Insecure Sheppard

[almostnever.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for stories in which John is conscious of his looks. Stories where he's insecure about his looks would be great. But I'm also interested in stories where he thinks about or mentions his looks in any way, whether he's acknowledging that he's good-looking, or puzzled that other people think he's hot, or preening.

Examples: there's a bit in A Beautiful Lifetime Event by Astolat in which John thinks about how he's getting older and his stomach isn't flat anymore, and in Selfish by Helenish, when John "wonders why he's so angry all the time, until it's over and he's back in his room, reminded that Rodney thinks he's too ugly to fuck, or whatever is wrong with him."

Any pairings or gen are welcome. NB: something like this was asked for recently but all the recs given were for the poster's other request, and a 2009 request only got one rec. So if you can think of anything: thanks!

Comments

[danceswithgary]

One of my favorites, (which I'll be reccing later today):

And Truth, Beauty by trinityofone

[almostnever.livejournal.com]

A fave of mine too! Glad to revisit it, thanks :-)

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Sorry, no rec (because brain has been swiss-cheesed), but there are also fics where John actually resents it when people make a point of mentioning how beautiful/good looking/choose own pulchritudinous adjective he is. He's even more angry when Rodney mentions it to him in a romantic/sexual context until Rodney learns that John definitely does not see it as a compliment.

[almostnever.livejournal.com]

I'd love to find some of those as well. Maybe someone will have those links handy. Crossing fingers!

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

One of the Johns Rodney meets is amazed that a stud like Rodney would be interested in someone like him in kisahawklin's Variations on John Sheppard (http://archiveofourown.org/works/12064) - part of the Variations series (http://archiveofourown.org/series/684), ~30,000 words total, McShep(s)

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

In new insta-favorite Fieldwork (http://archiveofourown.org/works/171720) by rheanna27 (a remix of the also awesome Homework (http://archiveofourown.org/works/171077) by busaikko), Ronon emails Dave: Sheppard noticed his hair going gray. He acts like he does'nt care. but I know he does. (~4100 words total/both fics, Ronon/John)

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

Um, and of course John's looks play a very important part in auburnnothenna's slavefic In the City of Seven Walls (http://archiveofourown.org/works/49889?view_full_work=true), but I wouldn't say he's real pleased by the attention they get him... (McShep and other pairings including noncon, ~171,100 words)

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

And he's also aware of people liking his looks in resonant8's equally classic (thought slightly less-angsty) slavefic Term of Service (http://trickster.org/res/term.html). ("It's different," he said, "if you like it.") John/abusive!OFC, Rodney/OFC, John/Rodney, ~16,300 words

[almostnever.livejournal.com]

All great recs-- thanks! :-)

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, though, hee, I'm sure (with possibly the exception solely due to its newness of Fieldwork) you'd already read all of these! But just like the fine And Truth, Beauty, they all qualify (to me) as very rereadable. :)

[skaredykat.livejournal.com]

John's not actually puzzled that people think he's hot, but busaikko's post-Trinity fic A Mark in Time (http://archiveofourown.org/works/104022) does contain the immortal lines: "Some day, Rodney will try to explain to Sheppard just why everyone thinks he's a flirt and a cocktease. He's pretty sure Sheppard will be embarrassed. He really doesn't notice when he's being suggestive."... :)
(~2700 words, furries, ace!John&Rodney friendship)