and you were just like me

[reflectedeve]

This . . . is a piece of fanart for auburnnothenna and monanotlisa's fantastic (continuing) SgA AU, Ardhanarishvara. (If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? It's fucking fantastic.) It's not of any particular scene, just two of the (altered) characters.



Hee. I got to draw the "boys," and it's still femslashy. Though, I should really practice actually drawing men . . . boy!Teyla would be quite a challenge. I'll have to see what I can do.

I should do more black and white stuff. I've been forgetting how much I love it, even better than computer color, really.

Comments

[sweetvalleyslut.livejournal.com]

I told you already how much I love this (and how you should GO TO BED) but I will say both of them again. LOVE. They just look so much like John and Ronon, in their expressions and postures. Wonderful. And you should tell Auburn and Mona that you posted this, if you haven't already, I'm sure they'd really like to see it.

[sindohrah.livejournal.com]

Mwa ha ha! That's great! Not sure I like John as a girl, but Ronon is rather amusing. Good work!

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Well, I tend to prefer that John go back to male at the end . . . but I love girl!John fic. ;) He'd be so hot. Anyway, thanks.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Wow. Bloody fantastic, this is!

I especially like Ronon's sly grin; just pitch-perfect. And John's long-suffering look. And the thigh holster. Not to mention the sheer expressiveness of their body language.

Thank you so much for drawing a kick-ass Ronon & John -- I asume I may link to this in our ArdLJ? & :-)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy you like it. ^^ Credit yourself: you've created absolutely irresistable versions of these characters! I was powerless to stop myself.

Of course linking's fine . . . I'm flattered. ^^

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

All the praise is well-deserved -- you're really good, girl!

(We totally would adore Boy!Teyla. If you, you know. Felt the urge to draw 'im.)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

. . . thank you. Thank you very much. ^^

Well gosh, I admit, I'm very tempted. ;) Boys are much, much harder for me, so I can't guarantee anything, but it'll be a good challenge!

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Oooo, lovely. I particularly love John's posture, which is very very him (or, okay, her, but you know what I mean). And you've done a fantastic job of genderswitching them without changing who they are - they're obviously women, yet not girly, and they're still totally themselves. I have no idea how you did that, but I love it.

And I get a bonus imaginary, never-to-be-written-thank-god story from just looking at this. See, for me, this has a strong Dykes to Watch out For feel, which means I'm casting girl!John and girl!Ronon in an SGA x DtWoF fusion in my head right now. (Oh, come on, they'd fit right in! And be totally, totally hot together, and I say this as someone who is very much a McKay/Sheppard OTP girl, and thus a het shipper in the Ard world, at least until John gets switched back.)

Anyway: Pegasus Dykes to Watch out For! Okay, maybe I'm the only one who thinks that would be cool. But it so would be.

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Gosh, what a sweet response. Thanks. ^^ What you're describing is pretty much exactly what I was going for, so that's really good to hear.

Hee. Being a huge Bechdel fan, I'm definitely flattered (and not too surprised, she's been a big influence). Now I'm imagining the whole SgA cast in DtWoF style . . . that's hilarious. Rodney's kind of Mo-like, in personality if not in issues, isn't he?

I'm not sure "cool" is quite the right word, honestly. :p But, so much fun.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

It's beyond hilarious. I see Rodney as more of a Sydney than a Mo, but I can see either one, depending on what era of Mo we're talking about and which facets of Rodney's personality we're focusing on. Weir is Sparrow, I think. Ronon strikes me as Lois.

Anyway. Obviously, in an SGA fusion in the Dykes universe, the team would be sharing a house. Their friends (Zelenka, who I think would make a good Toni, Beckett, who - huh, I can't picture him as a Dyke - Weir, who would be living with Caldwell, her boyfriend, etc.) would come over regularly, and they'd have ordinary lives in the queer neighborhood of Pegasus City, where the damnedest things happen.

Um. It's a bad thing that I'm envisioning this now, isn't it? Like, in detail. With, you know, plotlines like the one where Dyke!John meets a really hot girl at Atlantis books, where he works, and Rodney (professor of women's studies, natch) has a fit because this is that Chaya bitch who dumped him back in grad school, and he knows she's untrustworthy, but he can't tell John...

Okay. No. I am stopping right now.

*attempts to leave this train of thought at the station*

Oh, great. I ditched that train of thought and immediately ended up with the fusion in the SGA universe, where almost the entire crew is female and Dykes-style adventures abound.

Must. Stop. Fusions.

(This does make me wonder, though, why we see so few multiple genderswitch stories, where both halves of a slash pairing become girls at the same time and there is crazy hot femslash. *ponders*)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Wow, that just might work. (Who would be Clarice, though? I can actually see Weir as her, instead of Sparrow, though either might do.)

I just had a vision of Ronon as Jezanna, which is probably all wrong, but man did it make me laugh.

Must. Stop. Fusions.
Gosh, yes, they're a little crazy. On the other hand, I would definitely draw fanart for this one. :p

(It's a good point. There ought to be more multiple genderswitches. Although, I tend to think we suffer from a sad lack of crazy hot femslash in any case.)

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

(Who would be Clarice, though? I can actually see Weir as her, instead of Sparrow, though either might do.

Well, okay, on the one hand - I like Clarice (although I liked her more in days gone by than in the recent books, but that's a rant for a whole other day) and I don't like Weir, so part of me is squealing, "No! No!" But on the other hand - you are so right. She could be Clarice (OMG Teyla could be Toni! That's perfect, way better than Zelenka!) and Heightmeyer could be Sparrow.

Wait. I thought we agreed it would be better to stop this. DO NOT ENCOURAGE ME. This can only end badly.

I just had a vision of Ronon as Jezanna, which is probably all wrong, but man did it make me laugh.

It made me laugh, too. But I still think he makes a better Lois - he'd so be the only person on the team (in the house) actually getting laid.

I had Teyla down as Jezanna until I realized she'd make a much better Toni. Now I can't think of anyone for Jezanna. Well, wait, what about Zelenka? He totally has the right attitude, anyway.

On the other hand, I would definitely draw fanart for this one.

See, the thing is, I'm resisting this precisely because it would have to be told in the same graphic format as the strip, and I can't draw for squat. Which argues that you should do it. You have the right style and everything.

*looks very hopeful*

...Okay. But you can't blame me for trying.

(It's a good point. There ought to be more multiple genderswitches. Although, I tend to think we suffer from a sad lack of crazy hot femslash in any case.)

Yeah, we really do; it makes me sad.

But I keep thinking - if slash writers can produce crazy hot het, and some of them do, and especially in genderswitch stories, then obviously what we need to up the crazy hot femslash quotient is multiple genderswitch.

And it would be so cool if sga_flashfic did a genderswap or genderfuck challenge.

*ponder ponder*

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Butting in! Hope I may. & :-)

But I keep thinking - if slash writers can produce crazy hot het, and some of them do, and especially in genderswitch stories, then obviously what we need to up the crazy hot femslash quotient is multiple genderswitch.

Any writer interested in the characters and not just the mechanics of sex can bring the crazy hot, I think, but as slash writers are by definition far more interested in the male characters, multiple genderswitch does seem one of the very few ways to end up with more fiery femslash from them. *g*

Given this interest in a character, it might be easier to make slash authors write femslash -- there's a metaphor about gear shifts and going automatic in here somewhere, I just know it -- because they are pre-queered for our convenience. But then again, het writers are inherently fond of at least one female character, and when this affection encompasses others, too, I keep thinking they just need a little nudge....

But then, I'm neither fish nor fowl; I write het and slash and femslash as the mood and the love for these crazy kids on TV strikes me. Auburn's not a slash writer, either, not originally. I remember she was kicking and screaming when I told her we'd have to do Girl!John/Girl!Ronon, but then, look, she was the one who ended up writing the brunt of the scene I'm talking about.

*innocent whistle*

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

I think one of the problems is that fanwriters are often less interested in female characters, not only because they're female, but because they are sometimes less-well characterized. As far as Atlantis goes, I adore Teyla and Cadman and sometimes Weir, and I'm intruiged by Heightmeyer and Miko. Sadly, the writers never seem to know what to do with them, and it leaves one with very little material.

Aside from just being really, really hot, John and Rodney are the main focus of the show, and Rodney's probably the most realized of all the characters. It's not surprising that Sheppard/McKay is the most popular pairing . . . they're my favorite too, and I'm supposed to be femslash-oriented (says me).

So yeah, turning the boys into girls is probably a good way to get people to write femslash. Though I have to say, turning Teyla and Elizabeth male and pairing them up like that would be hot, too. There's just something fun about the switching, period, I think. ;)

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

There's just something fun about the switching, period, I think. ;)

Preaching to the choir, girl! (Not preaching to the choir girl. Oh, no.)

fanwriters are often less interested in female characters, not only because they're female, but because they are sometimes less-well characterized. As far as Atlantis goes, I adore Teyla and Cadman and sometimes Weir, and I'm intruiged by Heightmeyer and Miko. Sadly, the writers never seem to know what to do with them, and it leaves one with very little material.

Ab-so-freakin'-lutely.

John and Rodney are the main focus of the show, and Rodney's probably the most realized of all the characters. It's not surprising that Sheppard/McKay is the most popular pairing . . . they're my favorite too

Again with the nods. I'm mostly a primary character shipper, really; their sex is optional as long as they intrigue me, which tends to be the case only for characters who actually have, you know, wacky things like storylines! & ;-)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Oh, man. No, you're right, Ronon is Lois, absolutely. I can just see him--her--tormenting Jezanna/Zelenka about stocking sex toys at Atlantis Books.

Zelenka: "I'll open a bookstore, I said. Life of the mind, I said." (Possibly in Czech.)

Aw, well, tempting as it is . . . I have some personal rules in place regarding how much time and energy I spend of fanwork, when I have my own original projects which I should be focusing on. (They languished enough during college.) A few fun illustrations work nicely, but a long comic . . . that's an exceptionally time-consuming endeavor, and I just don't think I'm up for it. Alas.

It's fun to think about, though. :p I've been considering character designs, though not all of the Atlantis cast is as easy to draw as John and Ronon were (particularly if I wanted to change their genders convincingly).

And it would be so cool if sga_flashfic did a genderswap or genderfuck challenge.

Yes, yes it would. That would be fantastic.

This is really the most cracked-out fandom I've ever had.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

(It's a good point. There ought to be more multiple genderswitches. Although, I tend to think we suffer from a sad lack of crazy hot femslash in any case.)

True, true. There isn't too much of it. Of course, I've tried to contribute, if not mainly in this fandom but Buffy and Alias. If not, come to think of it, with the crazy-hot.

Not in the above fandoms. *g* I've done more of that with SGA (http://monanotlisa.livejournal.com/426655.html).

But seriously, come read the new chapter.

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

I want to contribute, but I'm not much of a ficcer, and I tend to draw most and best for obscure little cartoon and comic fandoms. Well, 'til now. Though the crazy-hot is quite a challenge to draw.

You wrote Cadman/girl!John. Ye gods and little fishes, I might die of squee on the spot. Clearly I'm not going to have any shortage of reading material when I get home tonight.

And seriously, the new chapter will be the top of my list. ;)

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

You draw very well, in any case! I'd definitely love to see more from you; looks very dynamic, very professional.

Cool.

You wrote Cadman/girl!John. Ye gods and little fishes, I might die of squee on the spot.

*snicker*

That was one of the turning points of falling madly in love with this fandom, actually: I expected the odd femslash fan to squee, but not 40+ gushing commentators. Whoawesome.

Enjoy! (I KNOW you will.)

[saturnalia.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is wonderful! Especially girl!Ronon, who is surprisingly hot, and still very much Ronon. (I always pictured her as looking something like Zoe from Firefly (http://www.annosuperstar.com/elite3/zoe-ff2.jpg), thigh-holster and all, but your image of her is so perfectly fitting.)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, Zoe . . . sorry, zoned out for a moment there. ;) Anyway, thank you! (I kind of approached the drawing starting with approximations of their male faces, which I then altered, so I didn't have an independent female version in my head to start with. But I can certainly see that, now that you mention it. There's a lot of attitude in common already, certainly. Mmm.)

[looking4tarzan.livejournal.com]

WOW

yes

and *giggles at the dialogue*

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Thanks! ^^

[auburnnothenna.livejournal.com]

This is delightful, because they're still just so...them. mona emailed me the link, because I live under a rock and sometimes don't even know what's on the ArdLJ. So glad she did. And really? If you never feel like drawing Boy!Teyla, you can always draw John and Ronon some more. What I love is that they're not girly, but are clearly female. Just an excellent job!

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *grin* I'm very pleased that you like it. Characters who are "not girly, but clearly female" . . . this is probably one of the reasons why I love genderswitching fic so much, and yours in particular, so I'm glad I pulled it off in the picture. ^^

I do want to try Teyla, I just feel a little less confident about my ability to pull her him off. We'll see!

[pentapus.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I especially love John.

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[vass]

GUH.

That is gorgeous. They are gorgeous. And so like the fic. I love the lines. Black and white was the perfect choice.

(thefourthvine said this was like Alison Bechdel's Dykes To Watch Out For in style, and she's right. If the Dykes wore guns and probably had knives in their hair, and...)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much! (Alison Bechdel is a role model of mine in style, not so much in subject matter. ;) Much as I love hers.)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Love Sheppard's hips. Yeah, that's what I was picturing.

Icarus

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

that's what I was picturing.

Awesome. Thanks. ^^

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Oh! Say, might I try iconising them?

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, certainly! ^^

Apologies, I've been a bit busy of late.