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seldearLast, last, lucky last.
Another disclaimer. I don't care who you like or what you ship. You don't like what I like? What a surprise. It shows that we're two different people. But if you're on my f-list and I've asked you not to bitch about something I like every time the topic comes up in conversation, I appreciate it when you have some concern for my sensibilities. I'll return the favour if you ask it.
That said, we'll get onto the ship that maybe two people on my f-list sail. Possibly. On a really good day.
Sheppard/Teyla - Stargate Atlantis
When it comes to the two het pairings featuring John Sheppard there's a certain amount of debate over who has the better deal.
It's hard to tell since the Sheppard/Weir fen claim they're discriminated against because TPTB began with a Sheppard/Teyla slant, but the Sheppard/Teyla fen point at the numerous Sheppard/Weir fic and claim they're in the minority. In the end, I'm forced to conclude that everyone's a victim when it comes to Atlantis het. Or at least scrambling for 'poor me' victim status.
My current take on Sheppard/Teyla is that it's the Jack/Janet of the Atlantis universe. It looks very much as though the pairing is going to go the way of Jack/Janet as well: initially played up, but given up after a while.
Nevertheless, I like it.
I have a fondness for the girls who can kick ass, and Teyla's alleged sexiness doesn't offend me one-tenth as much as sexed-up Sam Carter in the SG-1 Season Seven episode 'Chimera'. At least with Teyla they laid it out from day one, rather than suddenly shoving Attack of the Cleavage in our faces the way they did with Sam.
In John Sheppard and Teyla Emmagen, there are two young people, both leaders in their own way, fighting against the Wraith with what weapons they have available.
The interactions I like best between these two tend to be the fighting scenes. 'Hot Zone' is the most notable of these, although 'The Gift' has some great moments, as well as another episode that I've completely forgotten. In these moments, I see their relationship - as personified in their attacks against each other - as a kind of perfect trust: the point reached when a fighter doesn't need to hold back their blows against their sparring partner because they know their partner is good enough to hold their own. (For a good example of this mentality read anything by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sgcbearcub (X-Files and SG-1) or tielan's SGA story "More Than Enough".)
In this, I suppose it echoes my perceptions of Sam/Jack, Kara/Lee, and Batman/Wonder Woman - two people with a number of similarities binding them together, but with enough difference to make things interesting.
Particularly curious is the fact that all six of the abovementioned are warrior-types: problem-solving types who fight back when life tries to kick them in the gonads. Sheppard and Teyla also physically fit the warrior moulds, and that respect comes through in the way they react to each other in functional situations.
Emotionally, I see Teyla as the kind to hold her cards close to her chest. She will fight for her people and trust John Sheppard in many things, but if she comes to love him it will be a slow, quiet thing that we're not likely to directly see. Her answer to his question of "What do you want from me?" in the episode 'Letters From Pegasus' is oblique: "Too much, I fear." Under the context of the episode, I actually prefer to see this as professional disquiet rather than a personal, romantic invitation.
John's feelings for Teyla are more plainly set in the realm of a trusted team-mate and someone that he's not going to abandon in a hurry. His repeated defence of Teyla in the face of Bates' dislike, and his determination that she be given a fair go speaks of both his personal and professional affection for her. Does it go further than mere 'affection'? Not that I've seen. Does that bother me? Not terribly much.
At this point in the show, I can see their relationship being considerably more physical than emotional. If anything, they'd be fuck-buddies. Friends with benefits, etc, etc. Is that all it could ever be? Well, not if Joe Flanigan learns a bit more about the Amanda Tapping school of acting instead of the Michael Shanks school. Yes. I know. Meow. Sorry, I don't think much of Flanigan as an actor, although I like Sheppard as a character.
If they started as fuck-buddies, it would be one of the few relationships that might be allowed to Sheppard as the senior commander in Atlantis. Anyone in the military is out for the same reason that they danced Sam and Jack around each other for eight years: regulations and personal interest. Technically, anyone in the expedition is out as well - including Elizabeth Weir - for much the same reasons. The alliance/relationship/what-have-you between Atlantean and Athosian is a little more fuzzy, and might permit them more leeway, although, yes, the fact that she is on his team is problematic.
However, Teyla is also 'safe'. She's capable of looking after herself, the 'rules of engagement' among the Athosians appear to be relatively loose, and although she's on his team, she's also the representative of her people as allies to the Atlantis expedition. That gives her a little more weight than 'a subordinate of whom Sheppard's taking advantage'.
Will there be anything between them? Maybe, maybe not. After eight years of Stargate SG-1, I'm familiar with the red-herring concept that TPTB use to play their little fishies. I like this pairing more than any other option on the show, but I'm just as happy to write them as friends and skip the het altogether. Actually, I'm probably currently happiest writing the friends-with-some-UST.
If there's more then I'm all for it. If not, then I'll still see the pairing and write the fic. Possibly with a bit more angst. *g*
But even if nobody else on my f-list much likes the pairing (or Teyla), I'm a baseline Sheppard/Teyla shipper for Atlantis.
Yes, I know. Contrary bitch.
--
Incidentally, this post is not for anyone to protest how much Teyla doesn't 'do it' for them. As noted above, I don't care who you like or what you ship; this is my manifesto for why I like this pairing.
Another disclaimer. I don't care who you like or what you ship. You don't like what I like? What a surprise. It shows that we're two different people. But if you're on my f-list and I've asked you not to bitch about something I like every time the topic comes up in conversation, I appreciate it when you have some concern for my sensibilities. I'll return the favour if you ask it.
That said, we'll get onto the ship that maybe two people on my f-list sail. Possibly. On a really good day.
Sheppard/Teyla - Stargate Atlantis
When it comes to the two het pairings featuring John Sheppard there's a certain amount of debate over who has the better deal.
It's hard to tell since the Sheppard/Weir fen claim they're discriminated against because TPTB began with a Sheppard/Teyla slant, but the Sheppard/Teyla fen point at the numerous Sheppard/Weir fic and claim they're in the minority. In the end, I'm forced to conclude that everyone's a victim when it comes to Atlantis het. Or at least scrambling for 'poor me' victim status.
My current take on Sheppard/Teyla is that it's the Jack/Janet of the Atlantis universe. It looks very much as though the pairing is going to go the way of Jack/Janet as well: initially played up, but given up after a while.
Nevertheless, I like it.
I have a fondness for the girls who can kick ass, and Teyla's alleged sexiness doesn't offend me one-tenth as much as sexed-up Sam Carter in the SG-1 Season Seven episode 'Chimera'. At least with Teyla they laid it out from day one, rather than suddenly shoving Attack of the Cleavage in our faces the way they did with Sam.
In John Sheppard and Teyla Emmagen, there are two young people, both leaders in their own way, fighting against the Wraith with what weapons they have available.
The interactions I like best between these two tend to be the fighting scenes. 'Hot Zone' is the most notable of these, although 'The Gift' has some great moments, as well as another episode that I've completely forgotten. In these moments, I see their relationship - as personified in their attacks against each other - as a kind of perfect trust: the point reached when a fighter doesn't need to hold back their blows against their sparring partner because they know their partner is good enough to hold their own. (For a good example of this mentality read anything by
sgcbearcub (X-Files and SG-1) or tielan's SGA story "More Than Enough".)In this, I suppose it echoes my perceptions of Sam/Jack, Kara/Lee, and Batman/Wonder Woman - two people with a number of similarities binding them together, but with enough difference to make things interesting.
Particularly curious is the fact that all six of the abovementioned are warrior-types: problem-solving types who fight back when life tries to kick them in the gonads. Sheppard and Teyla also physically fit the warrior moulds, and that respect comes through in the way they react to each other in functional situations.
Emotionally, I see Teyla as the kind to hold her cards close to her chest. She will fight for her people and trust John Sheppard in many things, but if she comes to love him it will be a slow, quiet thing that we're not likely to directly see. Her answer to his question of "What do you want from me?" in the episode 'Letters From Pegasus' is oblique: "Too much, I fear." Under the context of the episode, I actually prefer to see this as professional disquiet rather than a personal, romantic invitation.
John's feelings for Teyla are more plainly set in the realm of a trusted team-mate and someone that he's not going to abandon in a hurry. His repeated defence of Teyla in the face of Bates' dislike, and his determination that she be given a fair go speaks of both his personal and professional affection for her. Does it go further than mere 'affection'? Not that I've seen. Does that bother me? Not terribly much.
At this point in the show, I can see their relationship being considerably more physical than emotional. If anything, they'd be fuck-buddies. Friends with benefits, etc, etc. Is that all it could ever be? Well, not if Joe Flanigan learns a bit more about the Amanda Tapping school of acting instead of the Michael Shanks school. Yes. I know. Meow. Sorry, I don't think much of Flanigan as an actor, although I like Sheppard as a character.
If they started as fuck-buddies, it would be one of the few relationships that might be allowed to Sheppard as the senior commander in Atlantis. Anyone in the military is out for the same reason that they danced Sam and Jack around each other for eight years: regulations and personal interest. Technically, anyone in the expedition is out as well - including Elizabeth Weir - for much the same reasons. The alliance/relationship/what-have-you between Atlantean and Athosian is a little more fuzzy, and might permit them more leeway, although, yes, the fact that she is on his team is problematic.
However, Teyla is also 'safe'. She's capable of looking after herself, the 'rules of engagement' among the Athosians appear to be relatively loose, and although she's on his team, she's also the representative of her people as allies to the Atlantis expedition. That gives her a little more weight than 'a subordinate of whom Sheppard's taking advantage'.
Will there be anything between them? Maybe, maybe not. After eight years of Stargate SG-1, I'm familiar with the red-herring concept that TPTB use to play their little fishies. I like this pairing more than any other option on the show, but I'm just as happy to write them as friends and skip the het altogether. Actually, I'm probably currently happiest writing the friends-with-some-UST.
If there's more then I'm all for it. If not, then I'll still see the pairing and write the fic. Possibly with a bit more angst. *g*
But even if nobody else on my f-list much likes the pairing (or Teyla), I'm a baseline Sheppard/Teyla shipper for Atlantis.
Yes, I know. Contrary bitch.
--
Incidentally, this post is not for anyone to protest how much Teyla doesn't 'do it' for them. As noted above, I don't care who you like or what you ship; this is my manifesto for why I like this pairing.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-08-20 08:56 pm (UTC)Okay, I personally can't see the pairing, but somehow I managed to write it half decently... which means maybe I can see it on a subconscious level *g* But I wholly respect your right to like whatever pairing you want. And yep, TPTB sure set this particular 'ship in motion, so who am I to dismiss it as stupid, crazy or something along those lines?
I also have issues with those Daniel fans who deny season 6 and Jack fans who deny season 9. People, live with it.
Although after the ep last night... I think I'm developing a liking for Teyla/Ronan ;) And on that, I think I'm definitely alone! Could mean for an interesting menage a trois though *g*
no subject
Date: 2005-08-20 09:10 pm (UTC)I can see them setting up for Teyla/Ronan, and I don't mind too much: the two of them would kick some serious ass together.
Besides, it's hella fun watching Shep try to out-testosterone Ronan...and usually fail.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 12:03 am (UTC)I see their relationship - as personified in their attacks against each other - as a kind of perfect trust: the point reached when a fighter doesn't need to hold back their blows against their sparring partner because they know their partner is good enough to hold their own.
This line just hit me in all the right places. Now that you've voiced it, I realise that this is what makes a ship the perfect ship in my eyes - the Perfect Trust aspect. I haven't ever actually thought about like that, but that's the what makes a ship a good ship. (I also went and read
if nobody else on my f-list much likes the pairing (or Teyla)
I've never actually disliked Teyla, but she actually grew on me in the last few eps of S1 (haven't seen S2 yet). I think it was The Gift and the ep before that (Before I Sleep?).
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 06:13 pm (UTC)I'll admit to being a little over-sensitive on this point. Mostly because I know a lot of people go apeshit over the 'showing cleavage' and a lot of people don't like the character - she's filling the role Teal'c filled on SG-1. And I've had to endure more than enough whinging, mocking, nagging, and bitching about a character that I like from people that I like to make me very cynical about the people who feel the need to bash a character they don't like in the name of promoting their OTP.
I like Teyla (the ep you're thinking of is 'Letters From Pegasus'). I like Weir (although the ep that got me for her was 'Before I Sleep'). I like McKay. I like Sheppard. I like all the characters on SGA, they 'do it' for me in various ways and while I have my favourites, I give the non-faves a fair deal.
A lot of times, it seems that people can't have their OTP without slagging someone (either fan or character) to do so.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 06:33 pm (UTC)I don't know that I like Sheppard/Weir (I have yet to find a writer who works for me), but I can see it.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 12:52 am (UTC)And it's ultimately up to the writers and the actors where that whole thing goes, I suppose.
(grins)Novak/Hermiod for-EVAH!
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-22 12:39 am (UTC)So, yeah! Go with your Shep/Teyla-shipping self! (waves a little Seldear flag)
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 01:32 am (UTC)*VBG*
Date: 2005-08-21 11:04 am (UTC)Re: *VBG*
Date: 2005-08-21 06:39 pm (UTC)I think it's because a lot of SGA shippers (at least on my f-list) came from SG-1 where the primary 'ship was Sam/Jack and had canon interaction from Day One and had PTB approval from Season One.
Trying to find 'just have adventures and be friends' stories is nearly impossible though. Especially without all the slash /smarm slants that the slashers need to write between Sheppard and Rodney.
Everyone seems to want to write smut.
Have you read Sue and Wendy's "What Are Little Wraith Made Of?" Totally cool genfic.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 06:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-21 06:39 pm (UTC)