SGA...10 Years Later, fest: Pairings!

[melagan.livejournal.com]

And we're off!

There are multiple communities that have joined in the fest, lot of places to post fic, art, etc. I thought it would be fun to have a few discussions here.

Today it's pairings. At the beginning I read every slash pairing, and damn near every story I could get my hands on. The early days of fandom I spent glued to my computer screen. My best icon didn't say SGA Porn Floozy for nothing.




John/Rodney was always a favorite and at some point I realized my fondness had turned into love and they became my One True Pairing. How does one know when this happens? Ha! I have an answer! I was reading a John/Ronon story by Bone (who writes such hot sex scenes the Sun breaks out in a sweat). By the time I finished reading about John with someone that wasn't Rodney my stomach felt queasy. Now, this is not the kind of reaction anyone in their right mind should ever have to one of Bone's stories.

I didn't need an intervention to realize I had lost my heart and mind to McShep and that's where it's been ever since.

Now tell us your favorite(s).

Apologies in advance if I don't respond right away, my internet keeps blinking out on me. Doesn't it know it's Fest time?

Comments

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

*grins*

I'd been reading SG fanfic but hadn't yet wandered into slash territory. A friend used to send me snippets of stories to whet my appetite but for some reason, some of the stories she sent seemed to end rather abruptly. I finally asked for the link and she went all waffley on me, saying that I 'couldn't handle it.'

Well, of course, that made me look up the story on my own. I remember it was by Huntress and featured Rodney and a pregnant Athosian woman stuck in the transporter and he had to deliver the baby. After that, I read every slash pairing I could lay my hands on--but I kept circling back to Rodney and John because nothing else was quite the same. When I learned the meaning of OTP, I knew I had it *bad*. :-)

[melagan.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad your friend led you to SGA and John/Rodney but oh my goodness, what a tease!

[resqueln.livejournal.com]

I committed the cardinal sin of reading fic for SGA before I ever saw the show ('A Beautiful Lifetime Event' by astolat). I didn't see the show until a few years later, and I loved it. :D

It was a little jarring at first. I have to confess that I could not for the life of me see the McShep in my first watch through. They struck me as friends, but I wasn't getting anything more.

I read any and all pairings for a while without really feeling it.
It wasn't until I rewatched the series that it whacked me between the eyes. Then I set about devouring all the McShep fic I could find. :)

[melagan.livejournal.com]

It wasn't until I rewatched the series that it whacked me between the eyes

I know the feeling. Although it got me good the first time around.

[gottalovev.livejournal.com]

ah! I had the exact same intro to SGA myself... that fic in particular first, but then more fic (almost all McShep, because I have a type in pairings and they fit it), until years later I tried the show itself.

When I watched I did see the McShep first time around, though, but maybe i was looking for it. I though what was on screen was very convincing, anyhoo.

[admiralandrea.livejournal.com]

I only started watching SGA because I was home sick and bored - I'd always refused to watch it before because I hated McKay in SG1 - even though I knew that John Sheppard was bound to be my type based on his looks alone.

I read some lovely John/Carson early on by Waldo, but Rodney grew on me gradually, starting by grudging appreciation for DH's acting.

Now, I'm basically a John!hor as I knew I would be, though I do prefer slash to het still and I like John-centric gen as well.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

There are some really lovely stories of different pairings out there. I will always love the show for the richness of it's fanfic (among many other things)

Ah, McKay. A strongly drawn character indeed. While I'm a McKay girl through and through - I do understand, how for some, it can take time to warm up to him :)

[angelus2hot]

My first viewing of Stargate Altantis was in April 2012. I literally mainlined all of the seasons. It was as if a damn had exploded. I've written/read Carson/Rodney, John/Rodney, John/Elizabeth, John/Carson John/Ronon, John/Cam... And as much as I adore John/Ronon, John/Cam(and I'm not going to lie I'm leaning heavy on the adoration of John/Rodney. How could I not? The Powers that be practically fed it to us with a spoon. Some of those scenes just... GUH!) It finally dawned on me that I'm more of a lover of John. As long as it's John I'm pretty much a happy camper.


By the way I love the porn floozy icon!

[melagan.livejournal.com]

As long as it's John I'm pretty much a happy camper.

Oh John

[esteefee]

The show hooked me good when I started watching it; unfortunately, I only started watching it late in the game (2008), when the fandom was already established, so I didn't stand much of a chance in deciding what pairing I preferred, because what I saw onscreen? Was John/Ronon all the way. But there just wasn't enough fic out there to feed my craving except for Bone's amazing stuff and a few other tidbits. So I bowed to the inevitable.

Still, I came to really fall in love with John/Rodney as time went on, but in the variety of ways I perceive the pairing, not necessarily as fanon seems to try to box them, or like they are in canon, but somewhere in between. It's an interesting line to play with.

And I continue to adore and write John/Ronon, and other pairings, and gen, because the thing I absolutely love about SGA is the plethora of amazing characters it provides. There is absolutely no other fandom like it. <3 <3 <3

[melagan.livejournal.com]

McShep was pretty hot and heavy there for awhile. I can see how it could be overwhelming stepping into the middle of it. That said, I think you do a wonderful job writing a variety of pairings.

[selenic76.livejournal.com]

And I continue to adore and write John/Ronon, and other pairings, and gen, because the thing I absolutely love about SGA is the plethora of amazing characters it provides. There is absolutely no other fandom like it. <3 <3 <3

This is so true! There's so many characters to love, so many possible pairings, and so much room for lovely gen too!

I came to the fandom via Carson/Rodney, though John/Rodney soon stole my heart. But after spending some time in the fandom, and being influenced by the people there, I began to see the potential in other pairings too :) McShep will always be my OTP, but I love that I can now enjoy reading others too, and even some gen, or even the occasional femslash! I've also written a few things with other pairings ^_^

[busaikko]

For me, it's John Sheppard with pretty much anyone. Team OT4, OT3 (John/Jennifer/Rodney), John/Cam, John/Ronon, John/Rodney, John/Nancy, John/Richard, John/Parrish... um, I'd probably write John/rock if I had a prompt for it. John just really works for me.

[wiley-nilly.livejournal.com]

Me, too. I'm even fond of gen John...

[hoktauri]

Heh, I totally agree, and now I want to prompt you John/rock fic. XD

[tdancinghands.livejournal.com]

Well somebody had better speak up here for the love of geeks, and I guess that's me. I've always had a thing for tertiary characters, and Radek Zelenka owned my heart the minute I saw his lengthy Czech speech in Letters from Pegasus. It was in Hot Zone that I got my first hint of *my* OTP, McKay/Zelenka. Soon after that I stumbled into Mice's exellent Beckett/McKay stories, and she really sold me on that pairing, as well as introducing me to the geekly joy that is the Beckett/McKay Zelenka threesom. These characters completely ate my fic writing brain for the next 6 years, and compelled me to actually move to the Czech Republic. Now I can almost understand all of Radek's speech in 'Letters'.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

...the love of geeks *raises hand* A thousand times yes!

[popkin16]

I had two separate friends trying to get me into SGA. I asked a friend to make me a rec list so I'd have somewhere to start once I finally started the show, and she rec'd me McShep. I tried reading one - "Interesections" by Kaneko, actually - but since I hadn't yet seen the episode, I was lost. So once I started, I was already on the lookout for McShep, and was very pleased by what the show gave me :P

I was reading a John/Ronon story by Bone... By the time I finished reading about John with someone that wasn't Rodney my stomach felt queasy.
This is exactly how I feel when I try to read the boys with others. Plus I feel this very intense sense of unhappiness. It makes me feel ridiculous, but I just can't read them with others.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Plus I feel this very intense sense of unhappiness. It makes me feel ridiculous, but I just can't read them with others.

Yes, me too. And it seems to be getting worse. I am glad that I read so many pairings early on. If it weren't for John and Rodney, I'd never have tried writing. You know, they have a lot to answer for. ;)

[gottalovev.livejournal.com]

as I said above, I started by fic because friends or authors I liked wrote it. And they wrote McShep, so that's what I read. And I was completely hooked, real fast. Saw the show a long while later, and it just confirmed it!

I've always loved the snarky asshole with the quiet strong type, though. All of my pairings generally go that way.

in SGA, I've tried to read different pairings, but it never hooked me. So I always came back to the boys. And it was a joy.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

the snarky asshole with the quiet strong type

Like you, this combination really appeals to me. Toss in the genius/geek aspect and you've got everything I love in one package.

...I always come back to the boys Ain't that the truth. *shoulderbump*

[selenic76.livejournal.com]

I started of by reading Rodney/Carson, which seems sort of incomprehensible now that my heart is lost to McShep :) John and Rodney will forever be my OTP, but I do love reading other pairings when they strike my fancy :) The show offers such a wonderful variety of lovable characters, that it makes the pairings so interesting to play with ^_^

I've read John/Rodney, Carson/Rodney, John/Ronon, Carson/Rodney/Ronon, Rodney/Radek, Rodney/Ford, Teyla/Kate, Lorne/Radek, Lorne/Parrish, John/Keras, and probably others that I just can't remember right now :)

[melagan.livejournal.com]

Carson is a very endearing character. Oh, how I wanted things to work out between him and Perna.

[lazy-8s.livejournal.com]

I don't remember which ep it was, late S1 or early S2. I saw the majesty of the Rodney McKay, in all of his magnetic, obnoxious, but adorable glory. Five minutes later, I watched him do the whole "pull pigtails" routine with John. I utterly and completely in love with this pairing.

Flanigan and Hewlett sold it better than most actors today. Their onscreen chemistry was flawless, because the off-screen friendship shone through. :)

[melagan.livejournal.com]

I saw the majesty of the Rodney McKay, in all of his magnetic, obnoxious, but adorable glory.
(This comment wins everything)

Flanigan and Hewlett sold it better than most actors today

They set a standard that I expect to see on other shows and...it's rarely there. And I'm not even talking about their onscreen chemistry.

In honor of Flanigan and Hewlett I frequently call mischief5 and tell her what I'm eating. I know she appreciates it.

[ltklo.livejournal.com]

I watched the show when it originally aired. I loved SG-1 and it took a while to love SGA as much. What really hooked me was Rodney McKay. It was love :)

Just started reading the fanfics a few months ago. I started with John/Rodney and loved them. But now I read all the combos and even gen. It's such a nice rainbow of personalities.

Love Rodney with anyone - Carson, Zelenka, Lorne, Teyla.

But I've sort of lost my heart to Rodney/Ronon, especially when Rodney realizes that there's intelligence and a need for family underneath that caveman shell.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

I feel Rodney is highly under-appreciated, but as we all know, I'm a Rodney gal. *g*

There is some marvelous Rodney/Ronon out there and thank goodness for that!

[em_kellesvig]

I got into SGA through a friend's rec for beadattitude's Checkmate series. Even though I'd watched SG1 off and on for years, I hadn't seen SGA, so I had to watch it after reading that story. First episode I saw was "Echoes", probably the slashiest one possible. I was a confirmed McShepper for years with some Gen on the side.

These days, I read more widely but there are some pairing I just can't see. Correction: there are some characters I just can't read in sexual situations, regardless of the pairing. It's not about not wanting to see them with John or Rodney; it's like talking to your parents or siblings about sex. ::shudders:: Weird, I know.

[hilde.livejournal.com]

AH! The Checkmate series is brilliant!!

[hilde.livejournal.com]

I had watched SGA for a while, catching it on TV when I could, and I loved it. I didn't come into fandom while the show aired, which I'm rather sad about today :/ I was already in love with SG-1. I read xanthe's and bluespirit_star's stories about the same time as I bought the box set. That was it, really :)

My OTP will always be McShep in this fandom. I do enjoy reading gen stories and some other pairings, but McShep is what I love. I do prefer to read gen by authors who also write McShep, because of how they usually view Rodney. If Rodney features prominently in the story, that is. Some authors never get past the arrogance and bitching and never see the man behind. I get tired very quickly about reading about an arrogant, sweaty McKay who's only stroking his own ego. (I don't know where the sweating comes from, honestly. He's not shown like that on the show, is he?)

I do like other pairings, as well. I have read a couple of really good Ronon/Rodney stories. A couple of Rodney/Caldwell. Ronon/Jennifer, Teyla/Ronon and Teyla/Lorne also works for me. Basically, John only works with Rodney, for me. I do love character studies. There are so many gems in this fandom, such an abundance of talent in art and writing!

There are a few characters I just can't picture with their clothes off. Carson and Kavanaugh comes to mind...LOL (no matter who the partner is)

[ltklo.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I don't think that I could ever read a story where there's no depth to Rodney. Unless it was funny.

I have read a few fics where either Weir or Sheppard were rather narrowminded and it was kind of fun. He-he :)

I can read Sheppard with Beckett. I can see how Beckett would see past Sheppard's shell.

[gelbes-gilatier.livejournal.com]

Never a fan of McShep (possibly, the only active fan in the fandom O_o), but I love secondary characters and rare pairings of all shapes and sizes :D (especially Miko/Ronon, Radek/Ronon and McKay/Dusty). Also, always and forever, Lorne/Cadman!

[melagan.livejournal.com]

All pairing are love in my book. There are no rules or reason why some pairing excite the imagination and others, not so much. ♥

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

Not much lady-love here, I see... :(

No wonder the Fest seems so... err... skewed to one side.

Anyway...

I started watching Atlantis from the moment it aired (although in a not so legal way). I liked Teyla and Elizabeth from the get-go. John as a character is a lot like me as a person, so he was easy to like. I wasn't a fan of McKay in SG1, that changed a bit in SGA, but the overuse turned me off again. Nothing against Hewlett - he's a fine actor and person - but McKay, that's a whole other cup of tea.

And then The Gift happened, and I fell hook, line and sinker for the psychologist, Dr. Kate Heightmeyer. Yes, my favorite character is a secondary character, appears a grand total of 5 times (5 episodes) and is killed off in season 4 (hate/love that episode for the Teyla/Kate stuff, though I'll rarely watch it).

I'm a multishipper. Even though I have my OTP's (Kate/Teyla & Kate/John) and my OT3's (Kate/John/Elizabeth & Kate/Teyla/Elizabeth), I'm not necessarily attached to one pairing. I love Lorne/Cadman, Lorne/Parrish (which I blame on clwilson2006 - bless her soul), Lorne/Kate, Carson/Teyla, Elizabeth/Kate, Cadman/Kate, Cadman/Teyla, Teyla/Kanaan, Kate/Jennifer, Rodney/Katie, Cadman/Carson, John/Elizabeth, Ronon/Amelia...

I'm a rare pairings/rare characters fan.

[melagan.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad to see this comment. I was hoping someone would bring us the lady-love side of things.

I couldn't do it justice myself because, while I love them all, and have even written pairings I didn't expect (Teyla/Kavanagh , Keller/Kiryk) we all know I'm a McShep girl at heart.

I'm a rare pairings/rare characters fan. And we love you for it.