Dear Gen Freeform Ex Writer
Feb. 25th, 2021 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chronicbookwormThanks for writing me a story! Should you so want, I can be found at both Tumblr and AO3 also as ChronicBookworm, for any stalking purposes.
I like most genres: fluff, angst, adventure, case fic, humour, character study, slice of life/domestic, you name it – or a mix of them all!
The prompts below are there to help, not box you in, so please feel free to write something different if none of my prompts below grab your imagination or inspiration strikes you in a different direction. A lot of the tags also serve as prompts in and of themselves – do feel free to just pick one (or combine a few) and write your heart out to that tag! The general likes are also there for your inspiration if you prefer looser prompts - do absolutely feel free to use those rather than my prompt ideas if that's more helpful to you!
I love strong friendships, and I’m very fond of deep platonic relationships that are the most important to the characters and relationships that straddle the line between platonic and romantic – this is a gen exchange, but don’t panic if you start to feel like you’re verging to close to pre-relationship fic, or if you can’t quite decide whether it’s gen or not. This letter is cobbled together from bits of previous letters - I've tried to edit out all the shippy prompts, but I may have missed some, or left some accidental references in here and there, if you find any I apologise - just ignore them! The likes and DNWs definitely have shippy references, I try to only have one list that's always up-to-date, otherwise changes I made for this exchange that I want to keep might not get carried over when I sign up for my next exchange, or I'll forget to add the shippy likes and DNWs back in!
The length of the sections has nothing to do with how much I want the request, only with how many different ideas/questions I have for each. I want to read them all very badly, so I’m sure I’ll love whatever you write!
This got quite long – feel free to just read the parts that are relevant to you.
General likes
DNWs
Crossover Fandom, Space Edition
Crossover Fandom, World War 2 and Post-War Edition
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Leverage
Mansfield Park
Pride
Star Wars AMT
General likes
• found families
• loyalty
• ride or die friendships
• co-dependency
• “us against the world” plots and relationships (whether it’s true or just what the characters imagine)
• friends to lovers
• arranged marriages (that can either lead to love or strong friendship)
• marriages of convenience (that can either lead to love or strong friendship)
• pining
• hurt/comfort
• trauma recovery
• characters with low self-worth being loved and accepted
• characters being shown warmth and kindness when they’re expecting or used to being belittled/bullied/abused
• characters uniting forces against a common enemy
• complicated politics and shifting alliances
• complicated and messy relationships (can be platonic, romantic or familial)
• conflicts where neither part is completely right or completely wrong
• secrets (both being kept and being revealed)
• characters working with limited knowledge
• competent characters
• characters being recognised for their competence
• women supporting other women
• canon divergence
• outsider POV
• case fic/mission fic (however that applies to the canon in question)
• worldbuilding
• longfic
DNWs
• smut (fade to black or references to sex are fine)
• changes to human anatomy or physiology (such as mpreg, a/b/o, soulmarks, etc.)
• teacher/student, non-canonical incest
• adultery, infidelity or jealousy (real or imagined)
• massive age gaps in ships (the rule of “half the older character’s age plus seven” as a limit usually works quite well, although for teenagers a max of 2-year age-gap works better)
• sex involving characters under 15, setting a date when the character is considered "old enough" for sex and fixating on that date
• characters being ostracised by their friends and loved ones
• characters’ loved ones being angry at them or thinking badly of them due to rumours, assumptions, misunderstandings, miscommunication or a failure to communicate (conflicts due to genuine differences in opinions, wants, and needs are fine and fun!)
• public embarrassment, humiliation
• character or ship bashing
• hopeless endings, grimdark tone
• unrequested setting change AUs (for crossovers, merging the universes into one or having characters from one universe dimension travel to the other by either hand-wavey or explained means are all fine)
• Fandom-specific DNW for ASoIaF/GoT: requited Petyr/Sansa (his canonical desire for her is fine)
• Fandom-specific DNW for Narnia: the rift between Susan and her family, the end of TLB (let me pretend everyone’s alive and happy)
• Fandom-specific DNWs for Downton Abbey: requited Thomas/Jimmy, non-consensual kissing between Thomas and Jimmy
• Fandom-specific DNW for Doctor Who: Donna not having her memories back at the end of the story (I don't need to see the memory return, I just need her not to be mind-wiped by the time the story ends if she's in the story)
• Fandom-specific DNW for Star Wars: Jedi-bashing (I'm fine with the Jedi order being portrayed as flawed in some ways, but I want them to still be essentially good and trying their best)
Crossover Fandom, Space Edition
Characters/Groups:
• Donna Noble & Atlantis expedition
• Martha Jones & Atlantis expedition
Tags:
• Begrudgingly Respectful Coworkers to Friends
• Case fic
• Character's competence comes across as strange without knowledge of character's background
• Characters Teaching Each Other New Skills
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Difficult Decisions In War Time
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
• Trying to fit in with a group while keeping secrets about own past; other characters are suspicious
General thoughts:
I would love a story with either Donna or Martha as a British or UNIT representative on Atlantis! I’d love to see Donna and/or Martha make a place for themselves in Atlantis, and interact with the other members of the Atlantis expedition. I’d love to see them apply the skills they had before travelling with the Doctor and the skills they picked up during their travels in a new environment. I’d love to see them be appreciated for who they are and what they can do – maybe not at first, maybe it takes some time, but eventually. I’d love to see them deal with and try to move on from the horrors and wonders they experienced during their time in the T.A.R.D.I.S., and I’d love to see them deal with the horrors and wonders of Atlantis and the Pegasus galaxy.
I’d be especially keen on the Atlantis people not knowing that they’ve travelled with the Doctor. Maybe they don’t even know who the Doctor is, or maybe they think he’s a myth, or maybe they have access to some of Torchwood or UNIT’s archives about him, and being a little bit suspicious of them at first (why are they here, how are they qualified, where do their loyalties lie), maybe finding out about the Doctor during the course of the story, or maybe it never comes up – maybe Donna and/or Martha manage to prove their competence and loyalties some other way.
I love the potential of the world-building of SGA, so anything that builds off that would be great – the idea of a floating/flying city, the way they never seem to have enough resources, the way they can lose contact with Earth at any given moment and are so reliant on the Stargates, the way different societies react differently to the Wraith threat, and the place of the Atlanteans in the Pegasus galaxy, etc., so feel free to explore those aspects!
The characters in the prompts are just people that came to mind when I thought about possible people for Donna and/or Martha interact with – if you have a favourite who’s not mentioned, do feel free to focus on them instead.
Donna Noble & Atlantis crew:
Donna is strong, abrasive, and doesn’t hide who she is, so she might rub people, the wrong way to start, especially Weir. But, on the other hand, she’s not likely to be a spy, given her general everything. She’s the best temp in Chiswick – and also Atlantis? She can help out with organisation, and administrative support, and would quickly make herself invaluable to Weir, Carter, or Woolsey.
As for the rest of the expedition, her outspoken shell hides very kind-hearted person who doesn’t like to see anyone suffer, and I think they’d come to appreciate that quickly. She and Rodney would get along either very, very well, or very, very badly. Maybe she can act as a support for Aiden, when he’s in over his head? She also has experience with someone who’s the last of his people, so she might be good at comforting Ronon when he needs it. Maybe she, Lorne and Chuck would bond over being the people who aren’t as flashy as the others, but hold the place together with their steady competence?
You don’t have to explain her memory restoration, but you can if want to, or maybe it never happened and the Doctor managed to integrate the DoctorDonna or remove just that part of her, or you can even have her regain the memories during the course of the story – but I don’t want her to still be mind-wiped by the end. Maybe there are even remnants of the DoctorDonna – maybe she displays occasional flashes of genius and comprehension beyond the human, before she goes back to her normal self – how would the Atlantis expedition react to that? Would they be suspicious of her, or would they be appreciative of the times it did happen, and curious about why it’s not all the time? Do Rodney and Zelenka want to poach her for the science department?
Martha Jones & Atlantis crew:
Martha has common sense, and is soft-spoken, but she’s also pragmatic and willing to tough it out and do what needs doing – this might help her get on better in Atlantis than Donna to start with, but she’s also more reserved, which would make her more suspicious to them. There is also the fact that she works/worked for UNIT and has some shadowy figure very high up in the organisation pulling strings for her. But once they get over their suspicions, they would probably really appreciate her competence, her brilliance, and not compare to her to her predecessor constantly (unlike some people).
Carson and Martha would probably quickly establish an easy rapport in the infirmary, as would Keller and Martha – Martha and Keller have a similar no-nonsense approach to medicine, and Carson is accepting and would probably care more about her competence than the fact that she’s hiding secrets. But there might be potential for conflict between them: how would she react to his unethical medical experiments on Wraith?
Or maybe she would instead be on gate team as a field medic – since she has fighting skills beyond what Carson and Keller showed – honed during her year on the run from the Toclafane, and evidenced in End of Time part 2. Lorne, Zelenka and Martha would probably represent the voices of reason and prgmatism on Atlantis, and might get on very well because of it. Like Donna, she has experience with someone who’s the last of his people, so she would also able to support Ronon. She would probably also get on very well with Teyla – they have the same work ethic, the same inner strength, and the same ability to quickly get back on their feet and adapt when life throws them curve balls.
How does her family react to her going off into space and another galaxy again? Is she at all conflicted about leaving them after the Year that Never Was?
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Crossover Fandom, World War 2 and Post-War Edition
Characters/Groups:
• Peggy Carter & Edwin Jarvis & the Pevensie siblings
Tags:
• Case Fic
• Character's competence comes across as strange without knowledge of character's background
• Characters Teaching Each Other New Skills
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Difficult Decisions In War Time
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Mission Fic
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD
• Trying to fit in with a group while keeping secrets about own past; other characters are suspicious
• Us Against The World Mentality That Might Not Be Healthy But The Characters Find It Comforting
General thoughts:
I’d love to see something with the Pevensies interacting with the Agent Carter crew! Maybe the Pevensies are also agents of the SSR after the War? Or maybe they are civilians who help the SSR agents just because they’re in a place to do so and it’s the Right Thing To Do?
Maybe their time in Narnia marked the Pevensies in some way, and either SSR or Leviathan/Hydra or some other sinister organisation is after them? Maybe they don’t quite trust that the Agent Carter crew have their best interests at heart? Maybe the Agent Carter crew don’t quite trust that the Pevensies aren’t hiding more sinister secrets? Maybe they don’t understand how these on the surface normal, middle-class British schoolchildren/young adults (depending on when you set the story and whether you fuff the timelines) can be so competent, and think they’ve been trained as spies?
I like reading about Pevensies who are somehow Different due to their time in Narnia, for instance unexpectedly mature and competent for their ages, or having skills you wouldn’t normally expect from children or young adults in the mid-20th century, but might expect monarchs from a fantasy medieval kingdom to have. I would prefer all the Friends of Narnia to be alive and well in the story – either they survived the train crash, or it never happened. I’m also less fond of the part where Susan turned her back on Narnia and separated herself from her family, or the judgemental tone they use when they talk about how she cares for nothing but “nylons and lipstick and invitations” – feel free to leave that part out entirely and make up your own headcanon on what the Pevensies would be like when they’re older, regardless of what the later books in the series say, or make it clear that Susan can like nylons and lipstick and invitations and also be clever and insightful and retain her belief in Narnia and her siblings’ respect.
Perhaps the Pevensies are in the US for some reason (holiday? Moved there after the War? Working for the British arm/equivalent of the SSR?), or perhaps the story’s set in England (I’m sure there are reasons why Peggy and Jarvis might go to England – family reasons? Sent there by the SSR because they blend in? There on their own investigations, posing as a Lady and her butler?). Do they come across the Pevensies in their investigations? Are they perhaps even investigating the Pevensies?
Maybe it’s even set during the War – maybe Jarvis meets the Pevensies after he has rescued Ana and been discharged? Maybe they live nearby and help Jarvis and Ana find their feet after what they’ve been through? Or maybe Stark is interested in recruiting them/they get involved with his wartime activities and meet Jarvis that way?
Maybe Peggy meets them during leave in London? Perhaps Peter is a new recruit who ends up where the Howling Commandoes are (he’d be just old enough to sign up by the last year of the War, if he was born in the early months of the year), or maybe even Edmund (if he lied about his age/the timeline is fuffed a bit)?
There are plenty of opportunities for polite manners hiding unexpected competence and BAMF-itude on both sides. Plus, the understated snarking would be through the roof!
Not all characters in the group need to be present or focused on (especially if it’s during the War, it might be difficult to get everyone together in the same place) - i.e. this can be Peggy & any Pevensie(s), or Jarvis & any Pevensie(s), or Peggy & Jarvis & any Pevensie(s).
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Downton Abbey
Characters/Groups:
• Thomas & Anna
• Thomas & Daisy
• Thomas & Gwen
• Thomas & Branson
• Thomas & William
Tags:
• Awkward and Unconventional Gestures of Friendship
• Becoming a better person through the power of friendship
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Friends supporting each other through tough times
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
General thoughts:
I would really like to see Thomas have more friends and feel more at home at Downton Abbey, like later season Thomas had Baxter and Andy. Given how easily he gave his loyalty to Baxter and Andy, and how ride or die he was for them, it might not take much to wrangle early season Thomas away from O’Brien – probably just acceptance of his sexuality and showing they can be relied on to keep it a secret. Don’t get me wrong – Thomas is a self-serving bastard, and I love that about him, but I also think that part of why he lashes out so much and is his own worst enemy, is his deep-seated insecurity and feeling of being at war with the world. I’d love it if he had better friends who could curb his worst impulses rather than encourage them, and who’d encourage him to turn his scheming and manipulation for good.
Feel free to have Thomas pining for Jimmy, but I don’t want it requited, and I also don’t want Thomas kissing an unwitting Jimmy – I don’t really mind how you deal with it: change the circumstances so the possibility never arises, have his friends talk him out of it, keep everything the same but just pretend it never happened, or some other way are all fine with me.
Historical accuracy very optional - as long as there's a general sense of the early 20th century, I'll be happy (of course, I won't say no if you do want to painstakingly research what daily life below stairs would be like, but that part is definitely not required)!
Thomas & William
Maybe William finds out and accepts Thomas’ sexuality early on in his career at Downton, and maybe that means Thomas actually acts as a mentor to him in his early days at Downton Abbey? Thomas would probably still be a bit exasperated with William’s general naïveté, and would be a very prickly friend, but William’s good-natured enough he could probably let it flow off him, as long as he knew Thomas didn’t mean it, really.
Maybe William helps cover for him, and make it look like Thomas is interested in women, and maybe Thomas helps him woo Daisy? Maybe they shield each other from Carson’s wrath?
Or maybe William survives the war, and they bond over the horrors they have both experienced, and difficulties returning to normal life? Maybe the War has made William more jaded, and more able to understand Thomas’ bitterness?
Thomas & Gwen
Both ambitious people who want to improve their situation – Gwen by leaving service, and Thomas by rising to the top of the service career ladder. Maybe they help each other, and cover for each other – Thomas when Gwen goes to interview, and Gwen if he wants to sneak out to meet a special someone? Maybe seeing Gwen’s success makes him realise there is a world outside service, and she helps him find a job, particularly after the war when he’s desperate and Downton Abbey aren’t willing to have him back? Maybe Gwen is a lesbian or female-leaning bisexual, and they act as each other’s beards?
Thomas & Branson
Thomas resents the wealth the Crawleys have, and thinks they’re no better than him – and he’s absolutely right! Maybe Branson manages to turn Thomas’ resentment into political activity, and they have their own little Socialists Charter at Downton? Maybe they recruit Daisy, who shows some interest for workers’ rights? How does he react when Branson marries Sybil and becomes a member of the Upstairs? Does Branson let him know what he and Sybil are planning, or does he keep it a secret? How betrayed does he feel, and do they manage to overcome it?
Or maybe they become friends through Sybil during the war, and Thomas helps them cover up their relationship? Or you could combine this with the request above regarding Gwen, and have a foursome of Gwen, Thomas, Branson and Sybil all trying to get Gwen a better job?
Thomas & Daisy
What if Thomas, in his attempts to make William jealous, found that he actually liked Daisy as a friend and person? Early season Daisy is quite young and naïve, does he like having someone he can mentor who doesn’t think the worst of him? How does he deal with Daisy’s crush on him and having to let her down, and how does she take it?
As I said earlier in my above request with Branson, maybe they bond over wanting better than to be treated like servants – although neither of them is political to start, so they might need some triggering event for Daisy to discover politics earlier than she does in canon/Thomas to turn his general bitterness and resentment into political thought.
How does season 3 onwards with the drama of Daisy, Alfred, Jimmy, and Ivy play out if Daisy has Thomas on her side? Both of them can be petty and act out against people they don’t like (although Daisy never takes it as far as Thomas), do they ever go too far? Or does Mrs Patmore’s influence on Daisy also start to affect Thomas?
Thomas & Anna
Anna has a sneaky side, as evidenced when she made Thomas and O’Brien think she’d hidden the stolen snuff box in one of their rooms – she’s cunning enough to keep up with Thomas, but also has a good heart and strong morals, so she’d be slightly more able to keep him on the straight and narrow.
How does Thomas and Anna being friends change his relationship with Bates? How does Anna react when the two men she cares about are fighting over the same job? Or does her friendship with Thomas mean she never grows close to Bates? Maybe she even finds out he’s gay and acts as his beard – how does that influence her courtship with Bates?
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Game of Thrones
Characters/Groups:
• Sansa Stark & Loras Tyrell
• Sansa Stark & Brienne of Tarth
Tags:
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• court intrigue
• Emotional Hurt/Comfort
• Families of Choice
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Found Family
• Friends Discussing Treason Over Tea
• Loyalty - King/Queen and Lionheart dynamics
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Moral Dilemmas
• Oaths & Vows
• Overcoming Trauma
• Platonic arranged marriage
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
General thoughts:
I’m really not fussed about book or show canon – if I want something for one canon, I’ll be equally happy to see it using the other canon.
Sansa is one of my favourite characters in ASOIAF/GoT – I’d love to see a story that doesn’t gloss over the horrors she’s suffered, but also doesn’t reduce her to them. She’s clever and cunning, and she’s learnt to play the game, but she’s still managed to keep her kindness and compassion, despite everything she’s suffered. I like stories where she’s able to heal and move on from the traumas she’s suffered and reclaim her agency.
I also like stories that deal with politics and playing the game of thrones, especially ones that allow Sansa to demonstrate that she actually knows how to play – ones where she demonstrates her cunning and agency earlier in Kings Landing, and somehow manages to save her family, or stories where she’s older and has come into her own in a position of power, maybe as Lady of Winterfell or some other castle, or as a member of the Small Council to Robb, Daenerys, Jon, Stannis, Tommen or whoever you choose to give a crown to, maybe as Queen in the North, or maybe even Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I'd love her to get support, friendship and respect.
Sansa & Brienne:
Sansa gets a dashing and gallant knight to rescue and protect her after all – even if she happens to be female and not knighted. I’m very fond of loyalty, and if there’s one word to describe Brienne of Tarth, it’s loyal. She would do anything for Sansa, and in return Sansa trusts her, values her, and treats her with respect.
Maybe Brienne manages to save Sansa from King’s Landing and deliver her to Robb and Catelyn? What adventures do they have on the road together? Does Sansa trust her from the start, or does she just go with her for lack of other appealing options? Do they somehow prevent the Red Wedding – maybe they overhear something on the road and can warn the Stark army in time?
Maybe Sansa does go with Brienne when they meet in the Vale – how does that change things with no marriage to Ramsay etc. and they arrive at Castle Black before Jon’s death? Maybe something set after they’ve retaken Winterfell, maybe Sansa’s Queen in the North and Brienne the Lady Commander of her Queensguard rather than Bran’s Kingsguard, as they rebuild the North after all its been through? How does Brienne help and support Sansa when they crown rests heavy on her head? How do they deal with the demands that Sansa marry and beget an heir?
Sansa & Loras:
What if the Tyrells had managed to marry Sansa and Loras? Sansa gets her handsome gallant knight, and Loras gets to save a pretty damsel! They’re both Romantics, in that they believe in songs and the ideals of chivalry, which might lead to a strong friendship and companionship, but there is still the barrier that Loras can’t love her the way she’s dreamed of. I don’t mind if this goes slightly bittersweet, given their respective situations, dreams, and hopes, but I do have a fondness for arranged marriages that end not in love, but with deep, enduring friendships, and relationships that straddle the line between romantic and platonic love.
Would they go to reclaim Winterfell? Would they go to Highgarden for Loras to rule while Mace is in King’s Landing? Or would they stay in King’s Landing? How would Tywin react to being outmanoeuvred – and would he try to retaliate? How does Cersei react to having her hostage ripped away from her control? How would Sansa’s marriage to Loras change the position she played the game of thrones from? Would she learn from Olenna and Margaery, and would they be able to outplay the Lannisters together? Would having Sansa in the family change how they killed Joffrey, as they’d want no risk of suspicion to fall on anyone close to them? Would Cersei still suspect Tyrion, or would she blame Sansa, and how would they deal with that?
Perhaps Sansa might have been able to save Loras at his trial by the Faith (maybe she would point out that a squire having seen his knight master undressed is not incriminating in the slightest)? Or maybe there wouldn’t have been a trial if they managed to convincingly fake a romantic relationship?
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Leverage
Characters/Groups:
• Maggie Collins & Sophie Devereaux & Alec Hardison & Parker & Eliot Spencer
• Sophie Devereaux & Alec Hardison & Parker & Eliot Spencer & Jim Sterling
• Maggie Collins
• Jim Sterling
Tags:
• Canon-typical shenanigans
• Caper Fic
• Case Fic
• Characters plan and execute an elaborate heist of a low value item for the fun of the challenge.
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Con Artists
• Families of Choice
• Found Family
• Learning how to be a team
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Mission Fic
• Team Bonding
• Team Dynamics
• Us Against The World Mentality That Might Not Be Healthy But The Characters Find It Comforting
Maggie, Maggie & Sophie & Alec & Parker & Eliot
I love Maggie – how quick she is on the uptake, how she can outsmart Nate, but how she generally keeps it under wraps. I love how she’s not jealous of Sophie, but friends with her, and how she genuinely cares for Nate and worries about him even though they’re separated and takes true joy in his moving on.
I would be really interested to see Maggie working with the Leverage team more. Maybe she is their Mastermind approached by Dubenich instead of Nate? She found out that IYS had denied Sam’s treatment and wanted revenge, gathering famous criminals around her? Or maybe Sophie is her way in, since they both move in the fine art circles, and they start with maybe a case like the Two Live Crew Job, helping steal art back for the original owners, and decide to branch out into helping people generally?
Or maybe she works with Parker, Hardison and Eliot after the end of the series when they need an extra person on the con? Maggie is very charming and unassuming, and we’ve seen that she has the makings of a fine grifter – and they all love her and work well with her, so I’m sure they’d be delighted to have her!
Sterling, Sophie & Alec & Parker & Eliot & Sterling
What if it was Sterling in Nate’s place as the Leverage team Mastermind? How different would things be? What if Sterling was the one who lost a child (Olivia? An OC?) and blames IYS? He’s equally clever and ruthless as Nate, if not more so, but he’s also less prone to grandstanding. And his moral compass is slightly askew compared to Nate’s. Would they be more prone to go for vengeance on their marks rather than justice for the victims? Or would their goals be the same, just their methods different? Sneakier?
And where is Nate in this? Is he the IYS agent chasing them? Or perhaps they lead Leverage together, like they worked together for IYS? How would their dynamic be as co-criminal masterminds? Would they still have the push and pull that they had in canon, or would they be more egalitarian?
Another thing that might be fun is a fic set pre-series of Sterling chasing members of the Leverage team? Or him and Nate working together at IYS? We saw a glimpse of how they might have worked together in the Zanzibar Marketplace Job, and it might be fun to explore that further. What did they talk about on the rooftop when they were best friends?
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Mansfield Park
Characters/Groups:
• Fanny Price
• Fanny Price & William Price
Tags:
• Canon divergence - siblings separated in canon grow up together
• Character discovering own self-worth
• Character gaining independence from abusive family
• Emotional Hurt/Comfort
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Overcoming Trauma
• Protectiveness - Character being protected isn't used to being cared about
• Unappreciated Charater Finds Out that They Are Appreciated After All
Fanny Price:
Fanny is probably Austen’s most divisive heroines, but I love her! I like that she’s quiet, and unassuming, and self-sacrificing to a flaw, but she still won’t budge when everyone around her is trying to persuade her into something she thinks is wrong. I like that inner strength she has, that allows her to endure both Mansfield and Portsmouth.
I’d really like a story that highlights those qualities – and I’d also really like her to be happy and valued? Maybe she becomes an author and writes improving tracts for young ladies? Or maybe she becomes the companion to another rich lady, one who values her and enjoys her company, and doesn’t see her as a general dogsbody? Or maybe you have another idea in mind for what happens to her – I’m open to anything, as long as she’s happy! Feel free to make this a crossover with any other Austen canon if you want.
Fanny Price & William Price:
I love their strong friendship and how much they obviously care for each other! I love that they write to each other, despite how far away they are from each other, and that he gave her a cross. And how obviously she delights in his success, and how he worries about her health. William is the one truly good man in Mansfield Park.
Maybe something about them as children – they’re the eldest, and used to looking after their younger siblings. How does he cope when Fanny goes to Mansfield? How does the death of Mary affect the family and Fanny’s and William’s relationship – she’s away at Mansfield when that happens, does he wish for her there with her family? Is he ever jealous of her good fortune, or is he just happy for her?
Or during the canon era? Does he see what a bad environment Mansfield is for her more clearly, since he’s not so close to it? How does he feel about the woman Fanny has grown into, and about her two suitors? How does he feel about Admiral Crawford and his own promotion after Henry’s actions?
Or post-canon? How does he progress in the navy, and how does he feel about Fanny and the Bertrams? How much does he know about how they treated her and the events of the novel? How often do they see each other?
Or maybe a canon divergence? Maybe William and Fanny were both sent to Mansfield? How would that change things, if she wasn’t so lonely growing up? Would she still be as close to Edmund, or would the presence of William mean she didn’t need to turn to him for guidance and support? How would William get on with Edmund? How would he get on with Tom, Maria, and Julia?
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Pride
Characters/Groups:
• Cliff & Johnny
• Cliff & Johnny & Lee
• Gethin & Hefina & Cliff & Dai Donovan
• Hefina & Dai Donovan & Sian
• Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Sian
• Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Steph
• Mark Ashton & Dai Donovan
• Sian & Hefina & Gail & Gwen & Margaret Donovan & Maureen
Tags:
• Bonding over Weird Relationships with Cultural Heritage
• Character Finds Support In Queer Community
• Character thinks nothing matters except the Cause
• Characters Bonding Over Shared Hardships
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Families of Choice
• Found Family
• Friends supporting each other through tough times
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
General thoughts:
I love this film! The warmth between the characters, the two separate communities coming together, the friendships, the support they give each other – it’s all so very heart-warming and hopeful! Of course, there are plenty of complications, too, if you want something to sink your teeth in, I’d love something dealing with the complexities and problems of the world we live in and the difficult issues these characters face. Feel free to include difficult themes like poverty, politics, homophobia, and HIV/AIDS that mark the lives of these characters, but don't feel you have to - you can also focus on the happy moments of their lives, the friendships, love and laughter that they share.
I really don’t mind if the story’s set pre-, during or post canon, I’d just love anything that explores the relationships between these wonderful characters! Feel free to include any other non-nominated characters if you want to – I love all of them!
Gethin & Hefina & Cliff & Dai Donovan:
Maybe an elaboration of what we saw in the film with Gethin and the Welsh contingent, being welcomed home, finding his way back to Wales after 16 years? North/south Wales rivalry? The various attitudes they have towards the English?
Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Steph:
Maybe something about Joe and Steph working out how to live together and be young and gay in 1980s London? Does he try to reconcile with his family, or if he done with that? How does Steph deal with all that? Do they ever have to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend for safety?
Or maybe something about Jonathan and Gethin as their mentors/parent-figures, since at least Joe’s family, and possibly also Steph’s, leave something to be desired?
Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Sian:
I love how strong and caring Sian is, and how quickly she and Joe take to each other, how she’s there for him and supports him when he’s struggling, and how she’s not afraid of telling his family what a treasure they’re wasting. I really liked the scene when she drives him back to London and he falls asleep, and he looks so young and she looks so fond of him - maybe she has some maternal feelings for him, even though she’s not that much older than he is.
It would also be interesting to see Mark and Joe interact – they’re both quite quiet and reserved, which might make it awkward and tense to start off with, even though we know they become great friends by the end of the film.
Sian & Hefina & Gail & Gwen & Margaret Donovan & Maureen:
The miner's strike was a time for women who had previously just been housewives to rally and step up, and they really did, as the film shows! It was the women who carried the community, who organised food drives, who kept track of the community and who needed an extra hand, who reached out to their neighbours and the wider community, who kept everyone's spirits up while the men were on the picket lines. How did the women of the committee get on before the events of the film? Was there already tension between Maureen and the rest, or did her homophobia and rejection of LGSM break up friendships? And what happened afterwards? Does Maureen ever come round? Do her views change, and if so, how, or is she too entrenched in her position as Hefina’s enemy?
Hefina & Dai Donovan & Sian:
What about a story about Dai, Hefina, and Sian, bonding over being official and unofficial leaders of a community that is so dependent on the doomed mine? How do they carry on, after the strike? There must be very complicated emotions going back to work after so long, especially knowing that they’ve been defeated and it’s only a matter of time until the mine closes. How do they keep the community going? How do they keep up the ties between LGSM and Dulais?
Cliff, Cliff & Johnny, Cliff & Johnny & Lee:
Maybe something about Cliff, finding his people in the Gay Poetry and Literature Society, and balancing that with his life in Wales? Bonding with Gethin about their love for the written word, and with Jonathan over their love for the spoken word? Going to plays put on by Out Loud? Performing in plays put on by Out Loud?
Or about his relationship with his nephews? How did he relate to them – he seemed to be quite close to Maureen before the events of the film, how did that carry over to his relationship with the boys? Was he almost a surrogate father figure to them after his brother died?
And what about after the film? Does he ever come out, and does that change things? Maybe he just comes out to Johnny? Do he and Johnny grow closer, after Johnny joins him on the Pride march? Does Lee ever come round?
Mark Ashton & Dai Donovan:
I loved the friendship these two had, the parallels when they both pushed each other onto the stage to speak in front of their respective people when they weren’t 100% comfortable in the circumstances, how they overcame and grew stronger together as they learned about each other's reality. The symbol of the clasped hands was a lovely touch, and how Mark and Dai embodied these communities coming together. And they were also wonderful foils for each other – Mark, the firebrand, always looking for a cause, and Dai, the quieter and more pragmatic one who got pushed into activism by circumstances. I’d love something that explores their different approaches to the fight, Dai sharing wisdom from his longer life experience, and Mark sharing wisdom from his longer activism experience. I loved how they were so different, but united.
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Star Wars
Characters/Groups:
• Finn (SWST) & Mace Windu (SWPT)
• Finn (SWST) & Obi-Wan Kenobi (SWPT)
• Finn (SWST) & Padmé Amidala (SWPT)
• Finn & Rey & Poe Dameron (SWST) & the Jedi Council (SWPT)
• Rey (SWST) & Mace Windu (SWST)
• Rey (SWST) & Obi-Wan Kenobi (SWPT)
• Rey (SWST) & Padmé Amidala (SWPT)
• Rey (SWST) & Shmi Skywalker (SWPT)
• Rey & Finn & Poe Dameron (SWST) & Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker & Padmé Amidala (SWPT)
Tags:
• Time Traveler Trying to Change the Past is Hampered by Lack of Full Knowledge of the Past
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Difficult Decisions In War Time
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Mission Fic
• Moral Dilemmas
• Partisan Fighters or Resistance
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD
• Time Travel - Character changes the past to prevent traumatic events and succeeds
• Time Travel Fix-It
• Trying to fit in with a group while keeping secrets about own past; other characters are suspicious
• Us Against The World Mentality That Might Not Be Healthy But The Characters Find It Comforting
General thoughts:
I’m really keen on the idea of the sequel trio (any or all) ending up in the prequels era! How do they deal with meeting these heroes of a bygone era? Do they try to change the fate of the galaxy, to stop the rise of the Empire, and if so, how do they go about it? What do they know about the time before the Empire?
Do Rey and/or Finn get to train with the Jedi? How do they deal with the Council? Are they welcomed? Or are they viewed with suspicion? Does Finn get to meet the clones? How do they react to what has been done with their legacy? How does he react to meeting his forerunners? Do Anakin and Poe bond over their love of flying? Does Poe know that Anakin is Vader? How does their experiences and skills from their time with the Resistance help them before or during the galactic civil war?
I’d be super keen to read something where they don’t have all the facts, that they’re floundering a bit – not everything became public knowledge, secrets were being kept, things got twisted in the re-tellings, and so on. Maybe they have to try to keep their origins a secret – how suspicious are they to those native to the time they travel to? Or do they get on with the others right from the start? Or maybe they can be open about their origins, and the people from the two different times try to piece together what happened by combining their respective fragmented knowledge – I’d love to see what misconceptions they come up with on the way!
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I like most genres: fluff, angst, adventure, case fic, humour, character study, slice of life/domestic, you name it – or a mix of them all!
The prompts below are there to help, not box you in, so please feel free to write something different if none of my prompts below grab your imagination or inspiration strikes you in a different direction. A lot of the tags also serve as prompts in and of themselves – do feel free to just pick one (or combine a few) and write your heart out to that tag! The general likes are also there for your inspiration if you prefer looser prompts - do absolutely feel free to use those rather than my prompt ideas if that's more helpful to you!
I love strong friendships, and I’m very fond of deep platonic relationships that are the most important to the characters and relationships that straddle the line between platonic and romantic – this is a gen exchange, but don’t panic if you start to feel like you’re verging to close to pre-relationship fic, or if you can’t quite decide whether it’s gen or not. This letter is cobbled together from bits of previous letters - I've tried to edit out all the shippy prompts, but I may have missed some, or left some accidental references in here and there, if you find any I apologise - just ignore them! The likes and DNWs definitely have shippy references, I try to only have one list that's always up-to-date, otherwise changes I made for this exchange that I want to keep might not get carried over when I sign up for my next exchange, or I'll forget to add the shippy likes and DNWs back in!
The length of the sections has nothing to do with how much I want the request, only with how many different ideas/questions I have for each. I want to read them all very badly, so I’m sure I’ll love whatever you write!
This got quite long – feel free to just read the parts that are relevant to you.
General likes
DNWs
Crossover Fandom, Space Edition
Crossover Fandom, World War 2 and Post-War Edition
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Leverage
Mansfield Park
Pride
Star Wars AMT
General likes
• found families
• loyalty
• ride or die friendships
• co-dependency
• “us against the world” plots and relationships (whether it’s true or just what the characters imagine)
• friends to lovers
• arranged marriages (that can either lead to love or strong friendship)
• marriages of convenience (that can either lead to love or strong friendship)
• pining
• hurt/comfort
• trauma recovery
• characters with low self-worth being loved and accepted
• characters being shown warmth and kindness when they’re expecting or used to being belittled/bullied/abused
• characters uniting forces against a common enemy
• complicated politics and shifting alliances
• complicated and messy relationships (can be platonic, romantic or familial)
• conflicts where neither part is completely right or completely wrong
• secrets (both being kept and being revealed)
• characters working with limited knowledge
• competent characters
• characters being recognised for their competence
• women supporting other women
• canon divergence
• outsider POV
• case fic/mission fic (however that applies to the canon in question)
• worldbuilding
• longfic
DNWs
• smut (fade to black or references to sex are fine)
• changes to human anatomy or physiology (such as mpreg, a/b/o, soulmarks, etc.)
• teacher/student, non-canonical incest
• adultery, infidelity or jealousy (real or imagined)
• massive age gaps in ships (the rule of “half the older character’s age plus seven” as a limit usually works quite well, although for teenagers a max of 2-year age-gap works better)
• sex involving characters under 15, setting a date when the character is considered "old enough" for sex and fixating on that date
• characters being ostracised by their friends and loved ones
• characters’ loved ones being angry at them or thinking badly of them due to rumours, assumptions, misunderstandings, miscommunication or a failure to communicate (conflicts due to genuine differences in opinions, wants, and needs are fine and fun!)
• public embarrassment, humiliation
• character or ship bashing
• hopeless endings, grimdark tone
• unrequested setting change AUs (for crossovers, merging the universes into one or having characters from one universe dimension travel to the other by either hand-wavey or explained means are all fine)
• Fandom-specific DNW for ASoIaF/GoT: requited Petyr/Sansa (his canonical desire for her is fine)
• Fandom-specific DNW for Narnia: the rift between Susan and her family, the end of TLB (let me pretend everyone’s alive and happy)
• Fandom-specific DNWs for Downton Abbey: requited Thomas/Jimmy, non-consensual kissing between Thomas and Jimmy
• Fandom-specific DNW for Doctor Who: Donna not having her memories back at the end of the story (I don't need to see the memory return, I just need her not to be mind-wiped by the time the story ends if she's in the story)
• Fandom-specific DNW for Star Wars: Jedi-bashing (I'm fine with the Jedi order being portrayed as flawed in some ways, but I want them to still be essentially good and trying their best)
Crossover Fandom, Space Edition
Characters/Groups:
• Donna Noble & Atlantis expedition
• Martha Jones & Atlantis expedition
Tags:
• Begrudgingly Respectful Coworkers to Friends
• Case fic
• Character's competence comes across as strange without knowledge of character's background
• Characters Teaching Each Other New Skills
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Difficult Decisions In War Time
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
• Trying to fit in with a group while keeping secrets about own past; other characters are suspicious
General thoughts:
I would love a story with either Donna or Martha as a British or UNIT representative on Atlantis! I’d love to see Donna and/or Martha make a place for themselves in Atlantis, and interact with the other members of the Atlantis expedition. I’d love to see them apply the skills they had before travelling with the Doctor and the skills they picked up during their travels in a new environment. I’d love to see them be appreciated for who they are and what they can do – maybe not at first, maybe it takes some time, but eventually. I’d love to see them deal with and try to move on from the horrors and wonders they experienced during their time in the T.A.R.D.I.S., and I’d love to see them deal with the horrors and wonders of Atlantis and the Pegasus galaxy.
I’d be especially keen on the Atlantis people not knowing that they’ve travelled with the Doctor. Maybe they don’t even know who the Doctor is, or maybe they think he’s a myth, or maybe they have access to some of Torchwood or UNIT’s archives about him, and being a little bit suspicious of them at first (why are they here, how are they qualified, where do their loyalties lie), maybe finding out about the Doctor during the course of the story, or maybe it never comes up – maybe Donna and/or Martha manage to prove their competence and loyalties some other way.
I love the potential of the world-building of SGA, so anything that builds off that would be great – the idea of a floating/flying city, the way they never seem to have enough resources, the way they can lose contact with Earth at any given moment and are so reliant on the Stargates, the way different societies react differently to the Wraith threat, and the place of the Atlanteans in the Pegasus galaxy, etc., so feel free to explore those aspects!
The characters in the prompts are just people that came to mind when I thought about possible people for Donna and/or Martha interact with – if you have a favourite who’s not mentioned, do feel free to focus on them instead.
Donna Noble & Atlantis crew:
Donna is strong, abrasive, and doesn’t hide who she is, so she might rub people, the wrong way to start, especially Weir. But, on the other hand, she’s not likely to be a spy, given her general everything. She’s the best temp in Chiswick – and also Atlantis? She can help out with organisation, and administrative support, and would quickly make herself invaluable to Weir, Carter, or Woolsey.
As for the rest of the expedition, her outspoken shell hides very kind-hearted person who doesn’t like to see anyone suffer, and I think they’d come to appreciate that quickly. She and Rodney would get along either very, very well, or very, very badly. Maybe she can act as a support for Aiden, when he’s in over his head? She also has experience with someone who’s the last of his people, so she might be good at comforting Ronon when he needs it. Maybe she, Lorne and Chuck would bond over being the people who aren’t as flashy as the others, but hold the place together with their steady competence?
You don’t have to explain her memory restoration, but you can if want to, or maybe it never happened and the Doctor managed to integrate the DoctorDonna or remove just that part of her, or you can even have her regain the memories during the course of the story – but I don’t want her to still be mind-wiped by the end. Maybe there are even remnants of the DoctorDonna – maybe she displays occasional flashes of genius and comprehension beyond the human, before she goes back to her normal self – how would the Atlantis expedition react to that? Would they be suspicious of her, or would they be appreciative of the times it did happen, and curious about why it’s not all the time? Do Rodney and Zelenka want to poach her for the science department?
Martha Jones & Atlantis crew:
Martha has common sense, and is soft-spoken, but she’s also pragmatic and willing to tough it out and do what needs doing – this might help her get on better in Atlantis than Donna to start with, but she’s also more reserved, which would make her more suspicious to them. There is also the fact that she works/worked for UNIT and has some shadowy figure very high up in the organisation pulling strings for her. But once they get over their suspicions, they would probably really appreciate her competence, her brilliance, and not compare to her to her predecessor constantly (unlike some people).
Carson and Martha would probably quickly establish an easy rapport in the infirmary, as would Keller and Martha – Martha and Keller have a similar no-nonsense approach to medicine, and Carson is accepting and would probably care more about her competence than the fact that she’s hiding secrets. But there might be potential for conflict between them: how would she react to his unethical medical experiments on Wraith?
Or maybe she would instead be on gate team as a field medic – since she has fighting skills beyond what Carson and Keller showed – honed during her year on the run from the Toclafane, and evidenced in End of Time part 2. Lorne, Zelenka and Martha would probably represent the voices of reason and prgmatism on Atlantis, and might get on very well because of it. Like Donna, she has experience with someone who’s the last of his people, so she would also able to support Ronon. She would probably also get on very well with Teyla – they have the same work ethic, the same inner strength, and the same ability to quickly get back on their feet and adapt when life throws them curve balls.
How does her family react to her going off into space and another galaxy again? Is she at all conflicted about leaving them after the Year that Never Was?
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Crossover Fandom, World War 2 and Post-War Edition
Characters/Groups:
• Peggy Carter & Edwin Jarvis & the Pevensie siblings
Tags:
• Case Fic
• Character's competence comes across as strange without knowledge of character's background
• Characters Teaching Each Other New Skills
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Difficult Decisions In War Time
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Mission Fic
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD
• Trying to fit in with a group while keeping secrets about own past; other characters are suspicious
• Us Against The World Mentality That Might Not Be Healthy But The Characters Find It Comforting
General thoughts:
I’d love to see something with the Pevensies interacting with the Agent Carter crew! Maybe the Pevensies are also agents of the SSR after the War? Or maybe they are civilians who help the SSR agents just because they’re in a place to do so and it’s the Right Thing To Do?
Maybe their time in Narnia marked the Pevensies in some way, and either SSR or Leviathan/Hydra or some other sinister organisation is after them? Maybe they don’t quite trust that the Agent Carter crew have their best interests at heart? Maybe the Agent Carter crew don’t quite trust that the Pevensies aren’t hiding more sinister secrets? Maybe they don’t understand how these on the surface normal, middle-class British schoolchildren/young adults (depending on when you set the story and whether you fuff the timelines) can be so competent, and think they’ve been trained as spies?
I like reading about Pevensies who are somehow Different due to their time in Narnia, for instance unexpectedly mature and competent for their ages, or having skills you wouldn’t normally expect from children or young adults in the mid-20th century, but might expect monarchs from a fantasy medieval kingdom to have. I would prefer all the Friends of Narnia to be alive and well in the story – either they survived the train crash, or it never happened. I’m also less fond of the part where Susan turned her back on Narnia and separated herself from her family, or the judgemental tone they use when they talk about how she cares for nothing but “nylons and lipstick and invitations” – feel free to leave that part out entirely and make up your own headcanon on what the Pevensies would be like when they’re older, regardless of what the later books in the series say, or make it clear that Susan can like nylons and lipstick and invitations and also be clever and insightful and retain her belief in Narnia and her siblings’ respect.
Perhaps the Pevensies are in the US for some reason (holiday? Moved there after the War? Working for the British arm/equivalent of the SSR?), or perhaps the story’s set in England (I’m sure there are reasons why Peggy and Jarvis might go to England – family reasons? Sent there by the SSR because they blend in? There on their own investigations, posing as a Lady and her butler?). Do they come across the Pevensies in their investigations? Are they perhaps even investigating the Pevensies?
Maybe it’s even set during the War – maybe Jarvis meets the Pevensies after he has rescued Ana and been discharged? Maybe they live nearby and help Jarvis and Ana find their feet after what they’ve been through? Or maybe Stark is interested in recruiting them/they get involved with his wartime activities and meet Jarvis that way?
Maybe Peggy meets them during leave in London? Perhaps Peter is a new recruit who ends up where the Howling Commandoes are (he’d be just old enough to sign up by the last year of the War, if he was born in the early months of the year), or maybe even Edmund (if he lied about his age/the timeline is fuffed a bit)?
There are plenty of opportunities for polite manners hiding unexpected competence and BAMF-itude on both sides. Plus, the understated snarking would be through the roof!
Not all characters in the group need to be present or focused on (especially if it’s during the War, it might be difficult to get everyone together in the same place) - i.e. this can be Peggy & any Pevensie(s), or Jarvis & any Pevensie(s), or Peggy & Jarvis & any Pevensie(s).
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Downton Abbey
Characters/Groups:
• Thomas & Anna
• Thomas & Daisy
• Thomas & Gwen
• Thomas & Branson
• Thomas & William
Tags:
• Awkward and Unconventional Gestures of Friendship
• Becoming a better person through the power of friendship
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Friends supporting each other through tough times
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
General thoughts:
I would really like to see Thomas have more friends and feel more at home at Downton Abbey, like later season Thomas had Baxter and Andy. Given how easily he gave his loyalty to Baxter and Andy, and how ride or die he was for them, it might not take much to wrangle early season Thomas away from O’Brien – probably just acceptance of his sexuality and showing they can be relied on to keep it a secret. Don’t get me wrong – Thomas is a self-serving bastard, and I love that about him, but I also think that part of why he lashes out so much and is his own worst enemy, is his deep-seated insecurity and feeling of being at war with the world. I’d love it if he had better friends who could curb his worst impulses rather than encourage them, and who’d encourage him to turn his scheming and manipulation for good.
Feel free to have Thomas pining for Jimmy, but I don’t want it requited, and I also don’t want Thomas kissing an unwitting Jimmy – I don’t really mind how you deal with it: change the circumstances so the possibility never arises, have his friends talk him out of it, keep everything the same but just pretend it never happened, or some other way are all fine with me.
Historical accuracy very optional - as long as there's a general sense of the early 20th century, I'll be happy (of course, I won't say no if you do want to painstakingly research what daily life below stairs would be like, but that part is definitely not required)!
Thomas & William
Maybe William finds out and accepts Thomas’ sexuality early on in his career at Downton, and maybe that means Thomas actually acts as a mentor to him in his early days at Downton Abbey? Thomas would probably still be a bit exasperated with William’s general naïveté, and would be a very prickly friend, but William’s good-natured enough he could probably let it flow off him, as long as he knew Thomas didn’t mean it, really.
Maybe William helps cover for him, and make it look like Thomas is interested in women, and maybe Thomas helps him woo Daisy? Maybe they shield each other from Carson’s wrath?
Or maybe William survives the war, and they bond over the horrors they have both experienced, and difficulties returning to normal life? Maybe the War has made William more jaded, and more able to understand Thomas’ bitterness?
Thomas & Gwen
Both ambitious people who want to improve their situation – Gwen by leaving service, and Thomas by rising to the top of the service career ladder. Maybe they help each other, and cover for each other – Thomas when Gwen goes to interview, and Gwen if he wants to sneak out to meet a special someone? Maybe seeing Gwen’s success makes him realise there is a world outside service, and she helps him find a job, particularly after the war when he’s desperate and Downton Abbey aren’t willing to have him back? Maybe Gwen is a lesbian or female-leaning bisexual, and they act as each other’s beards?
Thomas & Branson
Thomas resents the wealth the Crawleys have, and thinks they’re no better than him – and he’s absolutely right! Maybe Branson manages to turn Thomas’ resentment into political activity, and they have their own little Socialists Charter at Downton? Maybe they recruit Daisy, who shows some interest for workers’ rights? How does he react when Branson marries Sybil and becomes a member of the Upstairs? Does Branson let him know what he and Sybil are planning, or does he keep it a secret? How betrayed does he feel, and do they manage to overcome it?
Or maybe they become friends through Sybil during the war, and Thomas helps them cover up their relationship? Or you could combine this with the request above regarding Gwen, and have a foursome of Gwen, Thomas, Branson and Sybil all trying to get Gwen a better job?
Thomas & Daisy
What if Thomas, in his attempts to make William jealous, found that he actually liked Daisy as a friend and person? Early season Daisy is quite young and naïve, does he like having someone he can mentor who doesn’t think the worst of him? How does he deal with Daisy’s crush on him and having to let her down, and how does she take it?
As I said earlier in my above request with Branson, maybe they bond over wanting better than to be treated like servants – although neither of them is political to start, so they might need some triggering event for Daisy to discover politics earlier than she does in canon/Thomas to turn his general bitterness and resentment into political thought.
How does season 3 onwards with the drama of Daisy, Alfred, Jimmy, and Ivy play out if Daisy has Thomas on her side? Both of them can be petty and act out against people they don’t like (although Daisy never takes it as far as Thomas), do they ever go too far? Or does Mrs Patmore’s influence on Daisy also start to affect Thomas?
Thomas & Anna
Anna has a sneaky side, as evidenced when she made Thomas and O’Brien think she’d hidden the stolen snuff box in one of their rooms – she’s cunning enough to keep up with Thomas, but also has a good heart and strong morals, so she’d be slightly more able to keep him on the straight and narrow.
How does Thomas and Anna being friends change his relationship with Bates? How does Anna react when the two men she cares about are fighting over the same job? Or does her friendship with Thomas mean she never grows close to Bates? Maybe she even finds out he’s gay and acts as his beard – how does that influence her courtship with Bates?
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Game of Thrones
Characters/Groups:
• Sansa Stark & Loras Tyrell
• Sansa Stark & Brienne of Tarth
Tags:
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• court intrigue
• Emotional Hurt/Comfort
• Families of Choice
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Found Family
• Friends Discussing Treason Over Tea
• Loyalty - King/Queen and Lionheart dynamics
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Moral Dilemmas
• Oaths & Vows
• Overcoming Trauma
• Platonic arranged marriage
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
General thoughts:
I’m really not fussed about book or show canon – if I want something for one canon, I’ll be equally happy to see it using the other canon.
Sansa is one of my favourite characters in ASOIAF/GoT – I’d love to see a story that doesn’t gloss over the horrors she’s suffered, but also doesn’t reduce her to them. She’s clever and cunning, and she’s learnt to play the game, but she’s still managed to keep her kindness and compassion, despite everything she’s suffered. I like stories where she’s able to heal and move on from the traumas she’s suffered and reclaim her agency.
I also like stories that deal with politics and playing the game of thrones, especially ones that allow Sansa to demonstrate that she actually knows how to play – ones where she demonstrates her cunning and agency earlier in Kings Landing, and somehow manages to save her family, or stories where she’s older and has come into her own in a position of power, maybe as Lady of Winterfell or some other castle, or as a member of the Small Council to Robb, Daenerys, Jon, Stannis, Tommen or whoever you choose to give a crown to, maybe as Queen in the North, or maybe even Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I'd love her to get support, friendship and respect.
Sansa & Brienne:
Sansa gets a dashing and gallant knight to rescue and protect her after all – even if she happens to be female and not knighted. I’m very fond of loyalty, and if there’s one word to describe Brienne of Tarth, it’s loyal. She would do anything for Sansa, and in return Sansa trusts her, values her, and treats her with respect.
Maybe Brienne manages to save Sansa from King’s Landing and deliver her to Robb and Catelyn? What adventures do they have on the road together? Does Sansa trust her from the start, or does she just go with her for lack of other appealing options? Do they somehow prevent the Red Wedding – maybe they overhear something on the road and can warn the Stark army in time?
Maybe Sansa does go with Brienne when they meet in the Vale – how does that change things with no marriage to Ramsay etc. and they arrive at Castle Black before Jon’s death? Maybe something set after they’ve retaken Winterfell, maybe Sansa’s Queen in the North and Brienne the Lady Commander of her Queensguard rather than Bran’s Kingsguard, as they rebuild the North after all its been through? How does Brienne help and support Sansa when they crown rests heavy on her head? How do they deal with the demands that Sansa marry and beget an heir?
Sansa & Loras:
What if the Tyrells had managed to marry Sansa and Loras? Sansa gets her handsome gallant knight, and Loras gets to save a pretty damsel! They’re both Romantics, in that they believe in songs and the ideals of chivalry, which might lead to a strong friendship and companionship, but there is still the barrier that Loras can’t love her the way she’s dreamed of. I don’t mind if this goes slightly bittersweet, given their respective situations, dreams, and hopes, but I do have a fondness for arranged marriages that end not in love, but with deep, enduring friendships, and relationships that straddle the line between romantic and platonic love.
Would they go to reclaim Winterfell? Would they go to Highgarden for Loras to rule while Mace is in King’s Landing? Or would they stay in King’s Landing? How would Tywin react to being outmanoeuvred – and would he try to retaliate? How does Cersei react to having her hostage ripped away from her control? How would Sansa’s marriage to Loras change the position she played the game of thrones from? Would she learn from Olenna and Margaery, and would they be able to outplay the Lannisters together? Would having Sansa in the family change how they killed Joffrey, as they’d want no risk of suspicion to fall on anyone close to them? Would Cersei still suspect Tyrion, or would she blame Sansa, and how would they deal with that?
Perhaps Sansa might have been able to save Loras at his trial by the Faith (maybe she would point out that a squire having seen his knight master undressed is not incriminating in the slightest)? Or maybe there wouldn’t have been a trial if they managed to convincingly fake a romantic relationship?
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Leverage
Characters/Groups:
• Maggie Collins & Sophie Devereaux & Alec Hardison & Parker & Eliot Spencer
• Sophie Devereaux & Alec Hardison & Parker & Eliot Spencer & Jim Sterling
• Maggie Collins
• Jim Sterling
Tags:
• Canon-typical shenanigans
• Caper Fic
• Case Fic
• Characters plan and execute an elaborate heist of a low value item for the fun of the challenge.
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Con Artists
• Families of Choice
• Found Family
• Learning how to be a team
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Mission Fic
• Team Bonding
• Team Dynamics
• Us Against The World Mentality That Might Not Be Healthy But The Characters Find It Comforting
Maggie, Maggie & Sophie & Alec & Parker & Eliot
I love Maggie – how quick she is on the uptake, how she can outsmart Nate, but how she generally keeps it under wraps. I love how she’s not jealous of Sophie, but friends with her, and how she genuinely cares for Nate and worries about him even though they’re separated and takes true joy in his moving on.
I would be really interested to see Maggie working with the Leverage team more. Maybe she is their Mastermind approached by Dubenich instead of Nate? She found out that IYS had denied Sam’s treatment and wanted revenge, gathering famous criminals around her? Or maybe Sophie is her way in, since they both move in the fine art circles, and they start with maybe a case like the Two Live Crew Job, helping steal art back for the original owners, and decide to branch out into helping people generally?
Or maybe she works with Parker, Hardison and Eliot after the end of the series when they need an extra person on the con? Maggie is very charming and unassuming, and we’ve seen that she has the makings of a fine grifter – and they all love her and work well with her, so I’m sure they’d be delighted to have her!
Sterling, Sophie & Alec & Parker & Eliot & Sterling
What if it was Sterling in Nate’s place as the Leverage team Mastermind? How different would things be? What if Sterling was the one who lost a child (Olivia? An OC?) and blames IYS? He’s equally clever and ruthless as Nate, if not more so, but he’s also less prone to grandstanding. And his moral compass is slightly askew compared to Nate’s. Would they be more prone to go for vengeance on their marks rather than justice for the victims? Or would their goals be the same, just their methods different? Sneakier?
And where is Nate in this? Is he the IYS agent chasing them? Or perhaps they lead Leverage together, like they worked together for IYS? How would their dynamic be as co-criminal masterminds? Would they still have the push and pull that they had in canon, or would they be more egalitarian?
Another thing that might be fun is a fic set pre-series of Sterling chasing members of the Leverage team? Or him and Nate working together at IYS? We saw a glimpse of how they might have worked together in the Zanzibar Marketplace Job, and it might be fun to explore that further. What did they talk about on the rooftop when they were best friends?
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Mansfield Park
Characters/Groups:
• Fanny Price
• Fanny Price & William Price
Tags:
• Canon divergence - siblings separated in canon grow up together
• Character discovering own self-worth
• Character gaining independence from abusive family
• Emotional Hurt/Comfort
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Overcoming Trauma
• Protectiveness - Character being protected isn't used to being cared about
• Unappreciated Charater Finds Out that They Are Appreciated After All
Fanny Price:
Fanny is probably Austen’s most divisive heroines, but I love her! I like that she’s quiet, and unassuming, and self-sacrificing to a flaw, but she still won’t budge when everyone around her is trying to persuade her into something she thinks is wrong. I like that inner strength she has, that allows her to endure both Mansfield and Portsmouth.
I’d really like a story that highlights those qualities – and I’d also really like her to be happy and valued? Maybe she becomes an author and writes improving tracts for young ladies? Or maybe she becomes the companion to another rich lady, one who values her and enjoys her company, and doesn’t see her as a general dogsbody? Or maybe you have another idea in mind for what happens to her – I’m open to anything, as long as she’s happy! Feel free to make this a crossover with any other Austen canon if you want.
Fanny Price & William Price:
I love their strong friendship and how much they obviously care for each other! I love that they write to each other, despite how far away they are from each other, and that he gave her a cross. And how obviously she delights in his success, and how he worries about her health. William is the one truly good man in Mansfield Park.
Maybe something about them as children – they’re the eldest, and used to looking after their younger siblings. How does he cope when Fanny goes to Mansfield? How does the death of Mary affect the family and Fanny’s and William’s relationship – she’s away at Mansfield when that happens, does he wish for her there with her family? Is he ever jealous of her good fortune, or is he just happy for her?
Or during the canon era? Does he see what a bad environment Mansfield is for her more clearly, since he’s not so close to it? How does he feel about the woman Fanny has grown into, and about her two suitors? How does he feel about Admiral Crawford and his own promotion after Henry’s actions?
Or post-canon? How does he progress in the navy, and how does he feel about Fanny and the Bertrams? How much does he know about how they treated her and the events of the novel? How often do they see each other?
Or maybe a canon divergence? Maybe William and Fanny were both sent to Mansfield? How would that change things, if she wasn’t so lonely growing up? Would she still be as close to Edmund, or would the presence of William mean she didn’t need to turn to him for guidance and support? How would William get on with Edmund? How would he get on with Tom, Maria, and Julia?
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Pride
Characters/Groups:
• Cliff & Johnny
• Cliff & Johnny & Lee
• Gethin & Hefina & Cliff & Dai Donovan
• Hefina & Dai Donovan & Sian
• Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Sian
• Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Steph
• Mark Ashton & Dai Donovan
• Sian & Hefina & Gail & Gwen & Margaret Donovan & Maureen
Tags:
• Bonding over Weird Relationships with Cultural Heritage
• Character Finds Support In Queer Community
• Character thinks nothing matters except the Cause
• Characters Bonding Over Shared Hardships
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Families of Choice
• Found Family
• Friends supporting each other through tough times
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
General thoughts:
I love this film! The warmth between the characters, the two separate communities coming together, the friendships, the support they give each other – it’s all so very heart-warming and hopeful! Of course, there are plenty of complications, too, if you want something to sink your teeth in, I’d love something dealing with the complexities and problems of the world we live in and the difficult issues these characters face. Feel free to include difficult themes like poverty, politics, homophobia, and HIV/AIDS that mark the lives of these characters, but don't feel you have to - you can also focus on the happy moments of their lives, the friendships, love and laughter that they share.
I really don’t mind if the story’s set pre-, during or post canon, I’d just love anything that explores the relationships between these wonderful characters! Feel free to include any other non-nominated characters if you want to – I love all of them!
Gethin & Hefina & Cliff & Dai Donovan:
Maybe an elaboration of what we saw in the film with Gethin and the Welsh contingent, being welcomed home, finding his way back to Wales after 16 years? North/south Wales rivalry? The various attitudes they have towards the English?
Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Steph:
Maybe something about Joe and Steph working out how to live together and be young and gay in 1980s London? Does he try to reconcile with his family, or if he done with that? How does Steph deal with all that? Do they ever have to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend for safety?
Or maybe something about Jonathan and Gethin as their mentors/parent-figures, since at least Joe’s family, and possibly also Steph’s, leave something to be desired?
Joe "Bromley" Cooper & Sian:
I love how strong and caring Sian is, and how quickly she and Joe take to each other, how she’s there for him and supports him when he’s struggling, and how she’s not afraid of telling his family what a treasure they’re wasting. I really liked the scene when she drives him back to London and he falls asleep, and he looks so young and she looks so fond of him - maybe she has some maternal feelings for him, even though she’s not that much older than he is.
It would also be interesting to see Mark and Joe interact – they’re both quite quiet and reserved, which might make it awkward and tense to start off with, even though we know they become great friends by the end of the film.
Sian & Hefina & Gail & Gwen & Margaret Donovan & Maureen:
The miner's strike was a time for women who had previously just been housewives to rally and step up, and they really did, as the film shows! It was the women who carried the community, who organised food drives, who kept track of the community and who needed an extra hand, who reached out to their neighbours and the wider community, who kept everyone's spirits up while the men were on the picket lines. How did the women of the committee get on before the events of the film? Was there already tension between Maureen and the rest, or did her homophobia and rejection of LGSM break up friendships? And what happened afterwards? Does Maureen ever come round? Do her views change, and if so, how, or is she too entrenched in her position as Hefina’s enemy?
Hefina & Dai Donovan & Sian:
What about a story about Dai, Hefina, and Sian, bonding over being official and unofficial leaders of a community that is so dependent on the doomed mine? How do they carry on, after the strike? There must be very complicated emotions going back to work after so long, especially knowing that they’ve been defeated and it’s only a matter of time until the mine closes. How do they keep the community going? How do they keep up the ties between LGSM and Dulais?
Cliff, Cliff & Johnny, Cliff & Johnny & Lee:
Maybe something about Cliff, finding his people in the Gay Poetry and Literature Society, and balancing that with his life in Wales? Bonding with Gethin about their love for the written word, and with Jonathan over their love for the spoken word? Going to plays put on by Out Loud? Performing in plays put on by Out Loud?
Or about his relationship with his nephews? How did he relate to them – he seemed to be quite close to Maureen before the events of the film, how did that carry over to his relationship with the boys? Was he almost a surrogate father figure to them after his brother died?
And what about after the film? Does he ever come out, and does that change things? Maybe he just comes out to Johnny? Do he and Johnny grow closer, after Johnny joins him on the Pride march? Does Lee ever come round?
Mark Ashton & Dai Donovan:
I loved the friendship these two had, the parallels when they both pushed each other onto the stage to speak in front of their respective people when they weren’t 100% comfortable in the circumstances, how they overcame and grew stronger together as they learned about each other's reality. The symbol of the clasped hands was a lovely touch, and how Mark and Dai embodied these communities coming together. And they were also wonderful foils for each other – Mark, the firebrand, always looking for a cause, and Dai, the quieter and more pragmatic one who got pushed into activism by circumstances. I’d love something that explores their different approaches to the fight, Dai sharing wisdom from his longer life experience, and Mark sharing wisdom from his longer activism experience. I loved how they were so different, but united.
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Star Wars
Characters/Groups:
• Finn (SWST) & Mace Windu (SWPT)
• Finn (SWST) & Obi-Wan Kenobi (SWPT)
• Finn (SWST) & Padmé Amidala (SWPT)
• Finn & Rey & Poe Dameron (SWST) & the Jedi Council (SWPT)
• Rey (SWST) & Mace Windu (SWST)
• Rey (SWST) & Obi-Wan Kenobi (SWPT)
• Rey (SWST) & Padmé Amidala (SWPT)
• Rey (SWST) & Shmi Skywalker (SWPT)
• Rey & Finn & Poe Dameron (SWST) & Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker & Padmé Amidala (SWPT)
Tags:
• Time Traveler Trying to Change the Past is Hampered by Lack of Full Knowledge of the Past
• Characters with complicated pasts struggling with guilt and grief and forgiveness
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Difficult Decisions In War Time
• Loyalty Kink - Us Against The World
• Mission Fic
• Moral Dilemmas
• Partisan Fighters or Resistance
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD
• Time Travel - Character changes the past to prevent traumatic events and succeeds
• Time Travel Fix-It
• Trying to fit in with a group while keeping secrets about own past; other characters are suspicious
• Us Against The World Mentality That Might Not Be Healthy But The Characters Find It Comforting
General thoughts:
I’m really keen on the idea of the sequel trio (any or all) ending up in the prequels era! How do they deal with meeting these heroes of a bygone era? Do they try to change the fate of the galaxy, to stop the rise of the Empire, and if so, how do they go about it? What do they know about the time before the Empire?
Do Rey and/or Finn get to train with the Jedi? How do they deal with the Council? Are they welcomed? Or are they viewed with suspicion? Does Finn get to meet the clones? How do they react to what has been done with their legacy? How does he react to meeting his forerunners? Do Anakin and Poe bond over their love of flying? Does Poe know that Anakin is Vader? How does their experiences and skills from their time with the Resistance help them before or during the galactic civil war?
I’d be super keen to read something where they don’t have all the facts, that they’re floundering a bit – not everything became public knowledge, secrets were being kept, things got twisted in the re-tellings, and so on. Maybe they have to try to keep their origins a secret – how suspicious are they to those native to the time they travel to? Or do they get on with the others right from the start? Or maybe they can be open about their origins, and the people from the two different times try to piece together what happened by combining their respective fragmented knowledge – I’d love to see what misconceptions they come up with on the way!
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