss any Ancient device without study." You like me more than you like John, right? Right?

"Maybe if you 'cavalierly dismissed' more devices instead of having to play with every single one, I wouldn't have to be constantly hauling your ass out of trouble, or shooting our way through an entire planet!" He's always starting everything, it's always his fault! Sheppard smiles smugly in her direction. "As I'm sure Dr. Weir would also agree." And she likes me better.

"Oh, because *I'm* the one who let the Ancient chick pull him around by the--"

"Gentlemen!" Sometimes, even the best defense mechanisms can be pushed too far. Elizabeth takes a deep breath, and stares down the pair. "Major Sheppard. Please put together a mission plan and try to find a way to retrieve the device with the smallest possible risk." He starts to protest and she holds up her hand. "If I agree that the risk is still too great, we will have to abandon it." McKay's turn to look affronted. She silenced him with another glare. "Now, we have several other things to cover, so let's move on."

McKay sulks (You never let me do anything fun!) and Sheppard rolls his eyes (Whatever. I don't have to do what you tell me unless I want to.). Ford and Zelenka exchange sideways glances and slide down slightly in their chairs in hopes of being ignored. Teyla smiles her calm smile and lays her head to the side, waiting for the next topic of discussion.

Elizabeth sighs, composes her thoughts, reminds herself that she is surrounded by the best and the brightest adults on Earth -- and resists the urge to reach across the table and comb her military commander's hair flat.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] minotaurs.livejournal.com
Oh, that was hysterical - I'll totally be translating them into petulant-kidspeak from now on!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kelliem.livejournal.com
ROFL

This is so dead on target. Seriously. I am literally giggling out loud.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ms-smooth.livejournal.com
Gods, poor Elizabeth. I don't think she went all the way to the Pegasus galaxy to play "Mom" to them all. *giggles* That's so great, from the translations to the smile she hides, to wanting to comb John's hair.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] teaphile.livejournal.com
I love it. So true.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:36 am (UTC)
aithine: (McShep evidence)
From: [personal profile] aithine
Snerk. *g*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:41 am (UTC)
cofax7: climbing on an abbey wall  (Default)
From: [personal profile] cofax7
Oh, heee!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 05:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tigs.livejournal.com
Ha! That was absolutely classic. You had me in a constant state of giggles from Mom! Make him stop interrupting me! on. Heck, I'm still giggling. Loved this.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 05:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] giddygeek.livejournal.com
Hee, that was adorable. Thanks for sharing it!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 05:27 am (UTC)
astolat: sga: john dreams of terrorizing large portions of the civilized world with desperately earnest songs of heartbreak.  (atlantis desperately earnest)
From: [personal profile] astolat
and resists the urge to reach across the table and comb her military commander's hair flat.

hee hee hee! (to all of it, but especially that!)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 05:44 am (UTC)
celli: a woman and a man holding hands, captioned "i treasure" (laugh)
From: [personal profile] celli
*laughing out loud*

Moooooooooooooooooooooooooom!

*giggles some more*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 07:03 am (UTC)
fenris_wolf0: So innocent it hurts! (Default)
From: [personal profile] fenris_wolf0
Yes, yes, yes! It's great to see that I am not imagining things and that this is what they do sound like!

Thank you, this was right on the money. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 08:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] krabbypatty.livejournal.com
Hee, that was a great, fun fic. Loved it.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 09:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cold-poet.livejournal.com
OH my God. I'm dying.

I am suffering the worst bout of insomnia tonight, and it is so worth it for this!

Funniest thing I've read (except mayeb the Spam/sperm mixup LOL)

Elizabeth sighs, composes her thoughts, reminds herself that she is surrounded by the best and the brightest adults on Earth -- and resists the urge to reach across the table and comb her military commander's hair flat.

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! *g*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 12:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] farwing.livejournal.com
I could not stop grinning. This is so spot on.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 01:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] terrie01.livejournal.com
Ha! I'm glad to see a nice Weir fic. She gets ignored too often.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 01:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dominik.livejournal.com
Oh god *dies from laughter* Absolutely perfect, dead on and hysterical!

and ps: icon love!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 01:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elvinborn.livejournal.com
*giggles*
too fun. they're just begging to be translated into kidspeak. I can just see Weir doing this to get through meetings. it's classic :)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 02:27 pm (UTC)
reginagiraffe: Stick figure of me with long wavy hair and giraffe on shirt. (Default)
From: [personal profile] reginagiraffe
God, if they ever did an ep where they're all turned into kids? YOU'D NEVER KNOW!

Brilliant! *g*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 02:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zortified.livejournal.com
Bwahahahaha! So, so true.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 02:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] burntcopper.livejournal.com
I want a new toy! I'm the good child, and I should be rewarded with a new toy! Yes, Zelenka. you are the good child, but you still need a haircut. (I will admit to occasionally wanting to spit on a hanky and rub smudges off his face)

Let me blow something up! I want to blow something up, pleeeease! Later, Ford, after you've eaten all your greens.

:g: *so* fabulous.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 03:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elishavah.livejournal.com
Heehee. Yeah, that sounds about right.

I don't know why, out of all of that, but Ford's line made me laugh out loud.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adelynne.livejournal.com
*tries to not giggle while people are watching TV. Fails miserably.* Oh, so great!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 04:30 pm (UTC)
ext_11908: (mckay south park)
From: [identity profile] daughtershade.livejournal.com
*snicker* Okay there needs to be a subtitle kidspeak option on the DVDs when they come out. Seriously. Hee! Wonderfully funny.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 05:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] moonlettuce.livejournal.com
lol! That is So. Damn. True. *grin*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 06:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tafkarfanfic.livejournal.com
Oh, that's ADORABLE. Especially:

Let me blow something up! I want to blow something up, pleeeease!

It was like inner monologue, only not quite. That was fun!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 06:44 pm (UTC)
ext_25621: (Default)
From: [identity profile] 4ensicbones.livejournal.com
Bwhahahaha! /dies from the funniness/

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-10 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jenlev.livejournal.com
bwahaha! poor elizabeth. and she's smart, insightful, and completely right. *veg*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-11 12:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ltlj.livejournal.com
LOL, that was excellent!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-11 06:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nestra.livejournal.com
Oh, my. Poor Weir. This was very funny and alarmingly accurate.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-11 07:49 pm (UTC)
tinny: Something Else holding up its colorful drawing - "be different" (sga_sheppard need you now)
From: [personal profile] tinny
OMG, it's so obvious!

The weird thing is, I've often wondered (in canon) if Weir's on drugs or actually listening to what people say. She never actually makes a decision or takes anything around her seriously. This explains sooo much! :)

The last sentence gave it a wonderful turn.



Great story

Date: 2005-04-12 12:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] woodstock12.livejournal.com
This was a wonderful story. I
can see Elizabeth doing that.
I think any sane person would do
that just so the bickering wouldn't
drive them crazy. I would have started
to doodle myself.
The very last line:
and resists the urge to reach across the table and comb her military commander's hair flat.:
was a purfect ender to a great story




(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-12 01:00 am (UTC)
ext_21473: (Default)
From: [identity profile] neverbelonged.livejournal.com
LOL! O jeez that was so funny!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-04-16 12:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ship-recs.livejournal.com
hehe, cute.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-08-23 08:57 pm (UTC)
ext_1611: Isis statue (weir)
From: [identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com
Followed a rec from [livejournal.com profile] daughtershade - oh, how true it is. Poor Mom.

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