And now for the windup to the freeskate... skinscript and I will be busting our tails on the choreography this weekend.

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: "Let me guess. Your brain's revving like a squirrel on amphetamines."

A/N: Thank you once again to the beta team, rabidfan and roaringmice (skating consultant), tingler, and now skinscript (choreographer).

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( 'Let me guess. Your brain's revving like a squirrel on amphetamines.' )

Have I been distracted for a night? I did write another scene of Out Of Bounds.

Taking a break from writing, I've kicked back and enjoyed one of the best pre-Atlantis AUs I've encountered in the Stargate Atlantis fandom. And this fandom does wonderful AUs.

Black Helicopters at Dawn whizzy, R, John/Rodney, mostly pre-slash

I picked this story up from amothea's rec. I've never read anything by whizzy before, but she is obviously a very experienced writer. Her AU is built carefully, with a plausibly weird and paranoid Rodney McKay who'd refused to sign the confidentiality agreement to join Stargate, and little hints about a John Sheppard who joined the Stargate program before Antarctica. Then whizzy a remarkably tense action story that takes place almost entirely over the radio. Which alone takes talent.

But Whizz doesn't leave it there. The action sequence is just the wind up for the second half, where the story delivers what first appears to be a domestic drama leading to the inevitable cliche romance. But that's because you and I have forgotten about the SGC.

More, whizzy, more!

Another longish update while I struggle with the final freeskate scene. Why is this so haaaaaarrrrrd?

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: One thing about having a yoga instructor who was six foot four with a lion's mane of dreadlocks: he certainly stood out in the milling crowd around the snack stands.

A/N: Thank you once again to my tireless betas (we're having fun), rabidfan and roaringmice, and now tingler.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( One thing about having a yoga instructor who was six foot four with a lion's mane of dreadlocks: he certainly stood out in the milling crowd around the snack stands. )

Now a serious update, nine pages in my version of Word -- the actual Nationals competition begins.

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: Then, in an electric moment, John's flight stood as if pulled by a string, though it wasn't clear who'd told who it was time. The short program begins.

A/N: Thank you once again to my tireless betas (we're having fun), rabidfan and roaringmice, and now tingler and mariamme, too.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( Then, in an electric moment, John's flight stood as if pulled by a string, though it wasn't clear who'd told who it was time. )

Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (warm-up music)
Michael Kamen - Overture to Robin Hood (Nathaniel Peters' music)
Rachmaninov - Prelude in G Minor (Frances Caliaro's music)
Itzak Perlman - I Will Wait For You (Mike Estey's music)
Michael Kamen - Meet Martin Riggs (Mark Svick's music)
Danny Elfman - Men In Black (Kyle Fletcher's music)
The Lively Ones - cover of Surf Rider (John Sheppard's music)

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: "This scoring system is starting to seem a little arbitrary," John growled in complaint.

A/N: Thank you once again to my tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice, as well as tingler and mariamme.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( 'This scoring system is starting to seem a little arbitrary,' John growled in complaint. )

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: John massaged the spot where his neck joined his shoulder, wondering if he should pick up a bagel for Rodney or make him get off his lazy butt and get it himself. John weighed the benefits (a grateful, perky Rodney munching his bagel and making happy sounds) versus the minuses (Rodney getting crumbs on the bed) as his eyes skimmed the arena.... This is a rewritten section with two new scenes. Some of it may seem familiar, but keep reading. :D Explanation in the A/N.

A/N: By way of explanation, roaringmice (my skating consultant) didn't have time to look over my last part before I posted (translation: Icarus jumped the gun). I should have waited for her. Turns out that skaters aren't given their skate order: they draw their own placement. This forced a rewrite. Thank you to my tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice, as well as tingler and mariamme.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

(  John massaged the spot where his neck joined his shoulder, wondering if he should pick up a bagel for Rodney or make him get off his lazy butt and get it himself. John weighed the benefits (a grateful, perky Rodney munching his bagel and making happy sounds) versus the minuses (Rodney getting crumbs on the bed) as his eyes skimmed the arena.... )

Somehow, this came out of a comment about wank and mob mentality in auburnnothenna's LJ. It probably doesn't make sense out of context (which I should probably fix in the story, but for now since I'm working on a 15-page paper....

As you fight back, you make it worse and worse. And people enjoy it. They enjoy the fight itself. They enjoy the suffering of the person losing the fight. They enjoy the cameraderie of being among the fighters. They enjoy the savor of victory and want more. I think that's the reason you see the last soldier of a battle hauled up a flagpole or dragged behind a jeep, or riddled with an unecessary number of bullets.

Great, now I have ficlet where John Sheppard's in Afghanistan, and he and the other men lose control with a prisoner. And his brutality haunts him later. He tries to explain it to Rodney, but Rodney doesn't understand.


Sniper
by Icarus


"There was this class ring. I wasn't supposed to wear it on duty." John bent his head, eyes squeezed shut. He ran his forearm over his hair. The sheets shifted. He wouldn't look Rodney in the eye, and Rodney realized John was sweating. "I had to throw it away."

"It got ... blood on it?" Rodney squinted on John, trying to understand.

"No."

Unfortunately, Rodney's overactive imagination was more than capable of filling in the blanks. In living technicolor.

After a long silence, John added, "He probably had internal injuries. We dragged him out of that tree." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

"He killed your friends."

"Yeah."

"So he deserved it." Friends reassured friends, didn't they?

"Sure." John rubbed at his eyes, still not looking at Rodney. "He shit his pants. It smelled ... God, it smelled so bad."

"What did your commanders say?" Rodney said with careful gentleness, blinking away images of swirlies and school jocks leaving him spluttering on the bathroom floor. This wasn't the same.

John stared at his hands. He had large hands for someone so thin. "We called it a kill. And I took all kinds of heat for not capturing him alive." John snorted a mirthless laugh. "The guys voted me to break the news: best poker face."

John slid his dog-tags over his head and laid them with a hissing click next to Rodney's bed. He never took those off. Then he lay back on the bed with a sigh, covers pushed to his waist, his hand on his chest as he stared at the ceiling.

Rodney chewed his lip, still perched on the edge of the bed, one arm wrapped around one knee, pulling it in close to himself. Suddenly aware he was millimeters away from falling off the bed, actually. His hands were balled tight. He loosened them. He'd left fingernail marks in his palm.

Rodney edged back under the covers next to John, leaving a careful six inches between them.

"So... nightmares," Rodney said.

"I swore I'd never lose my shit like that again," John said.

Rodney turned toward him with a sharp look in the half light. "Have you?"

"It's never come up," John said with a perfect poker face. And fell silent.

Who thought I'd last a week away from LJ, even with midterms? Funny how once I wasn't spamming you guys on LJ I got a lot more writing done. *looks guilty*

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: Bracken crackled underfoot as John created his own shortcut through a dead flowerbed – then he caught sight of the massive lake stretching the horizon. Wind brushed his bangs aside.

A/N: Thank you to my tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice (our skating consultant ;), as well as tingler and mariamme.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( Bracken crackled underfoot as John created his own shortcut through a dead flowerbed – then he caught sight of the massive lake stretching the horizon. Wind brushed his bangs aside. )

Chipping away at Out Of Bounds... ready for Nationals?

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: Caldwell's piercing hawk-eyes looked up. "You've got a champion in that lot?" he asked with an insulting amount of surprise.

A/N: Thank you to my tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice (our skating consultant ;). Welcome to the team, tingler and mariamme. You guys have been fabulous.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( Caldwell's piercing hawk-eyes looked up. 'You've got a champion in that lot?' he asked with an insulting amount of surprise. )

Here you are, a larger piece of Out Of Bounds, ~3,000 words. And now maybe I can get caught up on comments. Or, huh, I probably should write, shouldn't I?

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: "This is entirely your fault, you know. You said I could create my own adoring minions and populate the skating world with them, raising them like well-trained puppies."
A/N: Thank you to my tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice (our skating consultant ;). Welcome to the team, tingler and mariamme. You guys have been fabulous.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. Following Bethany's performance at the Canadian Nationals John has just two weeks to get his head together.

( 'This is entirely your fault, you know. You said I could create my own adoring minions and populate the skating world with them, raising them like well-trained puppies.' )

How about a couple more chapters of Out Of Bounds, eh? ~3,000 words or so?

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: There were two kinds of skating. Practicing what one already knew, and, ah, playing with things one didn't do quite so well. Rodney preferred his students didn't watch him attempt the latter.
A/N: Thank you to my tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice (our skating consultant ;). Welcome to the team, tingler and mariamme. You guys have been fabulous.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After struggling in Utrecht, John returns home to prepare for Nationals.

(  There were two kinds of skating. Practicing what one already knew, and, ah, playing with things one didn't do quite so well. Rodney preferred his students didn't watch him attempt the latter. )

The sga_santa reveal is here.

Title: All Dressed Up And....
Author: icarusancalion
Recipient: dkwilliams
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rating: R
Prompt: You said you wanted crossdressing, eh?
Summary: John had put a stop to it fifteen years ago, even burned the evidence. But he just couldn't give it up. What's one more secret between friends?

( What's one more secret between friends? )

My Christmas gift for all of you.

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: "Wait a minute. You're the drug addict he took out there? I thought you were going to knife him and steal his clothes for drug money!"
A/N: Thank you to my intrepid and tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice (our skating consultant ;). Welcome to the team, tingler. You guys have been fabulous.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. Following the Midwestern Sectional Championships, John is allowed to compete at Euroskate at Utrecht in the Netherlands. And then it's home for Christmas.

( ' )

Sorry, WG got sick last night and I ended up crashing early. Meant to post this last night. I also didn't check the kitty's dry food before I went to bed. His bowl was empty this morning, oh no!

Here's the fourth of four parts in that massive update.

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary:
A/N: Thank you to my intrepid and tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice. Welcome to the team, tingler

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. At the Midwestern Sectional Championships, John is starry-eyed to be invited by the current women's National champion, Yvonne Shaefer, to do a charity show.

( Read more... )

My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion (I'm sorry, but I had to include it to get the full effect)
Irish Party in Third Class - Gaelic Storm (John's skate)
Death of Titanic - James Horner (the cast program)

The first of four parts today. I'm posting in four sections to give a very large part of the story some natural chapter breaks. Also, WG's bugging me to give him some time on the computer. *sheepish*

The story in one file up to the prior chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: John stuffed the skate guards into Rodney's hands and pushed it, beating the other guys around the first curve of ice, swinging into the easy flow of footwork.
A/N: Thank you to my intrepid and tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice. Welcome to tingler

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After John's Regional championship, news of Rodney's return to figure skating trickles out into the community.

( John stuffed the skate guards into Rodney's hands and pushed it, beating the other guys around the first curve of ice, swinging into the easy flow of footwork.  )

Music!

Surf Rider - The Lively Ones
Trio in G Minor Larghetto - Vivaldi
Venus (extended) - Bananarama
Turning Japanese - The Vapors
Concerto in A Minor: Allegro non molto - Vivaldi
Anuncio Ferrero Rocher - Hans Zimmer
Precious - Depeche Mode

I know, I know, Rodney doesn't get the inside joke.

Woo!

You can get caught up here: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: The competition season begins. "The Regional Championship had the tacky aura of a children's birthday party."
A/N: Thank you to my intrepid and tireless betas, rabidfan and roaringmice.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After John's injury, an intense summer training, new choreography, and (unfortunately) dreadful costumes, the competition season begins.

( The competition season begins.  )

I'm slipping this scene in, although it actually happens earlier than the stuff with John's costume.

You can get caught up here: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: There was no telling what ham-fisted third-rate crackpot Elizabeth would enlist as Melanie's new coach.
A/N: Thank you to my intrepid and playful betas, rabidfan and roaringmice.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. Rodney also coaches Elizabeth Weir's nine-year-old daughter, Melanie. After a run-in with Rodney's "no crying" policy, Elizabeth asked John if he'd be interested in coaching. John said no. Unequivocably. And unfortunately, complained to Rodney.

( Read more... )

Music: Friend Like Me -- Robin Williams, Aladdin soundtrack (yes, I'm well aware this song is evil in this context)

tzzzz, whom I just met and already approve of heartily, has a proposition on Proposition 8:

For everyone who writes a drabble or a fic as a comment to this post today, I'll donate a five dollars to the campaign, up to $150 (it would be a lot more if I wasn't a graduate student, trust me).  If anyone else wants to make a similar pledge, let me know and I'll add you. 

Mine is here.

Your story goes here.