Matthew • 30+ • they/he/him • bi • writer • moodboards • Stargate Atlantis • McShep ♡ • John Sheppard • Rodney McKay • multi fandom
~ Writers block: When your imaginary friends stop talking to you ~
Links: AO3 | Deviant Art
... on a Thursday. Oh, who knows, in an alternative universe it is a Wednesday somewhere... maybe... or not. *shrugs* Anyway, I was tagged by @fangirlsalad, @wholesomevampire and @coffeeandbowtieswrites... thanks guys (gn)... so here goes.
This week's ✨WIP Wednesday theme✨ is...
Sharing is Caring!
Share a snippet from a WIP you have worked on lately!
Yes, this is another Merman Shep snippet. We are (or at least I am) at chapter 8 by now... and John has made a Mer friend.
John is pulled into a hug. Held for comfort in the dark since the moon never reappears, not on this cloudy night at least. Allowed to sob over what he's not sure he can ever can get back to, but which he's fighting so hard to return to all the same. "I'm sorry. So sorry", Elvar soothes him, petting his hair grown out a touch longer and messier by now. Uncombed. As wild as his facial hair too is growing out into a dark beard. Is this what he is now? A creature of the wilderness. A lone survivor… except he's no longer alone, is he? Elvar is here with him. Solid. Warm. Strong.
Tagging whoever reads this and who's in the mood to join us in the fun of 'sharing is caring'. 😉
I decided to write myself a birthday present, because why not enjoy some gentle trauma with a good dollop of found family on the side on your 'special' day?
5 times people forgot Rodney's birthday and 1 time they didn't
1.
Maybe he should have expected it? Jeannie had a way of grabbing attention, no matter what happened she could pull focus in a way he never could. Rodney could win a science fair and get a cursory nod; Jeannie could scrape her knee and the whole world stopped turning!
The house was quiet around him; the murmur of the TV downstairs barely audible through the closed door of his bedroom. The sitter was down there - he didn't really need one, had told his parents numerous times that he was perfectly capable of keeping himself alive if they left him on his own, thank you very much, but they'd not listened.
He sat on his bed in his Star Wars pyjamas (a couple of inches too short in the leg), staring at the opposite wall as the clock there ticked closer to midnight.
The morning had been rushed; there was school to get to (not that he'd learn anything new there, he was already streets ahead of even the teachers), work to do. He was used to nothing being said in the morning. He'd figured when he got back from school there'd be a card and present, maybe his Mom would make pancakes for dinner like she did on special occasions?
Except when the bus had dropped him off and he'd pushed open the door, there'd been nothing. Just a hurried 'hello' from the kitchen from his Mom and Jeannie watching TV, ignoring him completely.
He'd dropped his stuff upstairs, wondering if maybe this was all part of a ruse. Maybe he was getting a surprise? Except before he could ever find out, Jeannie managed to trip down a couple of stairs. She wasn't even badly hurt! She could still get up, she hadn't even hit her head! She was probably fine! But their parents had insisted on a hospital run. They'd called the sitter and…gone.
As the last few seconds of the day ticked by, he released a small sigh.
Who cared about birthdays anyway?!
2.
The problem with being the smart kid was that friends didn't come naturally. Especially when you realised just how much smarter you were than every other person around you, including the adults, and weren't afraid to express it.
Not that Rodney cared about friendships. He didn't need to be weighed down by the kids around him. He had better things to do than play Tag or giggle over swearwords. He had papers, tests and experiments to run through. He had worksheets and books to pour over. He had everything he needed. Pretty much.
Except sometimes…only occasionally, when he saw his sister out in the yard with a friend from school, or the other kids playing, he felt a bit like something was missing. Like maybe he could have that. Maybe it wouldn't be quite so bad?
But he'd spent most of his school life proving he was better than everyone else - not that that was hard - and now they preferred to keep their distance.
Rodney snorted, turning his attention back to the pages of the book in front of him. All around him there was laughter, chatter and yelling as lunch continued, but he did his best to ignore it.
No one had remembered what day it was. Not even his teacher, who he knew for a fact had everyone's birthdays written down in her diary. No one had said anything. Which was fine. He didn't care about birthdays anyway. The only thing they were good for, was getting him closer to the age where he could actually leave this pathetic excuse for education and try something worthwhile!
If his eyes started to burn as he stared down at his book, well, that was probably allergies! They always got set off this time of year.
3.
For the first time in years excitement had bubbled up within him as his birthday approached. He'd given up expecting anything from the day pretty early on, it was easier to just ignore it. At least that way you couldn't be disappointed! But this time, this time he knew it'd be different. For one thing he had a…friend. Well, someone who laughed at his jokes, who was happy to sit next to him in lectures. Someone who seemed to actually want to be around him.
Mark was pretty smart too - not quite Rodney's level, but he was prepared to overlook that for other…well, other reasons. And he'd promised to buy him a beer for his birthday! Illegal, obviously, he wasn't 19 yet, but that had seemed rather a big deal! And, so what if Rodney had wondered if maybe that'd lead to…something else? He was practically an adult now, so he was completely allowed to want things.
He blushed at the thought, noting the way the colour spread up his neck before hitting his cheeks. He'd spent longer than usual on his appearance; forcing his hair under control, paying extra attention whilst shaving, he'd even ironed his shirt! The cologne he'd dabbed on his neck seemed just a bit overpowering in the small dormroom, but he was confident that once they stepped outside - once they got into a bar! - it'd be fine.
And so he waited. Perched on the edge of his bed, waiting just like Mark had told him to. He'd promised to come and pick him up.
The minutes ticked by; but he'd be here. He'd promised.
The light faded rapidly through the window; the moon rising steadily in its place.
Still no Mark.
But he'd be here. He might just be held up! Nothing to worry about.
At some point Rodney must have dozed off, because the sound of a door slamming down the hall caused him to jolt upright. The room was completely dark now; there was music blaring from another room near him, his shirt was creased again, spittle drying at the corner of his mouth.
And the realisation hit him. Mark had forgotten.
4.
When one of his team had asked him if they could bring in a cake for their birthday, he'd stared at them like they'd grown another head. It wasn't just the fact that having cake just laid around wasn't exactly conducive to a productive working environment, it was that they wanted to share it with others that really got him. He'd ignored his last five birthdays completely; as had everyone else too.
But he'd shrugged after a moment's awkward pause, telling them to do what they like, he really couldn't care less. And so they had. He'd even had a slice. The rest of his team had all stood around, laughing, grinning and joking amongst themselves. He'd been on the periphery, as usual.
He'd placed his slice of cake on a napkin, grabbed a fork from the pile on the table and then slipped back into his office. The calendar on the wall peered at him between schematics, spreadsheets and posters.
18 April.
No one out there knew. He'd not bothered to tell any of them and they'd never asked.
But he supposed, as he broke a piece of cake off with his fork, at least this was almost a celebration?
5.
The canteen was busy, busier than he'd expected when he'd finally decided to take a break. It was well past a regular dinner time, but then again when had Atlantis staff ever really cared about timings? Nevermind the number who did shift work, the rest of them were still trying to figure their body clocks out on another planet!
He glanced down at the tablet in his hand as he inched along the queue, running through a few of the latest proposals from his team and binning most of them. Idiots, the whole lot of them. They'd barely been here five minutes and already were wanting to make changes to centuries old tech they didn't understand!
He lifted his gaze only to load his tray with food, and then weave his way to a deserted table towards the back of the room. At least he'd be able to get a bit of peace and quiet here before he headed back to the labs, to listen to Kavanagh droning away and Zelenka whittering. There must have been some sort of redeeming feature on their CVs or he never would have picked them, but…he'd yet to find it!
But before he'd even lifted his fork to his mouth a shadow fell over the table, and a familiar voice sounded above him.
"Ah, there you are!"
Rodney rolled his eyes and continued with his mouthful, lifting his head as Carson sank down in the chair opposite him.
"Mm, what a surprise, because no one eats dinner at this time." He waved his free hand at the mass of people around them, but Carson ignored him.
"I've got a bone to pick with ye." Carson was staring at him intently, and for a second Rodney felt a twinge of worry. What had he done?! He'd not missed a medical, that was for sure! Had he forgotten a lunch they were meant to have? Was there something he was meant to have fixed in the Infirmary? "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday, the other day?"
"Who told you that?" Rodney rolled his eyes again, "Oh, what are we? Six?" He took another mouthful.
"Did you not tell anyone?"
"Of course not." Rodney just about managed to not spray half-eaten food over his friend, he swallowed, "I don't do birthdays, Carson. They're pointless. Just another reminder that death's slowly creeping nearer, and I'm already getting enough mortality reminders with this whole expedition, okay?"
Carson was watching him with something that looked horribly like sympathy.
"Don't." He warned, waving his fork at his friend, "Don't you dare go telling anyone. No birthdays. No celebrations. Just another day." He glared until Carson released a sigh, his shoulders dropping.
"Aye, well, that's your choice." Rodney didn't exactly trust his tone, but with any luck this conversation would be forgotten in a few hours time, maybe a particularly bad ingrown toenail would take Carson's mind off it.
"Yes, yes it is!"
+1
"Colonel, you know how busy I am! I can't just disappear off for an hour! Those idiots won't know what to do with themselves!" Rodney spluttered as the hand in the small of his back pushed him doggedly on through the corridors. He'd been trying to explain to Sheppard just how bad of an idea it was for him to leave the labs ever since the other man had turned up, out of the blue, and practically manhandled him out into the corridor. "You know Elizabeth wants those reports done by the end of tomorrow, and I've got at least three new sections of the city to start cataloging, not to mention that hiccup with the pipes that definitely needs looking into…"
He continued chattering as they walked, but nothing seemed to put Sheppard off. Instead his hand still remained steady, pushing Rodney onwards. Eventually Rodney had to pause for breath and he managed to cut in.
"They can survive without you, McKay."
Rodney opened his mouth, but in the absence of a good comeback he closed it again. Fine. If Sheppard wanted to believe everything wouldn't go to hell in a handbasket without him, that was absolutely fine by him.
He allowed himself to be led through the corridors, only mildly irritated by the hand still sitting in the small of his back. Until they finally reached Sheppard's quarters - Rodney glanced over his shoulder, shooting his friend a quizzical look. Sheppard merely smirked, jerking his chin towards the door.
Rodney waved his hand and the door flew open; there was a moment's silence before a small crowd of people yelled,
"Surprise!"
All Rodney could do for a second was blink stupidly, before Sheppard nudged him in the back and he stepped inside. The door closed behind them both and Rodney stared around: Teyla, Ronon, Carson and Elizabeth were all stood there, looking a little cramped in the confined space but all beaming at him.
"W-what -?" He tried, his voice slightly weak.
"A little birdie happened to mention it was a special occasion." Sheppard drawled from behind him.
"A Scottish birdie, I assume." Rodney growled, glaring at Carson who held his gaze, completely unashamed. "Look, this is thoughtful and everything, I'm sure," he waved a hand vaguely, "but I don't ce-"
"We are your friends, Rodney," Teyla stepped forwards, gently taking his waving hand, "we wished to celebrate you." She was smiling up at him and, suddenly, any arguments he might have had went out the window. He swallowed against a sudden lump that seemed to have appear in his throat. They were really here for him? They'd remembered? They…wanted to…they'd arranged this?
"And someone promised cake." Ronon shrugged from the other side of the bed, breaking the moment.
"Told you." Carson muttered to Elizabeth, before he chuckled, "I'm a wee bit rusty, but my Mam's got a great recipe." He tapped the top of the desk, where a large fruit cake sat, complete with candle.
Rodney stared from the cake, to Carson, to Elizabeth smiling beside him, to Teyla and Ronon and then Sheppard. All watching him, all squeezed into this tiny room…for him.
Something warm glowed in his chest.
"Well," he cleared his throat, "I guess it'd be rude not to try it."
i absolutely adore @alcka 's sga mermaid au, and politely asked if i could draw something for it. they're so nice and lovely to talk to, so here's two drawings!
🩷please do not copy, colour, repost, or feed to ai🩷
Telepathic lovers McShep it is.
This idea not yet put into actual words is still but living rent free in my brain. Oh, it's creating waves, but it's also getting drowned out (pun so intended) by the Merman Shep universe. Ack. Why can I not work on two stories at once?! So unfair. lol
So, I am thinking that for all of their telepathic abilities they are still also idiots in love. Duh. Neither one having made the first move yet and they're silently pining for the other when apart for missions or whatever, but they are also afraid to lose what they have; friendship. Feelings are hard! Words more so, especially for John.
But then, these thoughts of 'want you' and 'so damned afraid to lose you' are slipping across their telepathic connection... oops. So when one feels alone or hurt? The other feels called over to hold then more and more give into their attraction. And knowing what the other feels, wants, needs from his bedwarmer?? Oh, it adds to them making love for sure. Haven't decided yet if there's going to be a hint or two of bdsm involved or not... we'll see... 😉
Also think there should be a wtf moment for one or maybe both of them, 'cause you know such a mind linked bond would be rather scary and insane as much as it at the premise it may seem cool. But in the end? I think maybe they're keeping the full extend of their abilities to themselves, 'cause no one wants to be poked and prodded at over it... less so admit to it leading to awesome sex.
Woohoo, it's that time of week again. Lol. Thanks for the tag @wholesomevampire and @fangirlsalad.
So here's my unchanged list of Stargate Atlantis wips.
1. The Merfolk Song - stranded Merman (and shifter) John angst
2. The Mucis of Science - BAMF (and angsting) Rodney trying to save merman John's scaled behind
3. The Rhythm of Life - McShep reunion and a maybe cure for John
4. Telepathic McShep
5. Pleasure slave Shep
This week's ✨WIP Wednesday Theme✨ is...
An Emoji's Worth a Thousand Words
Send an emoji (or several) and a WIP name and get a snippet or a ramble inspired by (or tangentially related to) whatever you sent!
Tagging @coffeeandbowtieswrites, @massharp1971 and @sgatazmy... and whoever else wants to play.
Sugar High, Sugar Crash, Forever Sweet: Old Married McShep Fluff
Summary:
True love is being able to argue with your husband and knowing you’ll still love each other after.
OR
Our intrepid explorers are very lost.
[It's 2026. Pegasus is quieter, and Atlantis is more colony than military outpost now. John and Rodney are lucky enough to be growing old surrounded by the beautiful family they've gathered together. Presenting snapshots of quiet moments between continuing adventures. (For DoMAYstic 2026. Mostly plotless fluff and smut, filler episodes and commercial breaks.)]
I love when The Character has a breakdown. Are they gonna go catatonic? Start crying hysterically and can't stop? Get so mad they could blow up a mountain? No matter what it's always fantastic.
Thanks for the tag @fangirlsalad. This is me accepting your challenge, 'cause these writer tag-games are fun! And hey, any excuse to talk Merman Shep I got to take. 😉
So here goes. My last written line paragraph for The Merfolk Song is for its sixth chapter... and so this is a bit of time jump from what I've shared before for the past few wip wednesdays.
John can't help but blush when next the Elders are seated in their thrones. Forming a circle of blatant yet silent judgement and curiosity of him. The instinct to cover his bare chest of pert nipples and gone oily smooth skin is kinda hard for him to ignore, yet John doesn't want to draw any attention to how lost and alone he's feeling as the odd one out. How naked without his uniform, his gun and the steady weight of his tac vest. Not that he is in any danger here in this sacred temple, but still, John is feeling underdressed in the borrowed, loose fitting pants held up by a mere string woven from some course fibre. Out of his depth too…
Your tag, should you choose to accept it: @coffeeandbowtieswrites, @wholesomevampire, @sgatazmy, and @massharp1971
