The taste of whelks by almost_clara (Back story challenge)

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Title: The taste of whelks
Author/artist: almost_clara
Rating: PG-13
Characters: McKay/Sheppard
Summary: Taste and memory









It's the taste that does it. And probably the sound of the waves, muffled by familiarity, it's true but part of the texture of Atlantis-home.

Almost-whelks.

There's a small, rubbery morsel lodged in Mckay's molar and the taste -

Mo ... Stubbs(?). Blinding smile, (bad teeth) bushy brown hair, raucous laugh, bright scarlet lipstick (to match her toes) and, yes, he'd seen that one coming.

"A day at the seaside," Dabney had said. "Sun, sea, girls!" he'd said, waggling his eyebrows and warming to his theme. It was, he'd explained, an un-missable opportunity to soak up the culture of this historic island that was their temporary home. And the girls. Wondrous creatures: parading in all their summer finery on this one gloriously sunny day - the only one, probably, that this miserable, dank, drizzly climate allowed them each year. The girls! All peep-toe sandals and bright dresses and fragrant suntan lotion! (They did have suntan lotion in the UK - right?)

Sheppard had gazed down upon paradise the previous day (just passing through, you understand, following his flight plan) and wished to view it at close quarters: grass, sheep, hills, large stretches of pretty water. Too late for the host of golden daffodils, but still ...

"There might even be surf!" Again, the eyebrow waggling. This time with crossed eyes.

Blackpool it was then.

There wasn't any surf but the sunshine was glorious and the girls were pretty and there was pink rock that stuck to your teeth and deafening amusement arcades and candyfloss and the smell of seafood and vinegar and – "Chips love, we call 'em chips here. Have you ever had a deep-fried Mars Bar?" Mo, with an accent that almost required subtitles. "Hey, d'you want to come on the Big Dipper? Come on, it'll be a right laugh."

Hand seized in a surprisingly firm grip, he found himself crushed against Mo on the wooden seat, shrieking and wriggling as they rode the dips and curves. "Give us a kiss, love!" The rollercoaster swung round and the scarlet lips descended and - the flavour of whelks. And laughter.

"Am I boring you?"

There's a distinctly hostile glint appearing in those eyes. Sheppard thinks fast. "Have you ever had a deep-fried Mars Bar?"

"What?"

"Never mind." And sets to with a smile, rejoicing in the warmth and the strength and the taste of whelks.

Comments

[alizarin-nyc.livejournal.com]

Wow, gorgeous.

I can't stop staring at the picture... and the memory is wonderfully drawn.

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm so glad you like it - it was great fun to draw (and write...).

[terribilita.livejournal.com]

The art is beautiful! Rodney's hand on the curve of John's ass! *flail* The story is great too and of course Rodney would ask that because hello, it should be impossible to get distracted while kissing him. *g*

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I did enjoy the drawing ... and I think John's best stategy is to keep distracting Rodney at this point ...

[ladyflowdi.livejournal.com]

Absolutely stunning, OMG. Thank you so much for sharing -- that is so, so beautiful.

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you - that's very kind of you. It was fun to draw - and write.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. Truly beautiful.

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's very kind.

[ceitie.livejournal.com]

The picture's gorgeous, especially the way John's clutching Rodney's hand. And the memory's so vivid. Awesome work.

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm so glad you like it. I had great fun with it.

[foxxcub.livejournal.com]

This was so lovely, and I love the different shades of blues you used. Gorgeous work all around!

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I had a lot of fun with the colour scheme. I'm so happy you like it.

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

Pretty pretty! *pets it all*

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
:)

[nataliadarimini.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is just gorgeous. Thank you.

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you - so glad you liked it!

[seratonation.livejournal.com]

The picture is gorgouse! and the memorie is nice, cute XD I have heard if deep fired mars bars but I've never tasted one, I really want to now...

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (You should know that deep-fried mars bars are very, very bad for you ...)
:)

[seratonation.livejournal.com]

yes, yes i am very aware of how bad they are, i mean the name it self just makes it sound so sweet and greasy and melty and mmmm, lol :D

Lovely!

[tpod.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite poses with two of my favorite boys. I love the feeling of calm that the watercolors convey.

Re: Lovely!

[tpod.livejournal.com]

Rats, I hit send too soon. Also: the snippet is incredibly sweet.

Even if it's seafood-flavored. Ew. ;oP

Re: Lovely!

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (Seafood is very good for you - though I have only ever watched whelks being eaten, I have to admit... I think they're the ones you have to eat with a silver pin.)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Great! (Ah, the lengths we non-Americans will go to in order to transport our heroes to the UK... not that I'm English and you may well be American, but still, *g*).

I just love the word and idea of the whelk. And the unfussedness of this.

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Sorry it's taken so long to reply to your very kind comment - life turned a little frantic recently...

Hee - yes well, I did try to think of an American equivalent but it made my head hurt. So I stopped. And, well, really. Whelks. The word calls to you in the same way as Neasden or elastoplast ... :)