Blue
Elizabeth had read nearly every report ever submitted for the SGC. Some were more memorable than the others, so she was fairly certain that she could be forgiven for forgetting a few details.
Still, in this case, she could just kick herself for not remembering the early SG-1 report concerning the Shavadai and their insane dress codes for their women. If she had remembered, she would have been much more careful when agreeing to participate in an alien ceremony that required a specific costume.
They were making her wear what amounted to the outfit of a harem girl, straight from the old, cliché movies. She looked ridiculous in a bra-like top with sheer blue sleeves, compounded by matching, low-cut, silky blue pants. She was a mockery of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, for God’s sake!
Also, if John Sheppard, Ronon Dex, and Rodney McKay did not wipe those smirks off their faces, she was going to ban them from Gate travel for a month.
Elizabeth stood at the back of the tent, her arms crossed defensively over her chest as she glared at them. All three men took notice and made an obvious effort to rein in their amusement.
“Oh, well,” Rodney said, turning and looking away from her, “It’s uh, um, nice enough, I suppose.”
“Yeah, the seamstresses seemed happy when they left,” Ronon added helpfully, obviously still amused.
She clenched her teeth, shooting the two men another dark look before bracing herself to hear John’s teasing. He wasn’t likely to let an opportunity like this pass him by.
Much to her relief, however, he didn’t even get a chance to open his mouth. Teyla, who had been seeing to the final arrangements, chose that moment to stick her head inside. “Dr. Weir,” she said, “The priestesses are ready for you.”
Ronon and Rodney took that moment to leave the tent, no doubt to follow Teyla to the area set aside for them to observe the ceremony. Elizabeth kept her eyes on John, however.
“Any further comments from the final member of the peanut gallery,” she asked irritably.
The colonel raised his hands innocently. “I didn’t say a thing,” he replied. Within moments, however, a grin broke out on his handsome face. “But I will say that you should wear blue more often. It looks pretty.”
She opened her mouth to say something, what she didn’t know, but he darted out before she could utter a sound.
Elizabeth stared at the flap that covered the entrance to the tent, feeling rather… frustrated. Yes, she was frustrated. At least, that would be what she would tell anyone who happened to ask. She wasn’t about to give any other reason for the blush that was creeping steadily up her neck, towards her cheeks.
Green
On Atlantis, Elizabeth rarely wore anything other than her uniform. It was just a smart thing to do, given that, even if she was off-duty, she could be summoned up to the control room at any time because of an emergency. Because of that, she did not really want to get caught wearing something overly embarrassing or hard to explain away in case she was called. It was just easier to wear her normal work outfits, be they the BDUs or the black slacks, red shirt, and matching jacket.
So, now it was a little strange to be sitting in the rec room with Teyla, Ronon, John, and Lorne, watching a recording of a college football game. Ohio State and Michigan, if she remembered John’s hurried explanation correctly from earlier.
Elizabeth had known ever since the beginning of their time in Atlantis that John was a football fanatic, but when it had been discovered that Marcus Lorne shared his CO’s addiction to the game, nearly everyone else in Atlantis had quickly filled their schedules with experiments, paperwork, anything they could think of. They knew that, between the two of them, there would be many more forced showings of football games.
Hence, why she was here. Sitting barefoot in a green sweatshirt and black stretch pants, watching a game to which she still did not understand the rules. John and Lorne’s repeated explanations to Ronon were not helping her continued ignorance much either.
“You see!” John suddenly shouted, pointing at the screen. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
Elizabeth watched the game. One of the teams (Ohio State, as far as she could tell) had just scored.
“Is that the ‘Hail Mary’ again?” Teyla asked uncertainly, looking between the colonel and the game.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but start laughing at the incredulous look on his face.
Purple
Purple. The cloak was purple, a deep, royal purple. Elizabeth struggled not to laugh at how silly she knew she looked.
When the Gondessa of the Hildini insisted on throwing a celebration for their newly-forged alliance, the older woman had insisted in providing clothing for them. For the Hildini, color was a symbol of status within their society. Red, for instance, was the color reserved exclusively for the Gondessa and her immediate circle. Only her family and those closest to them were permitted to wear that color.
John had thought that was remarkably hilarious, given her predilections to wearing that color. Elizabeth had just rolled her eyes.
Purple, though not by any means restricted, was usually reserved for honored guests in Hildini society. This meant that all of them, one way or another, would be wearing the color for tonight.
And as ridiculous as she knew she looked, Elizabeth was looking forward to seeing the others as well. Teyla, she knew, would look amazing. She wore the color often at home. But to see Rodney, Ronon, and John in it… Elizabeth stifled another giggle and stepped out of her room.
Once out in the hallway, she found Teyla and John already waiting. Teyla looked perfectly calm and collected, but John was pulling uncomfortably at his collar and banging irritably on a door. “Hurry up, Rodney,” he said loudly.
“It’s not like they’re going to start without us,” the scientist shouted back from within. “Just chill out!”
John turned around and faced Elizabeth just as she walked up to them. His eyes met hers and he instantly saw her growing amusement at the purple jacket he was wearing, along with the matching pants.
“Shut up,” he groused, glaring at her.
Elizabeth held up her hands defensively, but did nothing to hide the huge grin spreading across her lips. “I didn’t say a word.”
White
Sometimes, Elizabeth dreamed of walking through Atlantis. The hallways were completely devoid of life. The control room was like a silent tomb. She slipped out onto the balcony, only to be completely engulfed in darkness.
The blackness was thick, choking her. Tears were streaming down her face. She couldn’t scream, or move back inside the city. She could feel the hard concrete beneath her knees as she hunched over.
Then there was a sudden pressure on her shoulder. A hand. Elizabeth looked up.
She saw an unfamiliar man, smiling down at her as he slowly helped her stand back up. His fingers brushed her cheek and he whispered, “This is not your burden to bear. You are to walk along a different path. Go and find your peace, dear lady.” He gestured towards the door.
Elizabeth nodded, wondering who he was and why he seemed so familiar to her, somehow. But she walked towards the door leading back to the control room. In the glass, though, she saw a reflection of herself, clad in a simple dress of an unfamiliar white fabric. She could still see the man behind her, and saw that he was dressed similarly.
But then the door opened, and she saw everyone standing there. Rodney. Teyla. Carson. Rodney. Radek. Lorne. And all the rest. All of them.
Including John. He stepped towards her, holding out his own hand.
“Take it, Elizabeth,” she heard the man behind her whisper. “Take your future.”
She did as she was told. And the white of her dress seemed to almost glow.
Black
She ran a trembling hand over the front of her dress as she cast her gaze about the room, looking for him. A part of her mind kept screaming that she had to be insane for doing this, she hadn’t done this in years, it was crazy, he was her military commander –
But then, the moment her eyes met his, all her doubts became background noise. Only a feeling of nervous euphoria running through her veins remained.
Elizabeth smiled and started moving towards the table where he sat, in a corner of the romantically-lit restaurant. He stood up when she approached, looking almost bashful in his tasteful jacket and slacks. His cheeks were even a little pink when he noticed the expression of admiration on her face. He looked her up and down, and then smirked, suddenly appearing like the John Sheppard she knew so well, complete with his hair sticking out in all directions, defying even the laws of physics.
“I didn’t know you were hiding a little black dress in your closet.”
She laughed softly as she sat down across from where he had been seated. Taking the linen napkin and spreading it over her lap, she answered teasingly, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, John.”
He joined her at the table, eyeing her in such an appreciative manner that she blushed.
“Oh yeah,” he murmured, “no argument here.”
Elizabeth had read nearly every report ever submitted for the SGC. Some were more memorable than the others, so she was fairly certain that she could be forgiven for forgetting a few details.
Still, in this case, she could just kick herself for not remembering the early SG-1 report concerning the Shavadai and their insane dress codes for their women. If she had remembered, she would have been much more careful when agreeing to participate in an alien ceremony that required a specific costume.
They were making her wear what amounted to the outfit of a harem girl, straight from the old, cliché movies. She looked ridiculous in a bra-like top with sheer blue sleeves, compounded by matching, low-cut, silky blue pants. She was a mockery of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, for God’s sake!
Also, if John Sheppard, Ronon Dex, and Rodney McKay did not wipe those smirks off their faces, she was going to ban them from Gate travel for a month.
Elizabeth stood at the back of the tent, her arms crossed defensively over her chest as she glared at them. All three men took notice and made an obvious effort to rein in their amusement.
“Oh, well,” Rodney said, turning and looking away from her, “It’s uh, um, nice enough, I suppose.”
“Yeah, the seamstresses seemed happy when they left,” Ronon added helpfully, obviously still amused.
She clenched her teeth, shooting the two men another dark look before bracing herself to hear John’s teasing. He wasn’t likely to let an opportunity like this pass him by.
Much to her relief, however, he didn’t even get a chance to open his mouth. Teyla, who had been seeing to the final arrangements, chose that moment to stick her head inside. “Dr. Weir,” she said, “The priestesses are ready for you.”
Ronon and Rodney took that moment to leave the tent, no doubt to follow Teyla to the area set aside for them to observe the ceremony. Elizabeth kept her eyes on John, however.
“Any further comments from the final member of the peanut gallery,” she asked irritably.
The colonel raised his hands innocently. “I didn’t say a thing,” he replied. Within moments, however, a grin broke out on his handsome face. “But I will say that you should wear blue more often. It looks pretty.”
She opened her mouth to say something, what she didn’t know, but he darted out before she could utter a sound.
Elizabeth stared at the flap that covered the entrance to the tent, feeling rather… frustrated. Yes, she was frustrated. At least, that would be what she would tell anyone who happened to ask. She wasn’t about to give any other reason for the blush that was creeping steadily up her neck, towards her cheeks.
Green
On Atlantis, Elizabeth rarely wore anything other than her uniform. It was just a smart thing to do, given that, even if she was off-duty, she could be summoned up to the control room at any time because of an emergency. Because of that, she did not really want to get caught wearing something overly embarrassing or hard to explain away in case she was called. It was just easier to wear her normal work outfits, be they the BDUs or the black slacks, red shirt, and matching jacket.
So, now it was a little strange to be sitting in the rec room with Teyla, Ronon, John, and Lorne, watching a recording of a college football game. Ohio State and Michigan, if she remembered John’s hurried explanation correctly from earlier.
Elizabeth had known ever since the beginning of their time in Atlantis that John was a football fanatic, but when it had been discovered that Marcus Lorne shared his CO’s addiction to the game, nearly everyone else in Atlantis had quickly filled their schedules with experiments, paperwork, anything they could think of. They knew that, between the two of them, there would be many more forced showings of football games.
Hence, why she was here. Sitting barefoot in a green sweatshirt and black stretch pants, watching a game to which she still did not understand the rules. John and Lorne’s repeated explanations to Ronon were not helping her continued ignorance much either.
“You see!” John suddenly shouted, pointing at the screen. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
Elizabeth watched the game. One of the teams (Ohio State, as far as she could tell) had just scored.
“Is that the ‘Hail Mary’ again?” Teyla asked uncertainly, looking between the colonel and the game.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but start laughing at the incredulous look on his face.
Purple
Purple. The cloak was purple, a deep, royal purple. Elizabeth struggled not to laugh at how silly she knew she looked.
When the Gondessa of the Hildini insisted on throwing a celebration for their newly-forged alliance, the older woman had insisted in providing clothing for them. For the Hildini, color was a symbol of status within their society. Red, for instance, was the color reserved exclusively for the Gondessa and her immediate circle. Only her family and those closest to them were permitted to wear that color.
John had thought that was remarkably hilarious, given her predilections to wearing that color. Elizabeth had just rolled her eyes.
Purple, though not by any means restricted, was usually reserved for honored guests in Hildini society. This meant that all of them, one way or another, would be wearing the color for tonight.
And as ridiculous as she knew she looked, Elizabeth was looking forward to seeing the others as well. Teyla, she knew, would look amazing. She wore the color often at home. But to see Rodney, Ronon, and John in it… Elizabeth stifled another giggle and stepped out of her room.
Once out in the hallway, she found Teyla and John already waiting. Teyla looked perfectly calm and collected, but John was pulling uncomfortably at his collar and banging irritably on a door. “Hurry up, Rodney,” he said loudly.
“It’s not like they’re going to start without us,” the scientist shouted back from within. “Just chill out!”
John turned around and faced Elizabeth just as she walked up to them. His eyes met hers and he instantly saw her growing amusement at the purple jacket he was wearing, along with the matching pants.
“Shut up,” he groused, glaring at her.
Elizabeth held up her hands defensively, but did nothing to hide the huge grin spreading across her lips. “I didn’t say a word.”
White
Sometimes, Elizabeth dreamed of walking through Atlantis. The hallways were completely devoid of life. The control room was like a silent tomb. She slipped out onto the balcony, only to be completely engulfed in darkness.
The blackness was thick, choking her. Tears were streaming down her face. She couldn’t scream, or move back inside the city. She could feel the hard concrete beneath her knees as she hunched over.
Then there was a sudden pressure on her shoulder. A hand. Elizabeth looked up.
She saw an unfamiliar man, smiling down at her as he slowly helped her stand back up. His fingers brushed her cheek and he whispered, “This is not your burden to bear. You are to walk along a different path. Go and find your peace, dear lady.” He gestured towards the door.
Elizabeth nodded, wondering who he was and why he seemed so familiar to her, somehow. But she walked towards the door leading back to the control room. In the glass, though, she saw a reflection of herself, clad in a simple dress of an unfamiliar white fabric. She could still see the man behind her, and saw that he was dressed similarly.
But then the door opened, and she saw everyone standing there. Rodney. Teyla. Carson. Rodney. Radek. Lorne. And all the rest. All of them.
Including John. He stepped towards her, holding out his own hand.
“Take it, Elizabeth,” she heard the man behind her whisper. “Take your future.”
She did as she was told. And the white of her dress seemed to almost glow.
Black
She ran a trembling hand over the front of her dress as she cast her gaze about the room, looking for him. A part of her mind kept screaming that she had to be insane for doing this, she hadn’t done this in years, it was crazy, he was her military commander –
But then, the moment her eyes met his, all her doubts became background noise. Only a feeling of nervous euphoria running through her veins remained.
Elizabeth smiled and started moving towards the table where he sat, in a corner of the romantically-lit restaurant. He stood up when she approached, looking almost bashful in his tasteful jacket and slacks. His cheeks were even a little pink when he noticed the expression of admiration on her face. He looked her up and down, and then smirked, suddenly appearing like the John Sheppard she knew so well, complete with his hair sticking out in all directions, defying even the laws of physics.
“I didn’t know you were hiding a little black dress in your closet.”
She laughed softly as she sat down across from where he had been seated. Taking the linen napkin and spreading it over her lap, she answered teasingly, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, John.”
He joined her at the table, eyeing her in such an appreciative manner that she blushed.
“Oh yeah,” he murmured, “no argument here.”