Searching for Plot Bunnies of Indulgence

[kriadydragon]

I'm in a fickle whump-mood this week.

But not anorexic Shep. At some point in time I would like to indulge in a little indulgence story that involves Sheppard losing weight - either through torture or sickness or something wrong with his brain (just not him being anorexic). Not make him emaciated, just skinnier. But I'm in need of some ideas, so any suggestions would be great. As always, I can't promise that I'll use all or even any of the ideas, but I hope that a few prompts may, at least, jump start a few ideas.

Neither can I promise that I'll end up actually writing anything.

Thoughtcrimes/skinny Brendan ideas also welcome:D

On a separate note, does anyone know the episode of Tru Calling that Joe F. was in? Or at least what the episode was about?

Comments

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

The Tru Calling was called Brother's Keeper. It was a good episode, but then I rather liked the series in general. :)

In summary: Tru's brother introduces Tru to his new girlfriend. Later that night, her brother is accused of murdering his new girlfriend's ex-husband (J. Flanigan). True goes back in time 24 hours, and it's up to her to sort out the who's and what's in time to prevent her brother from murdering Joe's character.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

thanks :) There was an upcoming episode of TC that I thought might be the one with Joe, but it isn't. It was a good series that was getting better the longer it went, I thought. But, of course, it had to be cancelled just when things were at the height or uber interesting. I really hate TV networks sometimes. It's why I think Joe should be in a movie rather than a TV show. I would hate for him to be in something only for it to be cancelled (I honestly think I wuold cry).

[titan5.livejournal.com]

I love a skinny John or Brendan either one and you always do it so well and believable. This is probably lame, but what if he got some sort of disease or parasite or something where even though he ate, everything went through his system too fast or without being properly digested so he wasn't getting the nutritive value from it?

Another lamo idea is that he ends up trapped somewhere by himself (gate malfunction or crash or something) and there just isn't much to eat there and it takes a while to rescue him.

I know, neither one is all that original. I should probably just not answer stuff like this and remove all doubt about just how dull I really am (LOL).

On the plus side, the Tru Calling ep with Joe was really good and he did his usual wonderful job!!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I thought about doing a parasite story, a la aliens where John has a creature in his chest. Sort of like my story Parasite except that, this time, he has to allow the creature to develope before he can remove it because... well, it would take a while to explain.

But I get the feeling that if I wrote this, it would end up being a long fic, and I'm trying to cut back on long stories for the time being, just until after SGA Big Bang (if I participate).

Trapped somewhere... hmmmm...

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

ohh that sounds cool!

[writerjc.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this is helpful, but I had a sorta vague image that I wouldn't mind seeing in a fic. It involves Shep finally eating after not having eaten in while. The only reason he will eat is if it comes from one of the members of the team (and it just takes everyone a little while to realize that).

I see Teyla handing him something (bread, a sandwich, a bowl?) and him taking it (looking weak and shaky) and eating and everyone being so relieved. I sorta in the back of my mind imagined cause he'd been taken or something where they'd drugged his food or beaten him or just something having to do with food (maybe he doesn't even remember what it was anymore) but he's still reacting to it. But, because he's not eating, he's not getting well. So . . . I don't know . . . there you go.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like that idea. Must ponder it further *ponders*.

[ninja007.livejournal.com]

what about John getting zapped by some 'alien beam' that makes his system act like he has a parasite. Some type of radiation where he eats and eats and gains no weight, but also starts to loose weight. Kind of what happens when birds eat rice. They eat and eat and slowly starve to death.

Kinda what happened to the tribbles...

[jujuberry136.livejournal.com]

What about hyperglycemia? The condition can cause weight loss but also extreme hunger and thirst. It's also a manageable condition, so once the doctors took a look at his blood sugar they'd be able to bring it under control. Of course, Shep would have to realize there was something wrong to get the docs to start doing those tests. And you always throw in Rodney's familiarity with blood sugar issues (as he always claims his is too low)

Info on hyperglycemia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperglycemia

[vecturist.livejournal.com]

This might lend itself to a flashback or backstory, but my dad talks about how much weight he lost during basic training (he's not quite as slender as JF, but he wasn't heavy to begin with). It was Feb in NY or NJ and between the cold and the amount of physical activity he simply couldn't eat enough calories. He tells one story of being last in line for breakfast and almost relieved and thrilled he could finish off whatever was left - he tried to wolf down something like 7 fried eggs.

[giusytriso.livejournal.com]

What about a story where John is trapped on a planet with a bunch of kids and he has to go hunting (or something like that) to feed them, but there is not enough food for them all so he starves himself.

You can switch the kids with old people or sick people, hence the need for John to feed them.

[giusytriso.livejournal.com]

Oh btw, the hunting might also give you the chance to 'whump' him a little, so that even if injured he has to keep hunting. ;)

thinner than normal

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not a huge fan of skinny Shep just because I love his bod the way it is - it makes him more vulnerable than I like him to be. But things happen...and when you don't have enough fat/muscle to lose anyway and get sick or don't get enough calories, you're gonna lose weight...that's just reality. Here are my three cents...

1) Something influences the behavior and perception of everyone else on Atlantis (except Sheppard) that results in him not getting enough to eat...hiding food, preventing him from getting any...etc...
2) Sheppard simply doesnt' have time to eat, then starts forgetting to eat and doesn't tell anyone.
3) I like the trapped on a planet and having the hunt for food idea. Hunting is not easy, especially if game is not plentiful and even if you find game, you may not get enough nutrients from it to sustain yourself. (ie. a person can starve to death eating only rabbit meat...there isn't enough fat or other nutrients.)

-Diane

Re: thinner than normal

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Shep has an excellent body :D But I'll admit I love a vulnerable and weak Shep (temporarily, of course, not permanently ;)). Physically weakning sheppard is my favorite way to whump him, thus why I like starvation stories. I won't emaciate him like I used to, but do like it when weight-loss can be incoporated.

I think I have a story that may fit your first idea, one that's been in my mind for a while but needs to be tweaked.

[susnn.livejournal.com]

Well what is the Atlantean food supply was contaminated with an additive that blocked nutrient absorption in a small portion of the population. Make it ATA gene related, natural ATA gene related. Sheppard has the strongest expression of the gene, thus having the strongest reaction to it. You could have the treatment be IVs and feeding tubes and constant attempts at small meals. Heck, make it so that the docs figured out what the problem was and had 99% of the natural gene carriers treated in time to stop the process but John was off-world and came back injured, saving his team or some local from some danger, and it was too late to easily solve the problem. The question becomes, was the contamination deliberate and targeted? Accidental? What does it mean for Atlantis' food supply?

[susnn.livejournal.com]

Oops, meant to say, the idea came from the connection between amphetamine use and weight loss. When it first started, before the extent of the problem became obvious, there could be lots of jokes about weight loss products and infomercials and making a profit off of others' (weight) losses.

[nat-am-drachen.livejournal.com]

May I suggest a tag to an episode using postconcussion syndrome?

Personally, whenever I get migraine after migraine (the ones where you are vomiting every time you turn around). I can lose 5 lbs in the space of a couple of days, but then gain it back quickly. *cries* I am not a skinny person by any means, so... I also lost around 75 lbs when I got sick (severe mono-hepatitis from a contaminated water fountain) for 1 1/2 months & couldn't eat. Yep, you guessed it, I gained it back & more; I also don't drink water from water fountains anymore. :)

Whatever you decide, I am sure we will all love it.

[holly-batali.livejournal.com]

Sounds great! I was thinking maybe something along the lines of a jumper crash, stranded on an ice planet kind of thing, but maybe that's just me ;)

A Brendan fic would also be very welcome :)

Thinner Sheppard

[(Anonymous)]

Cool. We are but throwing out ideas...you are the master. :) I look forward to what you bring to us. (With some Sheppard comfort at the end?) -Diane