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crack_van2004-06-12 06:27 pm
kraken-wakes.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2004-06-12 06:27 pm
Entry tags:
The Last Man On Earth by Meridian (NC-17)
Fandom: STARGATE SG-1
Author: Meridian
Author website: Meridian's Other Oddities of Fiction
Pairing: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read:
The whole 'Jack and Daniel somehow end up reading each other's minds' has really been done to death and generally corresponds with Jack and Daniel both acting like teenage girls.
Ahem.
This, however, is a mature look at the situation. Meridian uses the sudden telepathy as a jumping off point to explore Jack and Daniel's relationship with each other, with their respective families, with friends and colleagues and with their allies and enemies.
Meridian also presents an interesting take on the ramifications of suddenly sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with another person. This is an intelligent and thought-provoking read (the flashback sequence and Sam and Jack's conversation were both things which have lingered with me) which rewards repeat reading.
One thing I especially liked about this story was how well the relationship between Jack and Daniel was handled at every step of the way. The main characterisation is strong, the plot goes far beyond the simple cliche and the supporting characters are used convincingly.
"Daniel," Fraiser said, standing beside the table between them. "Hold up the first card and think about what it is."
"It's a flower," Jack said, already bored with the game. He knew what Daniel was seeing, could see it in his mind as soon as Daniel recognized it. Daniel held up the next one.
"It's a six pointed star."
"Actually," Daniel said in a tone Jack had come to know preceded a lecture. "It's a Star of David, also known as the Shield of David. A symbol of the Jewish faith. A relatively new symbol too. It was supposed to represent the emblem on King David's shield, but historians haven't found much support for the claim in early rabbinic literature..."
"Daniel." Jack put a touch of whine in his tone - not that he needed to, since he was sure that Daniel could read what he was thinking.
"Hmm?" Daniel looked up. "Oh, sorry. Just trying to make it more interesting."
"Go on to the next one, Daniel," Dr. Fraiser requested, a slight edge to her tone. She sounded like she wasn't pleased with the additions they'd made to the test.
"Okay." Daniel smiled at her and dutifully held up the next card. "It's not just a plane. It's a B-52 Bomber." Jack decided he could play this game, too.
Daniel quirked an eyebrow at him. "And I'm supposed to recognize it? From a drawing? Please."
"I did." Jack smirked as Daniel made a choking sound. //I do know my planes. Air Force, remember.//
Fraiser sighed. "Next."
"It's a table," Jack said. Nothing to argue about there. He could feel Daniel agree.
"Yep. Table." Daniel showed the card to Fraiser and held up the next one.
Oh, but this one. He could not pass it up. "It's more than just a fish, Daniel, it's a striped bass. Might even be one from my favorite lake in northern Minnesota."
"It's a fish." Daniel glared at him. //It's just a fucking fish.//
//Fish don't fuck.//
//I can tell you what they do do. In detail, if you'd like.// Daniel smiled sweetly at him, and Jack knew way better than to trust that smile. It would be like trusting a cat that smiled at you like that.
Jack shook his head. //Not necessary.//
"I think we've seen enough," Fraiser said, taking the rest of the cards from Daniel.
"Hey, don't I get to try?" Jack asked. This had potential after all. Trust the doc to put an end to what little fun he was likely to get out of this.
Fraiser handed him back the cards. "I think we'll try and reverse it this time, and from a distance."
//Yeah, sure, why not?// Jack stood. "Where to?"
"Colonel. Go topside to the guard station and call us when you get there."
Topside was no different. Daniel could read his thoughts and see what was in his mind as soon as he recognized the object. They refrained from their earlier extraneous observations and stuck to what they saw.
Being topside also yielded another interesting development. Jack wanted to be back with Daniel.
"Okay, Daniel," Fraiser said, facing them as they sat side by side on one of the beds. "Tell me what you felt when the Colonel was gone and what you felt when he returned."
Daniel's forehead creased with concentration. "It wasn't quite a..."
"Compulsion." Jack said, knowing that Daniel was searching for the right word and now thinking that one worked fine.
The Last Man On Earth by Meridian
Author: Meridian
Author website: Meridian's Other Oddities of Fiction
Pairing: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read:
The whole 'Jack and Daniel somehow end up reading each other's minds' has really been done to death and generally corresponds with Jack and Daniel both acting like teenage girls.
Ahem.
This, however, is a mature look at the situation. Meridian uses the sudden telepathy as a jumping off point to explore Jack and Daniel's relationship with each other, with their respective families, with friends and colleagues and with their allies and enemies.
Meridian also presents an interesting take on the ramifications of suddenly sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with another person. This is an intelligent and thought-provoking read (the flashback sequence and Sam and Jack's conversation were both things which have lingered with me) which rewards repeat reading.
One thing I especially liked about this story was how well the relationship between Jack and Daniel was handled at every step of the way. The main characterisation is strong, the plot goes far beyond the simple cliche and the supporting characters are used convincingly.
"Daniel," Fraiser said, standing beside the table between them. "Hold up the first card and think about what it is."
"It's a flower," Jack said, already bored with the game. He knew what Daniel was seeing, could see it in his mind as soon as Daniel recognized it. Daniel held up the next one.
"It's a six pointed star."
"Actually," Daniel said in a tone Jack had come to know preceded a lecture. "It's a Star of David, also known as the Shield of David. A symbol of the Jewish faith. A relatively new symbol too. It was supposed to represent the emblem on King David's shield, but historians haven't found much support for the claim in early rabbinic literature..."
"Daniel." Jack put a touch of whine in his tone - not that he needed to, since he was sure that Daniel could read what he was thinking.
"Hmm?" Daniel looked up. "Oh, sorry. Just trying to make it more interesting."
"Go on to the next one, Daniel," Dr. Fraiser requested, a slight edge to her tone. She sounded like she wasn't pleased with the additions they'd made to the test.
"Okay." Daniel smiled at her and dutifully held up the next card. "It's not just a plane. It's a B-52 Bomber." Jack decided he could play this game, too.
Daniel quirked an eyebrow at him. "And I'm supposed to recognize it? From a drawing? Please."
"I did." Jack smirked as Daniel made a choking sound. //I do know my planes. Air Force, remember.//
Fraiser sighed. "Next."
"It's a table," Jack said. Nothing to argue about there. He could feel Daniel agree.
"Yep. Table." Daniel showed the card to Fraiser and held up the next one.
Oh, but this one. He could not pass it up. "It's more than just a fish, Daniel, it's a striped bass. Might even be one from my favorite lake in northern Minnesota."
"It's a fish." Daniel glared at him. //It's just a fucking fish.//
//Fish don't fuck.//
//I can tell you what they do do. In detail, if you'd like.// Daniel smiled sweetly at him, and Jack knew way better than to trust that smile. It would be like trusting a cat that smiled at you like that.
Jack shook his head. //Not necessary.//
"I think we've seen enough," Fraiser said, taking the rest of the cards from Daniel.
"Hey, don't I get to try?" Jack asked. This had potential after all. Trust the doc to put an end to what little fun he was likely to get out of this.
Fraiser handed him back the cards. "I think we'll try and reverse it this time, and from a distance."
//Yeah, sure, why not?// Jack stood. "Where to?"
"Colonel. Go topside to the guard station and call us when you get there."
Topside was no different. Daniel could read his thoughts and see what was in his mind as soon as he recognized the object. They refrained from their earlier extraneous observations and stuck to what they saw.
Being topside also yielded another interesting development. Jack wanted to be back with Daniel.
"Okay, Daniel," Fraiser said, facing them as they sat side by side on one of the beds. "Tell me what you felt when the Colonel was gone and what you felt when he returned."
Daniel's forehead creased with concentration. "It wasn't quite a..."
"Compulsion." Jack said, knowing that Daniel was searching for the right word and now thinking that one worked fine.
The Last Man On Earth by Meridian