khriskin: (Stargate)
[personal profile] khriskin posting in [community profile] sga_flashfic
TITLE: Sign Language
FANDOM: Stargate Atlantis
LENGTH/RATING: 312 words, PG, Gen
SHIPS/WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: [livejournal.com profile] sga_flashfic Culture Clash challenge.


Customs are never just customs, and Atlantis is awash in tradition. Military, Civilian; Hard Science, Soft Science; Russian, Australian, Japanese; Native, Exiles... There are layers over layers, until even the simplest infraction has them snapping and snarling over the breakwaters.

It's Ronon who cuts through the arguments to point out the obvious. There are too many cultures here, too many hidden edges that they stumble into on an almost daily basis. With every thing stretched so tight, so thin, it doesn't take much to send them screaming at each other across tables or benches or gate rooms. The city is deluged in a hundred versions of 'But I didn't do anything!' and it’s tearing them apart.

If they had time for classes, Elizabeth would run them -- guiding everyone through the maze of coral and shale of how close is too close to stand, how often you need to meet someone's eyes, how a gift is a gift is a gift and each one requires a different reply -- but they don’t.

Instead she pulls in the sociologists and anthropologists, and gives them the task of creating a hand signal that means 'please stop; cultural violation.' Only they can’t use something that might be insulting and the number of existing insulting hand signals is awe-inspiring. Still, something is cobbled together that's quick and easy to understand. It’s not ‘talk to the hand’ so much as ‘talk to the heart’ and she puts it into use immediately.

Tempers cool, somewhat, and it’s enough for now. Another patch on a leaking hull, but all they have to do is weather the storms a bit longer. When they have time, she'll fix it.


And later, when Woosley asks in confused tones why people keep flashing him what he's assuming are some sort of gang signs, Elizabeth realizes the patches have become part of the hull.


_______________________________

"STARGATE ATLANTIS", "STARGATE SG1" and other related entities are owned, (TM) and © by MGM TELEVISION and DOUBLE SECRET PRODUCTION in association with GEKKO FILMS and THE SCIFI CHANNEL. All rights reserved. No copyright infringement is intended nor implied.
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(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 07:47 pm (UTC)
ext_2180: laurel leaf (a for atlantis // sga)
From: [identity profile] loriel-eris.livejournal.com
The cultural aspects (of both canon and fic) don't usually appeal to me, but I adored this. I think it was the last line of the story which did it for me - over the years, they've gone from a hundred different cultures to Atlantis-as-home, with a culture of its own and just... *flails*

(no subject)

Date: 2008-01-01 12:51 am (UTC)
ext_2180: laurel leaf (a for atlantis // sga)
From: [identity profile] loriel-eris.livejournal.com
When cultural turns into world building/making Atlantis home? I'm totally there! World building of any description will just about guarantee I read said fic. *g*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 07:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jennytork.livejournal.com
I really enjoyed this one! Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 08:13 pm (UTC)
rhianona: (Chiana)
From: [personal profile] rhianona
I like this idea; it is very Elizabeth.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 08:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] allyndra.livejournal.com
I love the very concept of this so much! YES, there would be cultural problems on the expedition, and of course there wouldn't be time to deal with them all. It's great that you made Ronon the one who pointed out the problem. And the last line? Killed me. Beautiful!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] audreyscastle.livejournal.com
That's just lovely! I love the culture clash on Atlantis, and this just made me smile.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 08:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyoflisquill.livejournal.com
This is beautiful! I always find I have a soft spot in my heart for any Elizabeth inspired loveliness and this is a perfect example.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cat-77.livejournal.com
I really liked this. It's one of those things you don't see on the show, but know totally happens. Also: Woolsey and the gang signs - hee!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 09:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] soapbox-solo38.livejournal.com
Still love it. ^^

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-31 09:25 pm (UTC)
leesa_perrie: two cheetahs facing camera and cuddling (Sexy Czech)
From: [personal profile] leesa_perrie
I thought this was very good - especially the last paragraph with a confused Woolsey!!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-01-01 12:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] burntcopper.livejournal.com
oh, brilliant - considering the sheer 'eeeep' my country has with *everyone else's* version of 'two', I *so* heart this.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-01-02 12:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] burntcopper.livejournal.com
I'm British. First two fingers up, palm towards the person making the gesture means 'I can still shoot my longbow at you' (basically 'screw you') and of course every other culture around the world just uses it as 'two', not seeing any difference between that and the palm out version. Cue offense and/or swallows and nervous giggling from the Brits on a regular basis.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-01-01 05:38 am (UTC)
ext_975: photo of a woof (Default)
From: [identity profile] springwoof.livejournal.com
nice touch of worldbuilding there! I love poor, confused Woolsey...

(no subject)

Date: 2008-01-01 05:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnine.livejournal.com
I really adored this! I always am wanting more anthro/soc stuff in Atlantis, being immensely interested in it myself, and this just touched beautifully on on e of the many issues/questions I think would come up within the unique society that formed on Atlantis. Much love for this, and the last line is especially beautiful!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-01-02 05:12 am (UTC)
ext_1038: (i have a silly hat)
From: [identity profile] rainbow.livejournal.com
oh i LOVE this!

it would be lovely if most of the world would learn that sign, huh? maybe if we all use it all the time, it would catch on?

but poor woolsey and his gang signs! ahahahahaha!

nicely done

Date: 2008-01-19 08:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kormantic.livejournal.com
Thank you.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-06-21 10:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hajimebassaidai.livejournal.com
All the different cultures becoming the Atlantis culture is lovely.

One of the things that attracted me to this fandom was the multi-national aspect.

Someone apart from those from the USA gets to save the day? Hooray! Just the Saltire on Carson's sleeve I took as a very good sign! Sadly the amount of non-English spoken was reduced over time but at least Radek kept having outbursts of Czech!

The audience is intelligent, thank you! If we want to know what he actually said we are capable of looking it up!

A nice commentary on how all those different perspectives would have to learn to work together.

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