Fic: How Not to Fly

[toomuchplor]

Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: NC-17
Length: 56 731 words

Summary:

And then the door chimed, and Woolsey came in looking mournful and anxious, and everything got derailed.

Death and life, hope and hopelessness, aren't just for the Pegasus galaxy.  Eventually, inevitably, it's going to happen on Earth.  John and Rodney, loss and family and what it means to be home.

Warning: Death of a minor canon character in a way integral to the plot; deals with bereavement and loss suffered by a major character.  No major characters die in this story, however.

How Not to Fly (on AO3)

How Not to Fly (on my site)

Comments

[luthien]

I'll start by saying that this comment isn't going to be in any way long or detailed enough for the sort of feedback this story deserves. When I started reading this this evening I didn't realise quite how long it was. But now I've just got to the end of it and it's somehow getting on for 2.00 in the morning, so I think it's safe to say that it got me in. *g*

I loved everything about this story, but one of the things I loved most was the realisation about halfway through that you were going to go the whole way with this story. I've read some great longer stories (in various fandoms) in the past that stop a bit abruptly, and what to me would be some of the most interesting parts of the story get handwaved away. Thank you so much for NOT doing that. Everything that (I felt) needed to be in this story was in it and I thought it ended in just the right place.

Love your take on all the characters, loved how they sounded and how they felt. Lots of little things made me happy: the team arriving on the doorstep and the observation about how each stood out; the manner of Nancy's appearance and small but vital role, which I didn't see coming (but perhaps I should have); Rodney's conversation with Zelenka; Rodney being a dometic hero (to quote a friend I was IM-ing while we were both reading this); lots of other small jewels that I'm sure will come to mind again later.

I was also really impressed with how well you told the story of the terrible waiting at the beginning, the sadness and the coming to terms and, eventually, the grief. It felt very true. So did your child OCs. I really liked both of them, and that's a rare thing for me.

And I loved your John and Rodney. Absolutely loved where both of them were coming from, how they finally worked out what was the right thing for both of them, and how they managed to get there.

Reading this was also interesting for me because in the last week I've started work again on a story of my own that I started writing last year. It's also about John and Rodney on Earth together post-series, so I was mulling over the two of them in that situation (though some of the circumstances were very different) a lot right before reading this. The way they think and act in your story really rings true for me, fwiw.

Thanks. I love these guys and I miss them, and I really appreciate coming upon a story like this that makes me sit down and read about them for an entire evening.

[toomuchplor]

Everything that (I felt) needed to be in this story was in it and I thought it ended in just the right place.

That's wonderful to hear! I have read a few longer fics where the arc sort of collapses in on itself too so I'm very happy to hear that this didn't happen for you in this fic.

I really liked both of them, and that's a rare thing for me.

I think I'm especially pleased to hear this; it's probably plain that I have really gotten to like Nora and PJ so it makes me happy that others found them likable too!

Thank you so much for the awesome feedback, and I look forward to reading your new story whenever it appears!