blue collar McShep?

[whizzy.livejournal.com]

So I've noticed this trend in far-AU fics: if John is not (or is no longer) Air Force, he's often working some menial type job. Rodney, when he shows up, is invariably still a scientist if he's not teaching at the local university. Disparaging remarks about John's lot in life are made; John flexes his brain, destroying Rodney's assumptions; smut ensues.

I'm looking for the opposite trope, where Rodney is the one content in some menial job far beneath his abilities. Bonus points if John is still in the Air Force.

Comments

[ribbon-purple.livejournal.com]

I remember reading one where John is in the Air Force and Rodney owns a porn shop but for the life of me I can't remember who wrote it or the title. Maybe someone else knows? Sorry. :o(

[bex389.livejournal.com]

This is Purely Scientific Reasons, Of Course by Zinnith
http://zinfic.livejournal.com/64855.html

[whizzy.livejournal.com]

Aw, read that one already. But thanks for the link.

[jimpage363.livejournal.com]

Try "What Might Have Been" by Keira Marcos. In the first story of this AU series, Rodney is running a bar. It doesn't stay like that for long, but it is a terrific series.

http://keiramarcos.com/what-might-have-been-series-atlantis-au/

[whizzy.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks! I'd forgotten that series fit!

[kirinin.livejournal.com]

What a great search! One of my favorites that fits this trope is sardonicsmiley's thirty-eight (http://smiley.zonezine.net/html/47117.html). A re-telling of 'Thirty-Eight Minutes' from the Long Way Home 'Verse Rodney's POV. Also, much in the way of flashbacks to his earlier years. He uses a bland sort of charm to cover up his genius.

Another great one is Magus Minor's Teamwork (http://www.area52hkh.net/asm/mminor/teamwork.php), in which Rodney is a Mountie and John is a mathematician and they both go to Atlantis. Rodney puts together Team Misfit, with himself, John, Beckett and *Cadman*. John /= canon!Rodney; John is John. Neat.

This isn't *quite* what you asked for, but it fits in theme in an odd way, as it has Rodney suppressing his intellect: Nunc Dimittis (http://community.livejournal.com/sga_santa/184080.html). John is a noble knight who disobeyed the orders of his liege and got sent to the middle of nowhere. Meredes is a brother at the monestary who spends his time illuminating manuscripts.

In An Affair to Remember (http://tiranog.southroad.com/SGA/Affair.htm), Rodney is with the verbally abusive Trent (yes: Trent), then falls for the rich playboy, Johnny Sheppard, who is meant to marry Elizabeth Weir. Yes, this IS a romance novel. Rodney is essentially a 'kept' man, and his far from making good use of his brilliance, while John is in a position of power.

Madison's Second Fiddle (http://www.area52hkh.net/asm/madison/secondfi.php) has Rodney working at university, but also has that common thread of not having truly worked to his potential; he's on the lowest rung of the ladder, and in fact fired at the start of the story.

I think I ended up going more for a specific flavor: Rodney not where he 'should' be, given his intellect, with John in a position of relative power, or as his rescuer. Hope you enjoy them and get some more that are a bit closer to being on the money! ;)

-K

[raphe1.livejournal.com]

YOu have probably read this cause like EVERYBODY has read this but A Regency SGA Tale By GraceandFire might fit.

Summary: John Sheppard is determined to bring to ruin the villainous McKay family. But young (ok, youngish) Rodney interferes with his plans. Rodney is a self taught genius who ends up as John's secretary. Lurve follows.

http://www.wraithbait.com/viewstory.php?sid=5261&warning=12