14valentines Day 7: SGA recs
Today's 14valentines theme is sexual assault.

Eep! Sliding in under the wire with this one. I spent a couple hours this evening frantically reading fics to try and find the last few for this set (which is why the last ones are all really short - no time to go through longer fics!).

The Epistolary Romance of Drs. Katie P. Brown and M. Rodney McKay, with a Dinner Date by linabean 5/5 Recommended
17,000 words. Rodney and Katie's first date and the emails that followed.

This starts off with Katie and Rodney's first (non-Cadman) date and then follows their email interactions after that, ending with her giving him the prickly cactus. It's well-written, with Rodney feeling spot-on and Katie feeling both IC and a little better fleshed-out than we're given in canon. This is one of those stories that fits so perfectly with canon you really can't believe it isn't.

Athosian For Beginners by trinityofone 4/5 Recommended
11,000 words. When the Pegasus translation network goes down, Teyla and Ronon are left unable to communicate with the others.

I liked this. It's an interesting idea and an enjoyable story for sure. I just wish I could have fully disconnected from the reality of canon in order to enjoy it fully, because as an attempt to explain why everyone can all understand each other, it doesn't actually work at all. But it's not really AU enough to just take as it is.

I did like the idea that Teyla's lack of contractions is due to the translation program, and that she actually hears everyone else talk that way, too, and hears herself speak normally. But of course that doesn't work in the show as Ronon doesn't speak stilted like that, nor do any (or at least most) of the other people they meet in the Pegasus galaxy.

And if there is a translation program, why doesn't it translate Czech? (She actually has Rodney modify it in this to make it translate Earth languages, but it's ridiculous to think that somehow it would only translate English in the first place.) Or why in the original film can they not understand the people Daniel and Jack meet? (And I think there are some times in SG-1 where this happens, too? Though I have not really watched the show to know.) Why doesn't it translate Ancient, for that matter?

I don't know that there really is a way to explain the language situation and have it make sense, so it's probably better to just not think about it... Or at least in this case. Maybe someone else could come up with a better explanation, but this definitely fails on that level. (Which is probably not what she was actually trying to do, just tell a story, but it is still bothersome to me, even though I liked the story itself.)

A Strong Tea by shetiger 5/5 Recommended
900 words. Charin had made certain Teyla would always remember this recipe, even if it made the lines around her eyes draw into tight furrows of sorrow each time Teyla repeated the words.

I really liked this. I was totally surprised by the ending, not in a wtf way, but in a "oh, it all makes sense now" way. Though I admit, I know it's not the point of the story, but I'm really curious as to who the father was! Some random Athosian like in canon? Some random guy from Atlantis? Though if it were either of those, you'd think she'd have mentioned them. So one of the team? I didn't get a sense that it was anyone she mentioned. So curious! XD

Diving Through the Universe by briar_pipe 4/5 Recommended
1600 words. Miko finds a device that sends her to a new universe each time she tilts it.

The idea isn't all that unique and the story doesn't really do anything new, but I really liked the execution. It's written so you almost feel like you're right there with Miko, confused and off-balance, and it slowly begins to make sense and then you're back home at the end.

Reassembling by wojelah 4/5 Recommended
1100 words. Teyla has never flinched from life; she has never been given that option.

This is all the Teyla POV on her pregnancy that we don't get in the show and it fits in perfectly. I really liked John's awkward comfort at the end, too.

Noble Form by bluflamingo 4/5 Recommended
2500 words. Teyla/Sora. Teyla runs into a familiar face on an off-world trip.

I really hate seeing Teyla's last name misspelled, and it put me off a bit, but I've read other stuff by this author and like them, so I was able to ignore it, and I'm glad I did, because it's a good story. I did leave a note about the name, so hopefully that will be fixed.

Anyway, I liked the way their backstory interwoven with the present. I kind of wish Sora hadn't stayed on Atlantis, because I think I would have liked this even better as something that could fit with canon rather than an AU, but still it's good.

In Technicolor by raisintorte 4/5 Recommended
1000 words. Jennifer felt like Audrey Hepburn in a black and white movie.

This is a missing scene from Outcast and it fits in just right with canon. It's totally adorable and OMG I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH. ♥