Discreet Arrangements, by brumeier [PG-13]

[popkin16]

Show: Stargate Atlantis
Rec Category: Alternate Universe
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Female OC
Pairings: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Categories: Slash, first time, kid!fic
Warnings: None
Author's Journal: N/A
Author's Website: Ao3 Account
Link: Discreet Arrangements

Why This Must Be Read: I have read this fic at least five times. John is a single parent struggling monetarily to raise a rambunctious, sweet teen who is struggling with mental health issues. Cadman sends him a link to a website where you can sign up to communicate electronically with a "sugar daddy/momma", though the relationship doesn't have to be sexual. Through it, John meets Rodney, and a friendship is formed. It's not a long fic, clocking in at just under 7k, but it's fun and super charming.

 

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Within A Garden Fair by nagi-schwarz [PG-13]

[popkin16]

Show: Stargate Atlantis
Rec Category: Alternate Universe
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Evan Lorne, Carson Beckett
Pairings: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Categories: Slash, First Time, Angst,
Warnings: Dystopic universe, character death (none of the above listed characters), implied non-con
Author's Journal: N/A
Author's Website: Ao3 Account
Link: Within A Garden Fair

Why This Must Be Read: This is an AU in which Hathor manages to take control of the SGC. She uses drugs to control the minds of certain men (and those who aren't drugged are controlled by the threat of violence). Sam Carter, Janet Frasier, Teal'c, and those who attempted to defeat her in the episode have been killed. O'Neill is First Prime and Daniel has been turned into her consort (thus the implied non-con, since he's drugged and can't consent). Rodney is a scientist working for Hathor in this fic, and he's given two assistants who have the ATA gene in the hopes that he can make ancient tech work for Hathor. Soon, Rodney gets wind of an underground resistance, but he's not sure who he can trust - even the man he's falling for, John Sheppard.

I'm not a fan of super dark fic. So while there are many elements in this fic that will make you sad (oh, SG-1, you poor things), I didn't find it so heavy and unrelenting that I couldn't get through it. Nagi doesn't shy away from the harsh aspects of life under a goa'uld, but neither do they go into graphic detail either. I also wouldn't rec this fic if it didn't have a satisfying (if bittersweet) ending.