meme

[tielan]

Pick a character I've written and I will give and explain the top five ideas/concepts/etc I keep in mind while writing that character that I believe are essential to accurately depicting them.

Comments

[gaffsie]

John Sheppard.

[tielan]

So late - I'm sorry! It’s been so long, and I’m struggling here to think of the things I keep in mind when I write John. (ANd struggling with my SGA Santa story, ARGH.)

one
John is very casual, very easy on the top, but very private underneath. He alludes and references but he doesn’t talk about his history unless it’s unavoidable. And even then he usually does everything to avoid talking about it. This would primarily be because he doesn’t like much of his history.

two
He’d rather be doing than thinking about doing. He’d rather act out ‘I love you’ than say the words. Which is okay by Teyla, because she doesn’t need to hear the words – the action is enough. But he does consider the repercussions of his actions – more in the context of the physical world than, say, political or social repercussions.

three
He’s naturally a leader out of bed, but more naturally a follower in bed. He likes it best when he’s out of control with someone he trusts to keep him in control.

four
He likes people. All kinds of people. It’s partly a rebellion from his father, who was very “these are the right kind of people, and those are the wrong kind of people” and adolescent John was all “screw that.” But John is the person who likes meeting people, getting to know them, but who also needs time away and apart from them to function – or time with people who just let him be. He’s the meeter and greeter, but Teyla is the get-to-know-them person.

five
John has what Rodney mockingly calls a “saving people thing”.