#ch: sheppard

[bear-domain]

I have no excuse for this i just wanted to see chubby brazil (<- was just attacked by brain worms)

[dr-futbol-blog]

The Defiant One, Pt. 1

I've thought about where I would have placed 38 Minutes (S01E04) that seemed to fit ill so early in the season, and I think it would have made the most sense between the mid-season two-parter and The Defiant One (S01E12), discussed here.

The Genii siege visibly changes something between Sheppard and McKay, and we get to resolve that a little too fast in this episode that follows directly after. 38 Minutes has that strange almost-confession to Weir,* which would have made more sense here as Weir and Sheppard seem to grow closer at the end of The Eye (S01E11) although, I argue, it is precisely because Sheppard needed to create distance between himself and McKay that they did. He was using Weir to create distance, in effect hiding behind her, because Kolya figured out after like a minute of talking to Sheppard that McKay was the best way of getting to him. Sheppard was reminded of the fact that being important to him put McKay in mortal danger.

In 38 Minutes, we also have Sheppard's own near death experience and everyone working so very hard to save him, McKay worrying so much about him, the way that they look at each other, that something unspoken lingering between them, McKay's agitation over what ever Sheppard wanted to tell Weir; all of that would have made sense between these two episodes. The Iratus bug could have symbolized Sheppard's internal anguish: the way he's in agony at first and then the pain gets so bad that he gets numb and loses all feeling. It all would have made so much sense.

But regardless, we start the episode with a driving flying lesson (which, incidentally, also would have made the most sense following the events where both Sheppard and the other designated pilot were incapacitated at the same time). McKay received the ATA gene therapy and Sheppard is teaching him how to fly the puddle jumper. Where the previous episode ended with Sheppard very clearly wanting to create distance between them, here they are all cozy with each other again. Or s it seems.

Clearly, this is important. As mentioned previously, they need more pilots since there are few people with the ATA gene (two that we know have the real gene, a few others through gene therapy), and only a fraction of them know how to fly. It's important not only for the mission and taking the pressure off the commander having to do transport flights, it's also important for the team to have another person capable of doing it. And apparently neither Teyla nor Ford are able to do it (toward the end of the episode, they have a random soldier having to fly them over) which makes McKay not only the best choice but also the only one.

So whether he wanted to or not, what ever he was feeling inside, teaching Rodney how to fly the jumper was something that needed to be done. And here we are.

What Sheppard says is very interesting.

Granted, we don't know anything about his background at this point, often the way people talk to others reveals a lot about how they've been talked to in the past. It indicates that when ever he did something wrong as a child, he was corrected by snapping at him. My guy, you're in space. What could possibly happen if he lets go of the controls? You're going to veer off and crash into some more space?

It's also notable that he uses 'parents' instead of 'dad' or 'father' (both being that he is a guy and as dads are much more likely to be the one teaching kids how to drive; also, he himself was clearly taught by a driving instructor but teaching your kids how to drive is actually pretty common, it's a loving thing to do, and parents are supposed to be teaching their kids even in the case that they have an instructor, as kids learn by watching their parents whether they want it or not). So, you know. He has a mysterious past and a sad childhood, looks like.

Granted, McKay also seems to have had a pretty crappy childhood and, what's worse, seems to think it was all completely normal. We hear him reveal all manner of child abuse casually, here and there. It seems that they both were lonely and sad but for different reasons. McKay's immediate gut response "Snapping doesn't help!" is likewise telling, indicates that there was a lot of pressure put on him from a very young age.

Sheppard's use of the word 'parent' also creates distance between him and one or both of his parents. This man has been court-martialed, he has clearly been traumatized by something. He does not think he has anyone waiting for him back on earth. We know at this point that several people he served with have died, and that he blames himself for every one of these deaths. And he's not good at dealing with emotions, especially difficult ones. He says as much in Sateda (S03E04):

Sheppard: Look, Teyla. I'm not really good at, uh... Actually, I'm... I'm terrible at expressing... I don't know what you'd call it, uh... Teyla: Feelings? Sheppard: Yeah, sure,

He is terrible at expressing feelings. He especially has trouble verbalizing them.

When he is feeling difficult emotions, he uses self-soothing techniques (see the lip thing). One of these self-soothing techniques is creating distance between himself and the object of his emotion. So, instead of father he says parent (mom+dad) because he essentially uses the less significant, less painful thing (mom) to conceal the more significant, more painful thing (dad). Using the less significant object to create distance to the more difficult object forms like a barrier between him and an emotion he does not want to or can't face or deal with just then. Just like, in the previous episode, he used "Weir and McKay" instead of McKay. He was using the less significant, less important thing to mask the more significant, more important thing. It lessens the impact of the emotion attached to it. We see him do this a lot especially in connection to Rodney ("Even Rodney"). Again and again and again.

You can see him do the self-soothing lip thing before engaging McKay (like he's not sure he should say anything, like he wants to not have to say anything; he just can't help himself when it comes to this man):

Here, he is creating distance between himself and one or even both of his parents (and let's face it, it's probably the dad) but he's also, at the same time, creating distance between himself and McKay both by using the passive voice and lumping McKay into the category of kids. See previous episode as to why he desperately needs this distance between them.

But what he is actually saying here is that he is emotionally too close to McKay to be able to be an effective instructor to him. That's what he is saying. He's emotionally compromised. Now, whether you think his feelings are fatherly (he does not look at McKay the way a father looks at a son), friendly (he does not look at McKay the way a friend looks at a friend), collegial (he does not look at McKay the way he looks at Ford and Teyla), or whether you believe he thinks of himself as McKay's second uncle third removed, this is what he's saying in the scene. That he's too close to McKay to be able to teach him. He feels that he is too close to McKay.

It's possible that the whole reason as to why he's teaching McKay how to navigate the jumper is that it would allow him not to have to accompany him on these kinds of missions, harmless and scientific. If McKay knows how to fly a jumper, they would be able to spend less time together. Spending less time together would mean less emotion, would mean less pain, less of a chance for him to get McKay hurt or killed. This is foolish to think, of course, since absence has a tendency of making the heart grow fonder, as the saying goes. But we saw him start creating this distance between them at the end of The Eye (S1E10) and this is on par, is a logical continuation of that.

Humour, as it turns out, is another way of creating distance and coping with difficult emotions.

We are again reminded of the fact that McKay does not know not to keep it straight. Sheppard can do it in the air but not on land.

So, the thing is. As much as Sheppard wants to create distance between them, Mckay wants the opposite. He wants to connect with the Major. He's not making it easy for Sheppard. In this, he is defying him.

McKay tells Sheppard that he's touched by his sentiment. Keeps glancing at him. He refers to the puddle jumper, for all intents and purposes Sheppard's puddle jumper, as baby. He wants to see what this baby can do. Baby is a term of affection used most often by men to indicate that they see something or someone as soft and beautiful and needing to be taken care of in a gentle way. There is definitely something flirty in McKay using this term for Sheppard's puddle jumper.

But then Sheppard picks this up from McKay and also calls the jumper baby (yes, he's amused by the way McKay said it and ribbing on him, but picking up vocabulary from the object of your affection is yet another classic sign of attraction). They are taking care of the baby together. Parents, kids, babies. Freud probably would have a lot to say about the things they say and their subconscious desires.

Freud might also have something to say about Sheppard's fear that McKay is going to "snap the damn things off" if he doesn't ease up his grip on the control stick. But he doesn't want McKay to take his hands off them, either. He's instructing McKay on exactly how it likes to be held.

(We are also reminded of subconscious desires by the control display popping up, seeing how the puddle jumpers respond to Sheppard's mind; his desires.)

They are accompanied on the mission by two red shirts, random scientists we have never seen before but who we are to believe have worked with McKay previously and know him pretty well.

So, maybe it's because of the intense, borderline erotic look of concentration on McKay's face or his tone of voice, or what ever, Sheppard seems to start gravitating toward McKay. Even in front of two people he barely knows that work for the other man. Here, he turns back to look at Dr. Gaul, clearly amused by how different this scientist is from his scientist, but what he's doing at the same time is lean closer to Rodney:

He looks... turned on, frankly. And he sure as hell is not turned on by Dr. Gaul, sweating though he may be. The reason that he turned back to look at the nauseous scientist behind him might actually have been just to look away from the sex faces McKay is making while he's concentrating real hard.

Then he leans in even closer, to whisper conspiratorially to McKay. And McKay, well. He leans in, as well.

Sheppard: Why'd you choose this guy for the mission? McKay: Brendan's the one who discovered the Lagrange Point satellite was out here. Elizabeth felt he should see it for himself. Sheppard: Don't let go of the controls!

Sheppard snaps in a sudden jolt of panic. And it may not be McKay letting go of the controls that made him do it. It's that he mentioned Elizabeth, reminding him of why he needed to not be that close to Rodney. Just like McKay used Elizabeth's name (yelping "Elizabeth!" in near panic) when Sheppard was getting too close to him in his lab in The Storm (S01E09). They both seem to be using Weir as a... weir between them.

And again, as he will many, many times in the future, Sheppard needs to be touching something, needs to have his hands pressed against something, when he's near McKay:

Then they arrive at their destination and switch seats. They move seamlessly together, Sheppard needs only to mention his name and McKay does exactly what he wants, and is only too happy to oblige. We've seen this happen in movies between a man and a woman. It has never not been erotic (underlined by McKay's line "This thing is enormous!"):

Here, it's McKay that keeps glancing back and back at Sheppard as they're approaching the humongous ancient weapons platform. A weapons platform that should be a pretty interesting thing to look at, all things considered. But his eyes keep on being drawn back to Sheppard who, it should be noted, is wearing only a t-shirt.

Sheppard is trying not to look at McKay, catches himself several times before he does. He's not allowing himself to do it. That's until they come upon the wraith distress call from the planet below.

They look at each other. They communicate in words but they also communicate with their eyes. Suddenly, they are one mind again.

Continued in Pt. 2 (NB this episode focuses entirely on Sheppard and McKay so this is in 10 parts)

.* Actually Weir's whole "I didn't think so!" schtick would have made sense if it was about her knowing that Sheppard had been using her to create distance between himself and Rodney. Like she was telling him that she knows the half-hearted flirty smiles at the end of The Eye weren't really about her (same with the nurse right then) but were an attempt to build a defensive barrier between himself and the thought of losing someone important to him again. Because she knows.

Also, we would just have had a similar confession from Rodney where he was trying real hard to tell something to Weir and she wouldn't let him finish. Those almost confessions would mirror each other.

McKay: If this doesn't work... Weir: It will. McKay: I'm just saying, if it doesn't work... Weir: It will. McKay: I'm sure it will, but in the unlikely event that it doesn't, I... Weir: Rodney! Please.

---

Sheppard: Listen, uh, I'd like to say something while I still can. Weir: Don't! You're gonna get through this. Sheppard: If I was ... he wouldn't have let me go. Weir: Who wouldn't have let you go? Sheppard: The Wraith.

Sheppard: What I wanted to say was ... Weir: Save your strength, John, and tell me in person. Sheppard: This is important. Weir: I'm listening.

[massharp1971]

Ch. 26 Seduction

Someone’s left a cupcake on Rodney’s desk.

He’s gasping in delight at the gooey centre when Sheppard walks in, looking pleased.

“Liked that, huh?”

“Of course.”

“I baked it myself.”

“Oh.”

Rodney panics. Sheppard’s been attentive, solicitous, and maybe a bit handsy lately. Rodney adores him, but… not that way. Not exactly. Well… it’s complicated.

Later, after movie night, Teyla and Ronon are gone, and John’s nuzzled up to Rodney’s side adorably.

Damn it, he wants this but not… he needs to know.

“Look, what is this? What’re you after, John?”

John snuggles closer.

“Already got it,” he says happily.

read the series

[siddysthings]

Answer to What's wrong with white people who think they don't have to pay reparations? by Jim Sheppard

Answer to What's wrong with white people who think they don't have to pay reparations? by Jim Sheppard https://contraversialchat.quora.com/Whats-wrong-with-white-people-who-think-they-dont-have-to-pay-reparations-851?ch=15&oid=1477743690214842&share=322d6747&srid=uExcuk&target_type=answer

[spinstrackingsystem]

T.G. Sheppard Announces Crystal Gayle, Clint Black, Mark Wills & Jake Owen As Future Guests On The T.G. Sheppard Show

Country music legend and SiriusXM host T.G. Sheppard continues to bring some of the hottest names in country music as his special guests on The T.G. Sheppard Show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country (ch. 58). Airing weekly each Friday at 3 pm ET and again on Saturdays at 12 am ET and Wednesdays at 12 pm ET, Sheppard plays some of the biggest hits from the 80s and 90s and shares behind-the-scenes stories with the most recognizable names in country music from that era. With a different guest each week, Sheppard has recently shared exclusive interviews with Reba McEntire, Lee Greenwood, Tracy Lawrence, Barbara Mandrell, The Bellamy Brothers, and Travis Tritt, just to name a few, and is excited to announce his upcoming guests will include Crystal Gayle, Mark Wills, Clint Black, and Jake Owen. T.G. Sheppard fans will not want to miss this one-of-a-kind show, which can also be heard on-demand on the SXM App. “To be part of the SiriusXM Radio family with my own show is more exciting now than ever,” shares Sheppard. “I’m also amazed and appreciate so deeply how much my music is still being played on the radio and enjoyed by music fans everywhere. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the release of “Slow Burn.“ It’s still one of my favorites even though it’s been 40 years. My Oh My! Where does the time go?” Due to his success throughout the 80s and 90s with a total of 21 #1 hits, The T.G. Sheppard Show’s popularity continues to soar on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. Read the full article

[newmusicradionetwork]

T.G. Sheppard Announces Crystal Gayle, Clint Black, Mark Wills & Jake Owen As Future Guests On The T.G. Sheppard Show

Country music legend and SiriusXM host T.G. Sheppard continues to bring some of the hottest names in country music as his special guests on The T.G. Sheppard Show on SiriusXM’s Prime Country (ch. 58). Airing weekly each Friday at 3 pm ET and again on Saturdays at 12 am ET and Wednesdays at 12 pm ET, Sheppard plays some of the biggest hits from the 80s and 90s and shares behind-the-scenes stories with the most recognizable names in country music from that era. With a different guest each week, Sheppard has recently shared exclusive interviews with Reba McEntire, Lee Greenwood, Tracy Lawrence, Barbara Mandrell, The Bellamy Brothers, and Travis Tritt, just to name a few, and is excited to announce his upcoming guests will include Crystal Gayle, Mark Wills, Clint Black, and Jake Owen. T.G. Sheppard fans will not want to miss this one-of-a-kind show, which can also be heard on-demand on the SXM App. “To be part of the SiriusXM Radio family with my own show is more exciting now than ever,” shares Sheppard. “I’m also amazed and appreciate so deeply how much my music is still being played on the radio and enjoyed by music fans everywhere. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the release of “Slow Burn.“ It’s still one of my favorites even though it’s been 40 years. My Oh My! Where does the time go?” Due to his success throughout the 80s and 90s with a total of 21 #1 hits, The T.G. Sheppard Show’s popularity continues to soar on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. He is currently celebrating the 40th Anniversary of his hit album ‘Slow Burn’ which was released in 1983 and the title track became Sheppard’s thirteenth number-one hit. The album also included the popular singles “Make My Day” with Clint Eastwood and “Somewhere Down The Line.” How subscribers can listen: SiriusXM’s Prime Country is available to subscribers nationwide on SiriusXM radios, the SXM App, and with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or however they stream at home. Streaming access is included with all of SiriusXM’s trials and most popular plans. T.G. Sheppard Upcoming Tour Dates: FEB 11 – Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center / Huntingdon, Tenn. MAR 12 – Florida Strawberry Festival / Plant City, Fla. MAR 25 – Wharton County Youth Fair / Wharton, Texas APR 22 – Orange Blossom Opry / Weirsdale, Fla. MAY 27 – Real Life Amphitheater / Selma, Texas JUN 16 – Blue Gate Music Hall / Shipshewana, Ind. (With T. Graham Brown) AUG 05 – Sugar Creek Casino / Hinton, Okla. AUG 12 – Liberty Showcase Inc. / Liberty, N.C. NOV 03 – Private Event / Nashville, Tenn. For more information on T.G. Sheppard and his schedule, visit his website, YouTube page, or follow him on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website | YouTube About T.G. Sheppard: T.G. Sheppard has always had an unstoppable passion for music. That passion, combined with a steadfast dedication to entertainment, has made him one of the most popular live performers in country music today. With 21 #1 hit songs, his live concerts are chock full of his chart-topping tunes like “Last Cheater’s Waltz,” “I Loved ‘Em Every One,” and “Do You Wanna Go To Heaven.” Sheppard released his latest album, Midnight In Memphis, in 2019. With more than 40 years of show business under his belt, it’s only natural that Sheppard has developed a reputation as a solid performer who delivers exactly what audiences want. All this and more, combined with a steadfast commitment to entertainment, has truly made T.G. Sheppard one of the great legends in country music. About SiriusXM: Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in North America and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. SiriusXM’s platforms collectively reach approximately 150 million listeners, the largest digital audio audience across paid and free tiers in North America, and deliver music, sports, talk, news, comedy, entertainment, and podcasts. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM’s subsidiaries Stitcher, Simplecast and AdsWizz make it a leader in podcast hosting, production, distribution, analytics, and monetization. The Company’s advertising sales arm, SXM Media, leverages its scale, cross-platform sales organization, and ad tech capabilities to deliver results for audio creators and advertisers. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers. For more about SiriusXM, please go to siriusxm.com. # # # Suggested post: .@TGSheppardMusic announces upcoming guests @TheCrystalGayle @MarkWillsMusic @Clint_Black and more on #TheTGSheppardShow on @SiriusXM’s @SXMPrimeCountry Channel 58 Read the full article

[newmusicweekly]

T.G. Sheppard Announces Crystal Gayle, Clint Black, Mark Wills & Jake Owen As Future Guests On The T.G. Sheppard Show

Country music legend and SiriusXM host T.G. Sheppard continues to bring some of the hottest names in country music as his special guests on The T.G. Sheppard Show on SiriusXM's Prime Country (ch. 58). Airing weekly each Friday at 3 pm ET and again on Saturdays at 12 am ET and Wednesdays at 12 pm ET, Sheppard plays some of the biggest hits from the 80s and 90s and shares behind-the-scenes stories with the most recognizable names in country music from that era. With a different guest each week, Sheppard has recently shared exclusive interviews with Reba McEntire, Lee Greenwood, Tracy Lawrence, Barbara Mandrell, The Bellamy Brothers, and Travis Tritt, just to name a few, and is excited to announce his upcoming guests will include Crystal Gayle, Mark Wills, Clint Black, and Jake Owen. T.G. Sheppard fans will not want to miss this one-of-a-kind show, which can also be heard on-demand on the SXM App. “To be part of the SiriusXM Radio family with my own show is more exciting now than ever,” shares Sheppard. “I’m also amazed and appreciate so deeply how much my music is still being played on the radio and enjoyed by music fans everywhere. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the release of “Slow Burn.“ It’s still one of my favorites even though it’s been 40 years. My Oh My! Where does the time go?” Due to his success throughout the 80s and 90s with a total of 21 #1 hits, The T.G. Sheppard Show’s popularity continues to soar on SiriusXM’s Prime Country. Read the full article

[elliepoldenviscommlevel5]

CHS Briefing

This week we were given the chance to work with a local design agency to create a brand identity for a grow your own greens kit. A device that allows people to grow their own plants and veg within their flat by emitting growing lights and water. The brand believes in a hassle free experience and that every small change can make a big difference.

Unfortunately, during this week I was in self isolation due to testing positive for Covid-19, therefore I was unable to attend the briefing and workshops. Luckily, my housemates that are also on my course included me within their group. Therefore I joined the group with Hannah Sheppard, Luca Roebuck and Skye Heron.

Due to being in isolation I was unable to work in person with my group, however they were very helpful in terms of keeping me up to date. Once I had come out of isolation I was able to join, at this point they had reached a mid point presentation with the design agency.

During this presentation we explained how we wanted to aim our focus on the busy, chaotic side of living in London and learning how to celebrate that. We decided that the USP of the product was that the product will be adaptable and can be assembled in different ways to fit the consumers living space. This helps create a solution to the brief as it solves the problem of people not being able to grow their own products due to the lack of space in their living space.

We have decided that the tone of the brand will be bold and exciting. We will give this brand identity by using bright colours and clear decorative display fonts. We have also discussed about potentially bringing in illustrations within the identity. Hannah had a very interesting idea go characterising the plants by giving them names and personalities to influence the consumers to connect and care for them.

[majorsamcarters]

[julyeleventh]

[rottingrootsrpg-blog]

Roddy Sheppard ha sido añadido al directorio, ¡ya es legal en Rotting Roots! 

[ao3feed-samjack]

The Stranger I know

read it on the AO3

by Mini_Goat

“Do you suppose any alternates who lost the other, traveled to a reality where the other survived and they ended up together? “That’s a lot of permutations Daniel, but it’s possible.” “A little pathetic though, doncha think?” Jack grumbled “You wouldn’t fall in love with an alternate me if something had happened to me?” Sam looked at Jack from her position tucked against him on the couch. “I’d be ok with it you know.” Sam told him and stroked his cheek gently and earned herself an ambiguous and somewhat ambivalent look. “No one could ever replace you Sam, not even someone almost entirely like you.” He told her, his heart in his eyes. ~Shai Ch 10.5 ~

Words: 2044, Chapters: 1/56, Language: English

Fandoms: Stargate SG-1

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha "Sam" Carter, Daniel Jackson (Stargate), Vala Mal Doran, Janet Fraiser (Stargate), Cameron Mitchell (Stargate), Teal'c (Stargate), Hank Landry (Stargate), Louis Ferretti, Jennifer Hailey, Walter Harriman, Kerry Johnson, John Sheppard

Relationships: Samantha "Sam" Carter/Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson/Vala Mal Doran

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Build, Slow Romance, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt, Hurt No Comfort, Alternate Universe, References to Depression, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Destruction of Earth, Post-Loss, Misunderstandings, Emotional Roller Coaster, Drama & Romance, Eventual Romance, Tragic Romance, Angst and Romance, Friendship, Friendship/Love, Best Friends, Male-Female Friendship, Female Friendship, Romantic Friendship, Second Chances, True Love, One True Pairing, Angst with a Happy Ending, Heavy Angst, Angst and Feels, References to Real People, Original Character(s)

read it on the AO3

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, August 11

WILLOW Anya, you're a vengeance demon. Just teleport! ANYA Well, as it turns out, teleporting isn't a right, it's a privilege. I withdrew a vengeance spell last week, and this is my punishment. I can only teleport for official business. I have to file a flight plan and everything. WILLOW Oh. I'm sorry. That must be hard. ANYA Yeah, it bites a pretty big one. And the vengeance itself, i-it's not as fulfilling as I remember. WILLOW Really? 'Cause I got the impression that you enjoyed—you know, inflicting. ANYA Well, causing pain sounds really cool, I know, but turns out it's really upsetting. Didn't use to be, but now it is.

~~Same Time, Same Place~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Dire Situation by a2zmom (Buffy/Angel, G)

You’re a Word I Can’t Forget by FanFreak611 (Angel, T)

Pride of Xander by Baldur (Xander/Cordelia, Xander/Harmony, M)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Faith Sheppard, Part 38 by hermione2be (SG:A crossover, Faith, PG/FR13/K+)

Redirected, part 5 by 3am_moonlight a.k.a. MirroredIllusions (crossover with Stargate SG-1, Teen)

How To Live (For Dummies) - Chapter 1 by ZionSunrise (crossover with Supernatural, s6 canon ships, E)

A Gutted World Ch. 7 by Spooksdarkhero (Xander, Faith, Giles, K)

Bring Me To Life Ch. 62 by Jean-theGuardian (Buffy, Angel, Lorne, T)

Welcome to Bellevue! Ch. 3 by Yosoy Panqueques (Buffy, Spike, Willow, OC, T)

The Real McCoy Ch. 8 by michael t (Scoobies, T)

So Long Scarecrow Ch. 5 by butimbroken (Buffy/Angel, T)

Reasons Never Needed Answers Ch. 9 by butimbroken (Buffy/Angel, T)

Got Your Six, Ch. 2 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Slayer and the Vampire, Ch. 49 by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Bereft, Ch. 30 by Twinkles (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Marriage, Sunnydale-Style, Ch. 3 by scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, R)

From Beneath Me, Ch. 3 by Buffyworldbuilder (crossover with the MCU, FR7)

Not A Monster, Ch. 8 by Grief Counseling, Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Time We Had, Ch. 12 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Everything, Ch. 6 by Ginger (Buffy/Spike, R)

Perfect Clarity, Ch. 3 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Goblin sex energy. Sex goblin energy? by isevery0nehereverystoned (Spike, probably NSFW - some nudity)

Fanvid: Loving you is a losing game by ZNellyZ (Buffy/Angel)

Fanvid: Hex Girls by Brittney Quinn (Willow)

Fanvid: Sorry by Faith Victoria (Willow/Tara)

Vidlet: In My Hands by astvrion (Buffy x Faith)

Vidlet: perfect enemy by zleskaia (Buffy x Faith)

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 8x22: Stop the World Cause I Want Off Part 6 by Buffy the Vampire Slayer Chosen (ensemble, no relation to the comics)

What You Feel (Once More, With Feeling) - tap dance cover by Jenne Vermes (featuring a cat)

Spike and Buffy [portrayed by the artist's stuffed animals] by Monika Varro (worksafe, includes Dead Things alley scene)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Boss Rush Speedrun by PB Speedruns

🔥 ATS 114. I've Got You Under My Skin 🔥 by tmcarlee

[Reviews & Recaps]

The Zeppo by handsofabitterman

Anya-centric episode recommendations by ex-vengeancedemon

Episode 5: Never Kill a Boy on the First Date - Bothered & Bewildered: A Buffyverse Podcast

Halloween by Coin's Edge Media Podcasts

The Dark Age by Slayed! The Buffyverse Revisited Podcast

The One Where We Meet a Werewolf and Lose Our Souls (Part 1) [BtVS season 2] by Unlearn16: Class is in Session

Video: one clip from every episode of angel (ever wanted to watch the entirety of AtS in the time it takes to watch one episode?) by heda reyes

forever, after life, selfless by brian5mbv and others

Thoughts on Checkpoint (5x12) by Defvac2, rav4boy and others

[Community Announcements]

Wrapping Up Mystery Month 2022 at Elysian Fields (vote for which event you’d like to see happen next summer)

[Fandom Discussions]

Willow – Priestess [Tarot card as shown in Persona] by madimpossibledreamer

Takes you have on the show that you know are unfair [irrational]? by Faded90

So let's talk about Rack.... by American Aurora

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[ao3feed-mcshep]

absolutely smashed circadian rhythms

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/879HexK

by balancingequations

"don't think about it alya." rodney shakes his head vigourously, whilst john is still looking at his reflection in the mirror.

"i dont look that old–"

"- i think it's because you're a dad–"

"but he's not?" she scrunches her face, "my father is still well and alive and you know that colonel sheppard doesn't have any other ch–"

"legally!" rodney's voice edges on exasperation, "i mean, legally!"

Words: 4716, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of twinkling constellations.

Fandoms: Stargate Atlantis

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Original Child Character(s)

Relationships: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard

Additional Tags: fic youve all been waiting for where the kid asks john what a dilf is, sorry its been sitting in my drafts for literal months, Fluff, Angst, Romance, theres romance everyone !, Bonding, Found Family, Parenthood, being a dad moments, embarrassing sometimes, Post Series, Post canon, Rodney McKay's Citrus Allergy, rodney does a romcom and shows up at the door, in the rain, in his ugly fleece, its just 4k of fluff, Cutesy, Kid Fic

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/879HexK

[ragingpancake]

As I Lay Sleeping: Ch. 2 - Sanctuary

Chapter 1

“It’s about time you woke up.” The sun is bright and harsh from the moment John steps outside and he has to lift a hand to help shield his face from its glow. The voice is familiar, he thinks, or it should be and it washes over him like an old song with words he can’t remember, just the melody. “You heard it, didn’t you?” A question, sure, but John thinks she already knows the answer and it’s unsettling because when he lowers his hand, eyes finally adjusted to the light, he peers into hazel eyes and realizes that she knows him. “He said that this would happen. That when it was time, she would call to you.” She holds his gaze for a moment, and she looks hopeful, like she’s just waiting for some spark of recognition, but it never comes. Her face falls just a fraction before she smiles, and he feels so wholly unworthy of that in this moment that it leaves him shifting from one foot to the next a little uncomfortably. “Well, that’s okay,” she says gently, diplomatically. “Rodney said that it was possible this would happen too. Tell me, what exactly do you remember, John?”

Nothing. He remembers a whole lot of nothing and he thinks, based on the look she’s giving him, she already knows that. “Listen, I’d really like to stay and chat, but I’ve got somewhere I need to be.” “Oh really?” She asks, eyebrow raised. “And where’s that?” Okay, she’s got him there. “I can help you, John. That’s why I’m here, to do just that. To help you try to remember. But in order for me to do that, you’re going to have to trust me a little.” Trust. It feels foreign to him, but in the same way that he knows that she’s familiar, he knows that he can trust her. Like maybe he has, before. He thinks back to the voice that spoke to him in the hut, the one that she seems to know. Had she heard it too, then? “Elizabeth,” he says and for a second, her eyes light up and she gives him a smile so genuine that something shifts inside of him. “Yes, that’s right. Very good, John. I’m Elizabeth and a very long time ago, we used to work together. On Atlantis.” Atlantis. Home. Those two words are synonymous with each other, John knows, and it’s the first thing since he woke up that he can be sure of. “Why am I here?” He asks. “Where exactly is here?” Elizabeth gestures for him to follow and from where he’s standing, it’s not like he’s got much of a choice. He has no idea where –-or who—he is, and she seems to be the only one who can provide him with some answers. At least for now, where she goes, he has no choice but to follow. --- They don’t walk for very long. She leads him down to the tree line he hadn’t noticed when he’d first stepped out into the light. There’s a large tree, and it looks like maybe it’s a place she comes often. There are a few logs that she leads him over to and as she sits, she gestures for him to do the same. “Your name,” she says, “is Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard of the United States Airforce. We met when you joined the Atlantis Expedition.” She pauses for a moment and he tries to remember, but it’s all still blank. “You were my military commander, leader of our Alpha Gate Team and you were... well, you were my friend.” She gives a small smile, one that seems sad. “We’ve been through a lot together, John. The Pegasus Galaxy, as beautiful as it is, came with plenty of dangers that we were not prepared for. Dangers that we never even saw coming.” “Immediately after arriving in Atlantis, you and a team led by Colonel Marshall Sumner traveled to a nearby planet through what we call a Stargate. It was there that for the first time, we encountered the Wraith. It was then that we... well. I suppose for many, that would’ve been the beginning of the end. But not for you.” Elizabeth is quiet for a moment, lost in her own thoughts like she’s a million miles away. “Elizabeth?” He prompts. “We lost a lot of good people,” she says and her voice is hoarse, thick with emotion. When she glances back up at him, there are unshed tears in her eyes, but she swipes them away almost angrily. “We spent nearly three years fighting the Wraith, doing what we could to protect the people of Atlantis—to protect Earth but it wasn’t... It was never going to be enough.” “Three years after waking the Wraith, after fighting them off of our doorstep more times than we could count, they were bearing down on us. We evacuated the city, got as many people out as we could.” “But we didn’t win.” John doesn’t need his memory to know that; he can see it written all over her face. “No,” she agrees. “No, we did not win. But we didn’t lose, either. Not yet.” John’s not sure what she means by that but before he gets a chance to ask, she’s speaking again. “We are on M7-X732, otherwise known as the Planet of the Cloister,” she says. “It had been abandoned for about a year before we brought you here.” In the sky, the sun is fading and there’s a chill that fills the air. He can feel it, but Elizabeth doesn’t even seem to notice. “You were mortally wounded during the last stand in Atlantis, John. Rodney had come up with a plan in the eleventh hour, like he

always did. The Wraith had woken because we’d inadvertently woken their Queen. They wake when she wakes, they slumber when she slumbers. He needed more time though. You were the one to give it to him and you nearly paid for it with your life.” Hazel eyes flicker to meet his. “That was nearly one hundred years ago.” “That’s not possible,” John rasps and Elizabeth gives him the smallest of smiles. “I can assure you, John, had you not lost your memories, you would know very well that it is. Anything is possible when it comes to Rodney.” She gestures around them. “You got trapped here once. A time dilation field. By the time Rodney had figured it out, you’d spent six months with the people of the Cloister and it was a world where we knew you’d be safe.” “This doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense.” “I know,” Elizabeth says. “And I’m sorry for that.” She reaches for him then, thin fingers curling around his wrist. “You were put into Stasis, John. The intention was to keep you there until the very last moment, to give you the time you needed to heal. Rodney ensured that no one would find this place, that you would be left undisturbed until it was time for you to wake.” “Wake for what? You said he figured it out, right? This Rodney guy. What do you need me for?” “As we speak, Rodney is back on Atlantis in a Stasis pod of his own. It was a design we took from the Aurora, a sort of shared consciousness so to speak. A virtual reality. For the last one hundred years, he’s shared a reality with the hibernating Wraith Queen, keeping her from waking, keeping the hives from waking.” “He’s losing, John. She’s figured it out, Rodney always knew she would, but he’d hoped it would give you enough time to heal.” “I don’t-- what am I supposed to do?” He can’t even remember his own favorite color, how was he supposed to remember how to find Atlantis, how was he supposed to remember what to do? “Find him,” Elizabeth says. “Find them. Even now, if Rodney’s theories were right, there are sixty hive ships in hibernation just outside of Lantea’s orbit. Find Atlantis. Control the chair. Destroy them all while they sleep.” Well, doesn’t sound like that’s asking for too much. Given the fact that, you know, these things apparently almost killed him a century ago.  “And what if I can’t do what you’re asking? If I couldn’t do it before, what makes you think I can do it now?”  “When you and Rodney made your last stand, you two were alone, John.” Elizabeth stands and for a moment, turns her back to him. “Spread across four worlds, you will find sarcophagi containing exactly what you need. It would be reckless to try to return to Atlantis now, without your weapons, without your memories. Find each sarcophagus and save our home.” She turns and John is taken aback by how much older she looks now. How... frail she appears. “And what... what about you?” She gives him a rueful smile. “I’ve done my part, John. I’ve watched and I’ve waited for a very long time; I’m very tired now.” She sits down on the log and John pitches forward off of his own, gripping her shoulders gently to keep her upright. “Elizabeth...” “It’s alright.” A wrinkled hand comes up to rest on his cheek and it’s so familiar that John closes his eyes, savoring it for half a second. “I would tell you to be brave, but that’s all you’ve ever been.” “I don’t know where to go,” he says, and there’s panic rising in his chest with each passing moment as she fades away. “Climb the mountain. Go through the cave. I’ll keep the door open long enough for you to pass through. Let... Let Atlantis guide you.” It’s time to go, John.  The voice in his head is gentle, mournful and he wonders if Elizabeth can hear it too.  He shifts on his knees and he reaches for her, guiding her into his arms carefully before he lays her down against the soft grass. “I’m so sorry, Elizabeth,” because he knows, somehow in his heart, that it’s his wakening that’s caused this. Hazel eyes meet his one last time as a peaceful smile touches her

lips. “When you... find Rodney,” she manages, voice so soft that he almost can’t hear, “tell him... I always knew... it would work.” And then, in much the same way as it was when he awoke in that hut, John Sheppard is alone.

AN: I took some liberties with a few things, mostly the time dilation field and you know, the whole One Wraith Queen to rule them all thing, but I figured since it's an AU... well. Forgive me, please.

[happymeishappylife]

Games I Played in 2021

1. Mass Effect 3

I really enjoyed the final trilogy story of the mass effect series and getting to see what the ultimate fight with the reapers was going to be and how it was going to end with Sheppard. Having played these on my Xbox 360, these were the original games as opposed to the Legendary Edition and I actually liked the synthetic life ending. I mean especially after really enjoying Legion’s storyline, I couldn’t just kill off all artificial life to save the universe and the synthetic life seemed like a good compromise. But we’ll see in the new game what the developers actually choose to do.

2. Mass Effect Andromeda

To be honest these two could be tied. The jump in the productions and graphics and a brand new universe to explore was a great way to refresh the series and start brand new storylines. As I posted about while playing, my only gripes were the endless unimportant side quests and the bugs, but other than that I loved the story in Andromeda and loved Ryder and the ability to customize them into someone with more depth than Shepard. I would love to see a sequel, but I know that’s really reaching since a majority of people didn’t like this game.

3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

I finally got myself a Switch this year and of course I had to get this game. After watching enough people playing it in 2020, I knew I was going to love it. Plus as a Landscape Architect it was fun to customize and decorate my island. I played it almost every day after work and while the game is finally starting to wane on my interest, I know as soon as I get Happy Home Paradise, I’ll be right back in it.

4. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

It was bittersweet to finish the story of this Laura Croft, but the final game was awesome (at least final for now). I loved that not only did it really immerse itself in Latin and South America, but that it gave it new breath by having a whole culture of people to interact with instead of just being a lone wolf. Plus unlike Uncharted, where it is always for the good of humanity, I did appreciate that the game developers let Laura go really dark at the final battle. I mean girl has definitely killed a lot so it felt natural instead of her just being the golden heroine.

5. The Lonely Assassins

I love that Maze Theory has gotten a chance to produce higher quality Doctor Who games and this game was fantastic. Since it is mostly for mobile, it felt like you really did just pick up somebodies cell phone and get pulled into the mystery. Plus the fact that the game was a sequel/follow up to the Blink episode really added some depth to the weeping angels and the lore. I also loved all the cool easter eggs about the TARDIS and the Doctor.

6. Edge of Reality

Again, love that we get bigger Doctor Who games now and I love that I could play this on my Switch! I know they retrofitted the original VR game into the platform version though so some of it was slow and I ran into one glitch that required a full restart of the game which was annoying. But overall I loved being able to be the Doctor’s companion and see both the Thirteenth Doctor and the Tenth, though the weird Madame de Pompadour subplot was not to my liking. Still, imagine getting to do a game with all the Doctors like this, that would be amazing!

7. Super Smash Brothers Ultimate

I owned the original Smash on N64 way back in the day and then played off and on with friends over the years, but I fell out of Smash because I got turned off by the really competitive nature. But even having not played it in forever, I got super emotional over the announcement that Sora was finally going to be in the game. Because if there’s any character I can wreck with, it’s my keyblade boy. So I’ve been having fun replaying, playing the spirit board, and have dabbled in online play.

8. Songs For a Hero

My friend introduced me to this game and its silly and fun. While its a classic platformer game with a knight who is on a mission to save the princess, the whole premise is that the character sings throughout the entire story. Its silly and the lyrics are hilarious, but it made for a cute game. Plus the DLC with the zombie mode was awesome because our hero got a metal upgrade and it sounds amazing. Kudos to the developers.

9. Tetris 99

There was a stretch when I first got my Switch that I was playing this 20 minutes everyday. It made me a better Tetris player where I can comfortable say I get in the top 20 regularly, but I still can’t win this game. It’s a great fast paced update and I love this still of competitive gaming where as long as you’re good at Tetris, you have a great shot to win.

10. Pac-Man 99

I didn’t play this as much as I played Tetris only because this did require really learning how to attack the other players (a difficult task when you are playing Pac-Man), but none-the-less I had fun playing this competitive online game too. And I am okay at Pac-Man but not a master so it was fun to see how far I could go.

Other Games I played:

11. Jackbox Party Games

12. The First Tree