Fic: Tongues of Men and Angels (McKay/Sheppard, PG13)

[sgasesa-admin.livejournal.com]

Title: Tongues of Men and Angels
Author: mad_maudlin
Recipient: ca_pierson
Pairing: John/Rodney, OC/OC (sorta), implied past John/Nancy (sorta)
Length: 58,428
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: SG-1 themed AU; original characters; whump
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never mine. ::poke poke::
Author's Notes: All hail L, queen of betas, long may she reign. This longassed thing is the result of National Novel Writing Month, unemployment, and my recip's request for plot. CA, this is probably more plot that you actually wanted, but I hope it meets your expectations. The title is from First Corinthians 13, a chapter better known for its ruminations on faith, hope and love.
Summary: When SG-4 is ambushed offworld, an injured Major John Sheppard must put his trust in a Tok'ra agent named McKay to survive. But what secrets is McKay keeping about his mission, the planet, and his own motives for helping John?


( Tongues of Men and Angels )

Comments

[mad_maudlin]

Thanks! The dream sequences were important because I couldn't think of any other way to get John to talk about himself. :-) There was also a conversation that I ended up cutting, in which John points out that he would never have chosen Kharoush even to save both their lives, but it turned very, very depressing.

[mad_maudlin]

Thanks! I knew from the outset that a story about John Sheppard becoming a Tok'ra couldn't ever be short, but I was a little surprised at how long it ended up.

[mad_maudlin]

Thank you! I was a little uncertain about how much Tanys and Kharoush to include, since I didn't want to overshadow John and Rodney's relationship, and I know some people react badly to OCs. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall, though!

[mad_maudlin]

Thanks! ::takes a bow::

[retrofit88.livejournal.com]

Great story! Good pacing, plot, characterization. Thanks!

[mad_maudlin]

Thank you!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Pre-quel! Pre-quel! Pre-quel!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Wait. Where's the review I typed several days ago? Dammit, it didn't post.

Gripping plot. I could not put it down. The slow reveal that John had a symbiote was excellent -- as well as the listing of the sheer damage to John's body. Wow, he would not have survived. "Just how many pieces was I in?" The gentle way Kharoush revealed himself made me believe that John would accept him and that's nothing short of incredible, because this is John Sheppard, Mr. Independent. No way does he want a full-time copilot in his body. But K's genuine respect and liking for John makes all the difference. I like that. I like that it wasn't just circumstance but that the symbiotes work to bond with and get to know their hosts. It's a relationship after all that they have vested interest in making it work.

I enjoyed it thoroughly, recc'd it, and have joined the crowd calling for a pre-quel.

Though honestly, a sequel is more what I have in mind. :)

[mad_maudlin]

Gah, I have too many other fics to finish! ::flails::

And my original summary for this fic totally gave away Kharoush up front, but linnet_melody pointed out to me that it was kind of a spoiler. :-) I've always been interested in the host-symbiote dynamic, which SG1 never seemed interested in exploring in much depth, and from the beginning I knew this story was going to be about two, if not three different romances--John/Rodney, John + Kharoush, and even John + Tanys all had to be addressed. And I kind of worried that the OT4 quality would put people off, but obviously, it hasn't...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

We don't really think of it as OT4 because they're symbiotes, and therefore ... symbiotic. (dodges the thrown trout)

[skeddy-kat.livejournal.com]

I have no good words to tell you how much I loved this. Even though this wasn't a present for me, I feel like I just had Christmas all over!

[mad_maudlin]

Thanks! Novel-length fics always feel like a Christmas present to me. :-)

[danceswithgary]

This just went into my 'will re-read often, likely every other week' folder. Wonderful!

[mad_maudlin]

Thank you! (Do you have enough hours in the week to keep rereading this crazy long thing?)

[danceswithgary]

That would be the only good thing about insomnia and permanent disability - I get to read A LOT. :-)

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

This was an amazing, plotty, action-filled story and I loved it! Thanks for this wonderful might-have-been!

[mad_maudlin]

Thank you! :-)

[pionie.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this so much. It was like a lovely, plotty AU episode and I loved John coming to terms with his symbiote. A great read.

[mad_maudlin]

Thanks! I worried a lot about balancing the plot and character stuff.

[sherry57.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! What a great story. You kept the characters of Sheppard and Mackay so exactly. The relationship and friendship that you built was absolutely spot on and I could hear their voices as they spoke. I could imagine every gesture and facial expression. The whump and care was really good and I loved how even Kharoush appreciated John's humour and understood his character - you also developed this understanding and relationship really, really well.
Thanks for a super, fantastic read. A story definitely to be book-marked for re-reading. Thanks again.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

Finally had a moment to read this awesome story -- so, so well done! I love your AU concept, and you hit every right note with these characters! My top compliment that I can give is "this is *smart*", and your story is damned smart.

[joya oscura (from livejournal.com)]

A very interesting and unique fic. I loved the slow built up between both John & Rodney and John & Kharoush.

U got to ask though, is there any chance of a sequel in which we learn how Rodney's visit with his sister went? I am curious about what her reaction would be to finding out that her nrother is a Tok'ra (assuming she has a high enough clearance to know that.)