dye_ann

Dear Yuletide Writer,

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Welcome to my letter, I’m very excited for this exchange.

I’ll do my best to give you an idea of what I like in general and what I particularly love about my requested fandoms, and prompts to use as inspiration if you’re so inclined. Prompting is also something I do for my own fun: don’t feel too compelled by what I suggest. In case you need more inspiration, on the other hand, my general likes can just as well provide some help.

Have fun and create something you love. I say that every year, but it’s still true after a fair number of exchanges: I’m always a bit awed by the idea of having someone writing for me specifically, and I trust you (because you have excellent taste!) so if you’re dying to write that specific idea you had in mind when you offered the relevant fandom, be my guest.

I’m Beatrice_Sank on AO3, here’s my account, if you’d like to know me better. My bookmarks are not necessarily a good representation of my reading habits as a whole, but you can find things I tend to enjoy there, and some of the fandoms I’m familiar with if that’s an information you need.

Language note (though I doubt it will apply): I also read French (it’s actually my first language), so I’m happy to receive something either in English or in French if you prefer to write in that language.

I’m very glad to receive treats and unplanned gifts!

General likes

Themes, atmosphere and tropes

Banter, future fics, fix-it, backstory, plot used to develop relationships, world-building, character study, competent female characters, experimental writing, alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records if it works with the fandom, outsider point of view…), found intimacy, intimate body language, found families, queer narratives, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, moral ambiguity, historical details, sensory notations, time-loops of the “Groundhog Day” kind, AU of the “what if” kind, heist fic, tropes subversion, humor, melancholy, a little psychological cruelty when it fits the story too.

Ships-wise: romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, friends to lovers, enemies to friends to lovers, love/hate relationships, fake/pretend relationships, angst, accidental proximity, subverting power dynamics, people falling in love While Trying Not To, things changing so gradually it’s hard to name it, little touches and physical reactions, sensual things going on at a slow pace, first kiss/getting together (not a fan of established relationships, by which I mean that the characters are already together when the fic begins), porn used as character study, characters expressing their feelings by actions instead of words, characters being so comfortable with each others they barely realize they’re behaving like couples and keep being in denial.

Smut-wise: praise, alternate power dynamics, desperation, teasing, repressed character letting go, dom/sub undertones or even full dom/sub dynamics depending on the context, sex in semi-public places, voyeurism and mirrors, overstimulation, dirty talk/banter during sex, body worship, phone sex, edging, intimacy issues, clothed sex. I’m fine with dubcon, but no non-con, please.

It’s worth noting that I’m very much open to sex scenes for every shippy request, but it’s by no mean mandatory if you don’t want to write them (fade to black is fine by me, as well as romance without sex scenes).

Opt-ins: any rating, any tense or point of view, any additional character showing up (even if they’re not nominated), experimental writing all the way if it fits your project, your gender headcanons for the characters, ambiguous/bittersweet endings.

Madame de... || The Earrings of Madame de…

About the exception in my sign-up: I’m fine with not using all the requested characters here, and don’t worry either if you use all three but they don’t have an equal amount of importance in the fic, I’m interested in various configurations and dynamics so I’m certainly not picky with that. But I’d like for at least two of them to show up, even if one is much more at the center than the other.

I did a promo post about this fandom, which you can find here: I don’t feel there is much I can add so I will mostly copy-paste what I wrote an elaborate when needed!

I really do believe this one of the best romance movies I've ever seen: it has a lot of the exquisite romantic tension you expect from costumes drama, but with more freedom and nuances than the archetypal relationships associated with it. The psychological aspects of the story are really quite fascinating, because the characters are all playing a part that's cracking at the seams under the force of feelings that cannot be fully expressed. As the General tells Louise, "To please you, I forced myself to play a role I do not like." On the surface, everything is sumptuous and perfect, like Louise's dresses and fur coats, but underneath there's a sort of intensity that culminates either into passion or cruelty. Another quote, that sums up the movie to me, is something else from Louise's husband to her: "I'll tell you a secret. Our conjugal bliss is a reflection of ourselves. It's only superficially superficial."

I think one of my favourite things is the fact that the husband is at first sympathetic to his wife's falling in love with another man, and treats it like a whim and then something he must help her grow out of, out of love for her. He tries and tries until he realises how much he has underestimated the depth of those feelings and can no longer pretend to be indifferent. It makes the love triangle so much more interesting than it usually is. And on the other side of that you have all those landmarks of romance: the balls, the confession, etc. I think ultimately it’s that combination of sharpness and intensity of feelings that gets me, and the way the characters move constantly from a very witty comedy of manners to this great tragedy of the emotions until they understand they have to choose between the two.

I’m interested in anything that furthers the fascinating relationships in the love triangle between Louise, the General and Baron Donati. Among other things, I'm very much interested in the role the General could have played in all this, had it not ended so tragically (by his own fault, I know). Anything from his perspective would be great, and I suppose my ultimate fantasy lands in the realm of the OT3. I could see André finding a sort of voyeuristic place in Louise and the Baron's love story, before being slowly integrated to it when it becomes too painful. Something where Louise/André is end game after all would also be of interest to me: there's a sort of enigma to their marriage, to them together, that the movie alludes at but is unable to explore, and I want more of that. Also I'm sure there's a lot of potential for André/Donati too, through Louise or perhaps even despite her.

So in short: future fic, alternate universe to avoid the ending, OT3 or any side of this M/F/M, twists welcome, any rating welcome too (I love myself some period drama porn occasionally). It’s also worth noting that I’m not opposed to any of them dying at some point: if you need the tragedy to make your story happen, go for it. I’m also here to see them suffer, so that’s a free pass for hurt, with or without comfort.

Prompts

- Faced with his wife’s illness, the Count takes upon himself to convince Donati to forgive her, for her sake. He becomes a sort of intermediary between them, and that sort of transforms their triangular relationship.

- Possibly a continuation of the previous idea, but could be treated as a different take too: somehow the Count becomes a peeping Tom to Louise and Donati’s romance. How does that affect him? Visually, this movie is all about windows and internal frames and looking or not looking at people (declarations of love are often made when facing away from the person they’re directed at, for example), so I think I’m interested in something that explores that idea in the context of voyeurism and the emotions associated with it. And perhaps it’s even more twisted than that, and Louise or/and Donati know they’re being observed and play along for some reason?

- For a possible alternate universe, what if the Count had somehow saved Donati’s life on the day he has his hunting accident (the one that makes Louise faint), and it created a stronger bond between them? Perhaps their relationship becomes more and more important and interferes with Louise’s romance with Donati, perhaps Louise’s feelings evolve differently seeing they’re closer, or perhaps it becomes something else entirely.

- Accepting to sacrifice his love and his pride, the Count steps aside and let Louise live her romance with Donati, feigning nonchalance as he slowly descends into despair. Something makes her realize what he’s doing eventually and she reconsiders her feelings for him. Or perhaps Donati notices something, with a different result? Alternatively, you can go tragic and have them build their love upon his suffering.

- To take revenge on Louise after her first lie about the earrings, Donati decides he’s going to become the Count’s closest friend. But the situation slowly escapes his control…

- Louise ran away from both of Donati and the General, and they have to work together to find her. Perhaps that’s another way to bring them closer.

- What if Donati and the Count found their way toward each other after Louise’s death?

- Epistolary works well with this fandom, so anything about the letters they all send each other (and steal to each other/read when they’re not supposed to, etc.) could be nice.

- I would love anything that takes advantage of the historical setting: are they forced to travel together to some luxurious hotel for a peace conference of some sort? Or around Europe in luxurious trains?

DNW: gore, underage, non-con, A/B/O, watersports (sexual activities involving urine and/or feces), unrequested crossovers, soulmates and that brand of AU where you change the setting (coffee shop, space, vampires, etc.): canon divergences are fine.

Mame

Mame Dennis; Vera Charles

Mame and Vera’s dynamic may be my favourite thing from this musical, and we’re speaking of a show where Angela Lansbury has starred, so that’s telling you something. I have to confess I nominated those two with shippy intent, but I just love the “frenemies throwing shades while being absurdly extravagant” vibe so much, and Gen will make me very happy too. There’s just a thing about the historical period, the clothes, the way they bicker, and the whole hedonistic philosophy behind it that’s so out of date yet so alluring (that being said I think we can all agree the “southern Belle” fantasy of the musical is best left behind). This canon has such a general queer vibe you can probably see it from the moon, and even if you go with platonic exploration of their relationship I think the “found family” aspect of it is interesting. Look, I just like that they’re not “normal” in any way and very unapologetic about it. In this house, we’re really digging this diva/queen vibe.

I really don’t mind if you ignore parts of canon for this, especially Mame’s marriage (but that could also create interesting situations with Vera, so it’s up to you). Feel free to explore gender and identity issues if you find the idea interesting: Jerry Herman and Bea Arthur will be proud of you.

Prompts

- In general, I’m very keen on scenarios where they just live the life, as they tend to do: give me extravagant clothes, exciting settings, knickknacks, parties, what have you.

- Building on sexual tension while in rehearsal for Vera’s play would be great. “The Man in the Moon” is a very interesting song in that sense: that lady in the moon sure sounds lovely, according to Vera… Anything in the broader context of theatre world is sure to delight me. For example: the masculine lead for one of their plays is incapacitated and someone has to step up...

- Mame defending Vera against some criticism or rumour, or the other way around, and being caught at it: feelings ensue (could also be a Gen prompt). I’m very much in favour of the slap-slap-kiss trope, and all the love-hate relationship tropes, really.

- I like the idea of them taking care of each other in their own way, despite the barbs, or even through them perhaps. So I’m just putting it there.

- A drunk confession from Vera, perhaps leading to a series of comical and over the top misunderstandings (side note: if you’re uncomfortable with the alcohol theme in this canon, feel free to make it disappear).

- Since we’re talking comedy of errors, what about ridiculous disguises and mistaken identities?

- If you’re more interested in Gen: how did they meet? I could picture them competing about love interests and realising they would rather be friends because of the intellectual challenge and the sense of kinship they develop (ditching the man/men in the process).

- The shippy version of the previous idea: Mame and Vera competing for a man and realising they’re more into each other.

- Perhaps my brain is being hacked by Murder She Wrote, but I think that would be hilarious to see them playing Junior Detectives together, whether there’s been an actual crime or they’re just panicking about something they blow out of proportions.

The Remains of the Day

Mr Stevens / Miss Kenton

I think what interested me here is the way the tragic and failed romance blends with social themes like service in England from the 30s to 60s, and the whole idea of sacrificing one’s autonomy in one way or another. I love how repressed the characters are, even if it drives me completely mad with frustration. And the way Miss Kenton and Mr Steven keep challenging each other, especially when it comes to values. I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of reading possible scenarios of how they finally get together (despite what my rational mind tells me), and I’m a big fan of the little things when it comes to them: touches, hidden emotions, unresolved tension that escalates, looks, etc. I’m very much here for any exploration of the emotional and/or sexual tension between them, through whatever mean you may think of. I’m interested in historical realism here, but on the other hand I’m not afraid of romance tropes either, and some of my prompts will take you outside the realm of realism too, don't be afraid to experiment.

Prompts:

- Miss Kenton is offered a job elsewhere, and Stevens does everything in his power to convince her to stay (including perhaps resorting to his knowledge of romance novels, or being a decent human being for once).

- In the same vein, but for something rather more acrobatics: Stevens announces her out of the blues that he plans on leaving Darlington Hall. Perhaps their relationship, professional as it may be, has become too much for him to handle. Perhaps something happened that compromised that professionalism. Perhaps it’s unrelated and he has to go for another set of reasons entirely. How would that play out? I’m thinking perhaps this, and not Miss Kenton going, could be an interesting way to develop their relationship.

- I’m amazed I never prompted for this before since I do it for basically all my fandoms but I’d love to see them solve a (small) mystery together around Darlington Hall or the village! Could be a great and more lighthearted way to see all that tension simmer, and to bring them together. Perhaps a servant is wrongly accused of stealing something, perhaps there are rumours about a ghost going around the village and they have to debunk it, perhaps there is an actual murder… I’m not afraid of a little ridiculousness here, I’m all for some good Agatha Christie fun.

- Okay it seems I’m going crazy with this respectable and dignified fandom this year but: what about a time-loop? The night before Miss Kenton departure comes to mind, of course, but I’m sure there are other points in time where it would be interesting to force them to relive their decisions. Also I suppose I’m here to see Stevens loose his patience and suffer while trapped by his own mistakes, oops.

- Let’s take everyone out of Darlington Hall for once: I’m sure Lord Darlington travels with his staff sometimes (perhaps with reduced staff, but still). What about a melancholic trip to the seaside? Or whatever strikes your fancy, really. Does a change of setting influence how they behave or see each other? Perhaps they meet new people there too, which could lead to some interesting developments. I’m all for shaking their habits up a bit and see what happens.

- What if she did come back after he offered her the job at the end of the book/movie? How does one go back to being a servant in the 60s after all this time and everything that happened? When you’re older? And how do you rekindle an old romance, especially when both parts are aware that your return has something to do with it but no one dares mention it?

- Any fake/pretend relationship/forced proximity scenario you can come up with: for example, their new employer only wants married staff and they concoct a lie, or they have to pretend for an event, or because an important guest of the house has taken a fancy to one of them and they need a cover.

- Miss Kenton is led to believe that Mr Stevens, as extraordinary as it sounds, is having an affair with someone (staff or someone in the village, perhaps a guest, I don’t know). It’s actually not the case but it drives her absolutely up the wall. Or perhaps it’s even more complicated than that and they have to go through a whole comedy of errors.

- Something something “reversed book scene” something (after the book scene, a situation in which it’s Stevens who tries to initiate contact, and Miss Kenton who’s reluctant).

A Room of One’s Own

No character nominated, so anything goes

Also known as: A Fic of Your Own.

Look, we’re on Archive of Our Own. I’m a Woolf fan and a fanfic enthusiast. And I just had the revelation that it would be beautiful and symbolic to get a AROO fic for Yuletide.

My friend, this is an all-you-can-write woolfian buffet: I didn’t nominate characters because I’ll genuinely take anything you might imagine about this book. I guess my only real preference is that I’d like the core ideas of the essay to be used at face value and not in a satirical light.

This is, I think, one of the texts that moves me the most. It tells such a quiet emotional tale of forgotten voices, broken lives, limited possibilities. I love the sense of sorority that comes from it, but also the speaker’s indignation that seeps through at various points. I love Woolf’s sense of rhythm, memorable sentences, and how fiction and reality perpetually blend together through the various figures of the essay: Judith Shakespeare, the three Marys (Mary Beaton, Mary Seton and Mary Carmichael), Chloe and Olivia, the speaker herself… I think the in-between state between full fictional characters (Judith has her whole life told, the various Mary have different personalities, Chloe and Olivia liked each other) and symbols (every forgotten woman artist is a Judith Shakespeare or a Mary, the Marys are taken directly from the ballad Mary Hamilton, Chloe and Olivia could stand for sorority or, well, they’re lesbians, Harold) is very interesting, and opens up lots of opportunities for fic. I add that I’m very open to the idea of making Virginia Woolf, or some version of her (the speaker in this text doesn’t have to fully correspond to Woolf in an autobiographical sense) a character in this. Any story that shows sympathy for the struggles the essay evokes, tries to recreate its ring in different contexts, develops the characters through time and space, modernizes the obstacles that prevent women from creating and being heard, pays homage in any way to what was lost to time, would make me so, so happy.

So, does Judith Shakespeare write fanfiction? Are the Marys all sleeping together? What about a new Mary Hamilton ballad about how the speaker isn’t allowed to step on the grass, and it’s tragic somehow? Etc. Don’t be afraid to go meta if you need to.

I’m going to prompt very broadly, but again if you think of something else, please go for it.

Prompts:

- An exploration of various incarnations of Judith Shakespeare or/and the various Marys, the various Chloe and Olivia across time and space. Since they are after all largely symbolic characters or masks for women all around the world and through the centuries, I would love to read about any different Judith or Mary or Chloe. Regarding Judith Shakespeare, I think that invites to consider what would be the equivalent of Shakespeare at various point in history and in various places, to diversify the literary figures of the essay (I’m very open to any deconstruction of the literary genius thing, by the way).

- A sort of fix-it for Judith Shakespeare’s tragic tale. I don’t particularly expect her to live happily ever after, but perhaps something a tiny bit hopeful, or less gloomy, with the idea that at least something of her lives on somewhere. What would have happened if she hadn’t die so early?

- What if the speaker lied about Judith’s story for some reason? Is there a secret society of women keeping her memory alive somewhere? In the same conspiracy vein: what if some major works of literature had actually been written by Judith?

- Lesbians everywhere! Anything about Chloe and Olivia and who they might be. Bonus points if you keep the historical setting: I’d love a 20s romance, but any other point in time could be interesting too. Also, what if one Mary liked another Mary? What would have happened to Judith if she had met a woman instead of a man in London? Etc.

- Give any of the character a room of her own, see what happens. What sort of space would it be, how could she acquire it, what does it mean to her, is it an actual room or something else?

- An anthology of the Complete Works of Judith Shakespeare (edited by one of the characters, or the speaker maybe? I would love some in-universe document with notes and references).

- Magical AU where the Marys, Judith, and possibly the others are mysterious figures that travel through time with various incarnations. Are they cursed, stuck in a loop, and what sort of powers do they have?

- I think this is absolutely ripe for crossover, of any sort. I’m going to give you suggestions, but if you want to try something very metatextual with a lot of different characters pertaining to different universes, I’m open to it even if I don’t know all of the fandoms used. For example, it’s okay to travel through the multiverse to focus on several women writers from different fandoms, be they historical figures or fictional characters.

* I’m just putting this out there on the off-chance that someone would be willing to write for this and be familiar with Susanna Clarke’s works, but I figured that given some of the themes of Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell (access to knowledge, the erasure of women in magic’s history and the general role of minorities in the book), that would make an absolutely fantastic match. What if the Marys were forgotten female magicians? And Judith Shakespeare lived in the shadow of the Aureates? Do they have something to do with faeries? What can we make of the folk ballad where the Marys are named, in this context? Of course if you’re familiar with this, it also makes a lot of sense to build upon The Ladies of Grace Adieu.

* This would probably works well too in an actual Austenian setting, but there are lots of possibilities, really.

* Do what you will with this but: what if Judith Shakespeare was the Mary Poppins of writers?

* Harry Potter: Judith Shakespeare, trans witch writer?

The Young Pope

Angelo Voiello; Sister Mary

The relationship between Voiello and Sister Mary is probably my favourite thing about this show (besides its stunning visuals and overall craziness). I mean, it ticked all the boxes for me because 1) I love myself some enemies to friends to lovers (or in that case, enemies to friends to cockblocked by the Pope) 2) I have a passion for nuns in fiction 3) older people’s romance rules and 4) I love when people bond by plotting together. All their scenes were both hilarious and adorable, and it was great to see how their relationship was used to add nuance to their characters. Their journey through the season is also quite fascinating because in some way they’re the most “normal” people in the show, they both can appreciate the value of a balanced position for the Church, the way they come to feel about each other looks worldly, simple. And yet it is anything but, because they can’t have that normalcy: they’re surrounded by people doing (*waves hand at the show*) this, the Church looks like it’s going to explode every episode, while the Pope does strange miracles and sips coke and also dies, and they’re basically star-crossed lovers of their own accord. *sigh*. I just wish they could get some peace and quiet from time to time. But on the other hand, I do love how they respond to all this by secret meetings-turned-dates in the wild and crazy schemes (we think Voiello because sure, it’s expected, but remember Sister Mary was responsible for the whole ‘fake parents’ debacle, and wasn’t that something). I like that those elderly people, who want nothing more than take a nice walk holding hands and watch sports on TV together, just have to be the Vatican’s gray eminences, because someone has to do it (okay and because Voiello loves it).

Let the record show that if you write slash for them I’m absolutely open to sex scenes (I’m a champion for older people –and nuns-- having sex lives, I guess), but I’m not prompting for that specifically and not particularly expecting it, go where you heart take you and do what you’re comfortable with. And if you want to write about something post-canon, feel free to take into account the events of The New Pope or to ignore them completely, I really don’t mind.

Prompts

- I’d really love to read anything about them getting together, in whatever context (feel free to change the canon, create you own little pocket of time inside it or go full post-canon, etc). If you need inspiration, you can give me All the Tropes: since they’re so hesitant, forced proximity seems a must (from “stuck somewhere together” to “there was only one confessional” (bed is good too)).

- Something showing how their relationship evolved across a long period of time could be great too; if you go there, feel free to ignore canon and have them reunite in some way, or just continue to live their lives in the Vatican (what if, for example, Lenny never collapsed and stayed in function?). In that spirit, I feel we don’t really see Voiello falling in love with her before his outburst in episode 5, and I’m curious about that.

- 5 times + 1 (they were tempted and resisted; “someone may see them”; they learned something about each other... etc).

- They’re so cute at the end of the show, but I was really into their early dynamic too, with all the banter going on and the idea that they’re going to be rivals: I think it would be really fun to expand on that and develop their relationship from there. Could also be a great option if you prefer Gen. It’s probably the point when they’re at their funniest, and imagine all they could do to drive the other crazy and be little nuisances.

- A confrontation between them about political or theological matters gets out of hands and evolves into… something else.

- They have to plot together to save the Church / Lenny / whatever important cause in the Vatican, and it brings them closer. Is it an uneasy or a natural alliance? What do they learn about each other in the process? What sort of unexpected intimacy does that create?

- Even though I’m forever frustrated by the finale, it had one silver lining. Lenny tells Sister Mary, who’s supposed to leave for Africa in the morning: “Before you go, if you like, you can say goodbye to the Cardinal Secretary of State”. Wink wink. That’s a missing scene if I ever knew one. Besides, I like to think of Lenny’s words as a sort of free pass for… well, whatever you like (I’m certainly not opposed to them breaking their vows). But for something more vague: since they keep meeting outside, and we never see them alone in a private context, so I’m very curious about that, especially when the emotional stakes are so high.

- God ships it. I’m kidding mostly, but I’d love to read about a series of mysterious coincidences and signs similar to what we see in the show pushing them together when they insist They Shouldn’t.

- Though I’d prefer a hopeful ending for them, I’m not opposed to exploring the more tragic aspects of their situation. The show has always been a mix of goofy and tragic (well I guess it’s mostly tragic in fact, but still hilarious), and they’re a nun and a cardinal in love, which must involve some degree of internal conflict. Something about how they torture themselves, and ideally each other too, could be interesting. Alternatively, perhaps they find each other while facing the various tragedies the show throws at them?

- What if someone (be it Lenny, one of the next Popes or even Voiello himself once he’s Pope) allowed for all the clergy to get married? How would they react? Would they still be conflicted, would truths emerge or would they disagree on theological options? I’m interested in the possibility for a relationship here, not necessarily in having them marry (although the idea of the Pope publicly marrying a nun after authorizing it is crazy enough to look promising).

- I know Lenny isn’t nominated, but if you feel like involving him, I could also see him subtly (or perhaps not so subtly) creating occasions for them OR on the contrary, trying to prevent anything between them in the background (little devil that he is).

- The walls have eyes and ears in the Vatican, so it could be nice to see how their relationship is perceived by others (so outsider’s point of view, your pick of character(s), I love the whole cast).

- For a somewhat different mood: them catching a break, being comfortable together and Not Labelling It, having little cute moments. Heck, I’m even open to some downright fluff, there I’ve said it. I mean “napping together” would be perfect too.

- A series of dreams they have about each other (not necessarily sexual or anything, just whatever sort of dream you want) and how that affects their daily life.

Hello!

Welcome and thank you so much for writing for me, or considering doing it. Here you’ll find my general likes and dislikes, my thoughts on specific fandoms and relationships, and a list of prompts.

I’ll be honest: I’ve never done FIAB before, and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed at the possibilities (with the mediums and whatnots), so I just put my medium opt-ins there without prompting for them: get wild with them if you want. I will be happy with anything you come up with, or any idea you had when you offered this fandom/medium. So feel free to ignore all the optional detail, and please have fun while creating, that’s all I ask for!

I’m Beatrice_Sank on AO3: my Bookmark section will show you things that I like too. However, it’s kind of a mess because I only think of bookmarking every now and then, when engaged in a reading marathon.

Treats are welcome!

General

Themes, atmosphere and tropes

Banter, future fics, fix-it, backstory, plottiness, world-building, character study, competent female characters, experimental writing, alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records if it works with the fandom, outsider point of view…), found intimacy, intimate body language, found families, queer narratives, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, moral ambiguity, historical details, sensory notations, time-loops of the “Groundhog Day” kind, AU of the “what if” kind, heist fic, tropes subversion, humor, melancholy, a little psychological cruelty when it fits the story too.

Ships-wise: romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, love/hate relationships, fake/pretend relationships, angst, accidental proximity, subverting power dynamics, people falling in love While Trying Not To, things changing so gradually it’s hard to put it into words or name it, little touches and physical reactions, sensual things going on at a slow pace, first kiss/getting together (not a fan of established relationships, by which I mean that the characters are already together when the fic begins), porn used as character study, characters expressing their feelings by actions instead of words.

Smut-wise: praise, alternate power dynamics, desperation, teasing, repressed character letting go, dom/sub undertones or even full dom/sub dynamics depending on the context, sex in semi-public places, voyeurism and mirrors, overstimulation, dirty talk/banter during sex, body worship, phone sex, edging, intimacy issues, clothed sex. I’m fine with dubcon, but no non-con, please.

It’s worth noting that I’m very much open to sex scenes for requested ships, but it’s by no mean mandatory if you don’t want to write them (fade to black is fine by me, as well as romance without sex scenes).

Opt-ins: your gender headcanons for the characters, ambiguous/bittersweet endings, any rating, any tense or point of view, experimental writing all the way if you like it

DNW: permanent major character death (time loops and resurrection plots are great), non-con, underage, emeto/scat/watersports, unrequested crossovers, AUs that change the setting (A/B/P, soulmates, coffee shops and the likes; canon divergences are great). 

All the Wrong Questions

WB: Any

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Art - In-Universe Newspaper Front Page

Medium Opt-In: Art - In-Universe Advertisement

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - A Page From An Herbal

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Bestiary

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Advertisement

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Exhibition Catalogue

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Magazine Article

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Front Page

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Religious Text

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Restaurant Review

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Textbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Travel Literature

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Mission Report

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Any Nominated Style of Poetry

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Map: Any

Medium Opt-In: Video - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Advice Column

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In Universe Classified Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Complaint Form

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Essay

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Newspaper Front Page

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Personal Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Religious Text

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Restaurant Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Textbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - List of random facts

Medium Opt-In: Writing - List of things (character) is not allowed to do

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Worldbuilding Headcanon

I’ve requested this before for a worldbuilding exchange, so if you’re interested in more specific wb prompts, check out my letter.

Honestly I’ll take anything here, and I love absolutely every character in this canon so feel free to include whoever you want if needs be, up to and including characters we only know from A series of unfortunate events, since they all could have some business in Stained.

Here are some themes and aspects that interest me:

- Myths and culture surrounding the Bombinating Beast (some lore about the traces the beast has left/will leave into the culture of this universe)

- Stain'd-by-the-Sea and VFD (anything about the history of relationships between townsfolk and VFD members over time)

- Stain'd-by-the-Sea after canon (does it get better, or worse? What about the ecological issues Hangfire was concerned about?)

- Stain'd-by-the-Sea local newspaper (I would love a story revolving around the publishing of an issue of Stain’d newspaper or just the actual issue itself.)

Amadeus

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/ Antonio Salieri

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

The one-sided animosity between Salieri and Mozart keeps me awake at night. I just want more of Salieri playing mind-games with himself and his own twisted aspirations, tastes and desires, more of Mozart perhaps not-so-naive inscrutability. I very much enjoy how ridiculously emo Salieri is, how he tries so hard to be a caricature of 19^th century villain, for… what, exactly? Goofy Mozart is also a fav, but I like when we get to see glimpses of his hidden depths (which I’m sure he has...somewhere). If you’re a fan of that period and know a ton of trivia about the historical characters or the music, be my guest, I really enjoy that sort of details. Same goes for obscure references and symbolism.

I’ll always be happy with something that explores the intense tension between them in whatever way you choose. For this fandom, I would prefer not to receive something completely fluffy: these characters are very imperfect, and I’m happy for them to stay that way at least to an extent. Don’t be afraid to go dark and twisted, after all one of them did try to off the other (at least in his mind). That being said, I’d be happy to see Mozart live and all that animosity turn into something less lethal if they manage to confront their feelings (and I’m fully aware that they might never manage that, and it’s fine too, this doesn’t have to have a perfectly happy ending).

Prompts:

- A time-loop that occurs at some sort of turning point (e.g. right before Mozart’s illness and death, but I like the idea of finding other, perhaps less obvious, crossroads) and forces them to reconsider their relationship. I could very well see Salieri completely panic because he can’t manage to kill Mozart or get rid of him because he rises again comes morning: a perfect occasion for some “kill, kill, kiss”! But the time loop could also apply to one of their opera’s opening night, with different consequences, for example.

- Salieri learns some scandalous secrets about Mozart’s sex life and tries to blackmail him, but the whole thing blows up in his face…

- Someone of influence (could be the Emperor, could be someone else) sets up a contest between Salieri and Mozart (composition, interpretation, whatever strikes your fancy). Tension between them escalates, but resolves in an unexpected way.

- They are forced to go on tour together across Europe. What a great occasion for forced proximity, but also for learning to know each other better (and perhaps discover some dark secrets).

- Salieri finally snaps, and it leads to a physical confrontation, but this, to his surprise, turns into something else…

- Mozart flirts with Salieri because of a game, and it leads to unexpected complications.

Ammonite

Mary Anning/Elizabeth Philpot

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - A Page From An Herbal

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Bestiary

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Exhibition Catalogue

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Travel Literature

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Textbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Worldbuilding Headcanon

I really enjoyed Ammonite, mostly because of its themes and the way they are handled (and also because of the cast, and my undying love for Fiona Shaw. The subtlety of it all is something I keep thinking about. Sex scenes notwithstanding (not a fan of how those were shot), it’s a very honest queer narrative to me, and perhaps an even more honest take on women’s work and women’s contribution to science in that time period (perhaps even beyond that). And let me say right away that I do enjoy Mary/Charlotte, I just feel like the movie did a good job of showing why that particular story could not entirely work. I felt more invested in Mary/Elizabeth because it felt like there was more common ground for them to understand each other through the place work occupies in their life. And again, because of Fiona Shaw (I mean, besides everything else she’s hot as hell in it). So what really makes me want more of those characters is the idea of two women teaching each other about paleontology, discovering amazing things and becoming friends/lovers through that process. In that particular time period and location too! The atmosphere of the movie is amazing, and I’d like more of the cold English shore, more mud and flowers and fossils.

I’m really interested into pre- or post-movie, how the two of them met and got together, how they worked together, or how they reconstruct any sort of relationships after what transpired between Mary and Charlotte. That last scene between the two of them is full of intriguing elements. The sheer love that Elizabeth seems to feel for Mary, but also the idea that she often felt she was “the enemy” when she was with her. I would love anything that explore that. Why would Elizabeth be the enemy? Historically, those women didn’t belong to the same class, much like Mary and Charlotte, but I feel that divide would play differently here, because they have acquired a sort of independence through work (and not only scientific work, but physical tasks too). Money is obviously an issue, and perhaps Mary’s mother is one too. Does that change after her death, when Mary finds herself alone and entirely self-reliant? Is age also an obstacle? If so, how? Or do they just enjoy finding someone who understands them despite all that? I’m fine with any degree of hesitation, conflict or misunderstanding in their relationship. But also happy with them drawing ammonites and drying flowers in the sun.

If you go post-canon, feel free to evoke Mary/Charlotte if you want or need to, it’s completely fine by me.

Prompts:

- The story of how they first met and fell in love. Ho do they manage to make themselves known to each other, how do they build trust, what role do the various barriers that exist between them play in all that?

- Elizabeth teaching Mary, Mary teaching Elizabeth, them working together, making art together, drawing each others, anything like that. Elizabeth Philpot actually used fossilised ink to paint: how cool is that?

- Reconstructing their relationship after Charlotte, after Mary’s mourning. The vulnerability that comes with allowing love to grow again. Learning to trust each other. The fear of being a second choice. How different is it to be together later in life?

- Were they rivals at first? Or at least looking at each other with a degree of suspicion, taught to be wary of any female rival even in the professional field? Because they needed to sell those fossils and the museums couldn’t handle more than one female paleontologist? How do they overcome that?

Derry Girls

Sister Michael / Janet Murray

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

What I love above all with those two is the impeccable banter and the complicated way they hit it off immediately. You can go full comedy (and please, feel free to include any guest star you might want here, Derry girls and Peter the Priest or Original Nuns and Protestants, or even Erin’s family). I would also be interested in something that builds more on their respective positions: what do they think of each other, of liking each other (do they resent it? Is it a problem or a relief?). Do they see each other again after their first meeting (every year? More often than that? Outside of the program or not? Accidentally or voluntarily?). Also interested to see how weary they are of the stereotypical star-crossed friends/lovers scenario they are sort of forced into.

Jokes about various religious habits are very welcome, feel free to use your knowledge of that particular historical, political and cultural context if you have any, I’m also interested in that dimension of the show.

Prompts

- The story of their relationship through the years and the Give Peace a Chance program. Forced proximity keeps happening (only one bed, accidentally locked together somewhere, lost in the woods, you know the drill). God probably ships it, and they should take a hint. Bonus points for various shenanigans.

- They keep meeting everywhere for no apparent reason. Is this a sign? Or a bloody embarrassment? Maybe one of them is convinced she’s being tempted or that it’s some sort of theological torture. Or believes the other is pulling her leg and isn’t actually interested.

- One of them basically thinks they’re dating but forgot to inform the other.

- After several years, one of them announces she has to stop doing the program. Confession of feelings ensues (feel free to add angst if you want, those don’t have to be 100% light-hearted if you don’t want them to).

- Outsider POV on their relationship (the children would be fun ofc, but I’m open to everything).

Discworld

Havelock Vetinari/Rufus Drumknott

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Worldbuilding Headcanon

So, as some of my other requests probably make clear, I’m a sucker for unbalanced power dynamics, and falling for one’s employer/employee is very much that. I like how appreciation for extreme competence and development of feeling could mix in this particular relationship, and the sort of ongoing tension it could create between them. While they do not strike me as “repressed” exactly, it seems to me facades and professional masks would likely play a role in there (since appearing cool and detached is of utmost importance in their line of work, so to speak), as well as extreme competence (which I absolutely love).

I’m also a huge fan of the general tone of the canon, and sort of a Discworld nerd, so feel free to insert as many jokes and references as you like, if that’s your thing!

Prompts:

- Drumknott realises Vetinari is discreetly testing him with little tricks and traps during his daily work, perhaps to determine what level of “clearance” he should have, perhaps for other reasons entirely (a very obscure way of flirting? A way to deal with frustration?)

- Something that explores jealousy on both sides: each of them believes the other is interested/in a relationship with someone else (feel free to include Margolotta, I absolutely love her), or perhaps some important guild leader shows too much of an interest in Drumknott to Vetinari’s taste, etc.

- Alternatively, Vetinari convinces Drumknott to take advantage of one of Ank-Morpork major player’s interest in him to gather intelligence. But he turns weirdly possessive and can’t stop himself from spying on them all the time.

- Fake/pretend relationship: while on a diplomatic trip, they have to pretend to be married.

- Forced proximity: someone is plotting another assassination attempt on Vetinari, and he has to live with Drumknott full time for a little while.

- Anything that explores the development of their relationship through the years as canonical events unfold. Hurt/comfort whenever someone tries to kill Vetinari would be nice (and I like the idea Vetinari could train Drumknott in the traditional assassins’ ways in order for him to recognize any such attempt), or slowly figuring out each other love language, for example.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

WB: Any

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Art - In-Universe Newspaper Front Page

Medium Opt-In: Art - In-Universe Advertisement

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Advertisement

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Exhibition Catalogue

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Magazine Article

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Front Page

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Religious Text

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Textbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Travel Literature

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Mission Report

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Any Nominated Style of Poetry

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - In-Universe AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange & Related Posts/Messages

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Map: Any

Medium Opt-In: Video - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Advice Column

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In Universe Classified Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe 'Dear Creator' letter(s)

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Complaint Form

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Essay

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Fan letters

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Fanfic prompt list

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Newspaper Front Page

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Personal Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Religious Text

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Textbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - List of random facts

Medium Opt-In: Writing - List of things (character) is not allowed to do

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Worldbuilding Headcanon

I’ve requested this before for a worldbuilding exchange, so if you’re interested in more specific wb prompts, check out my letter.

I adore this universe and will take anything about it. So if you’re here for the Raven King, the history of magicians and books of magic, for legends and tales in the spirit of the Ladies of Grace Adieu, for the strange magic of bells, abducted humans, etc.: be my guest. I’m prompting for some more detailed requests, but I’ll be equally happy with your own idea.

Feel free to use any character from the book or to create your own. I’ll be glad to see more of very minor characters, especially magicians (and especially female magicians), but I love every main character and their many, many faults ^^.

WB: In-universe parodies and lampoons of Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange

Okay so this is a weird one, but consider. Norrell and Strange are extremely famous in England, we know there are etching of them, probably portraits circulating too, so I’m thinking there must be caricatures and offensive lampoons circulating too.

- I’m sure English magic doesn’t only have friends: about about its enemies? What scathing critics do they address to Norrell and/or Strange, what is their game. Do they have different views about magic, or do they simply want to abolish it? I’d love to read a lampoon attacking Strange and Norrell’s positions on magic, bonus points if it’s partially bullshit and partially super on point ^^.

- The comedic potential of Strange and/or Norrell (or other characters: eg Childermass) seeing themselves caricatured in a text or in a play.

- Lampoons are often filled with lewd allusions and sexual accusations, so what if Norrell and/or Strange chanced upon something that accuses them of sleeping together? Hilarity and awkwardness could ensue. I’m up for any scenario: they aren’t sleeping together and the thought is appalling to them (but it might be funny to other people, I’m thinking Childermass, but really whoever you want); they aren’t sleeping together, but one of them is pining ; or maybe both of them; or maybe they are sleeping together, but it’s certainly not respectable to see it printed in cheap ink! If you want to add actual porn to this, be my guest.

- Honestly, anything you can come up with that will make me laugh.

WB: Magic in Literature and Fine Arts

I’m curious to know how the presence of magic in Britain and over the world has influenced the culture, especially if it crosses with what exists in our world. For example:

- Influence of magic on the literary canon

So, JS&MN as well as some parts of Ladies of Grace Adieu (especially “Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower ») famously read like Jane Austen, but with magic. I would really love to read something like an anthology of British literature after magic is revived in England. The excepts and authors could be invented (maybe new authors entered the canon, it’s alternative history after all). Or maybe the well-known texts got altered because magic was rediscovered. I mean, I’m curious about what Dickens, or Alice in Wonderland, or Jane Eyre, or modernist literature (Woolf?) might become in a context where magic is part of society.

Alternatively, does Norrell and Strange’s life and fate influence literary history? Do they become the model for something like a new type of Byronic hero? Do famous authors write about them (poems, plays, novels…)?

- Magic in the fine arts

Feel free to use real paintings and identify magic elements in it, show me how De Chirico’s work, or Raphael’s, or Da Vinci’s, or Dali’s, or whoever you want, has to do with the history of magic. Alternatively, do artists in-universe attempt to use magic to paint or sculpt or create new forms of visual arts? Descriptions of invented paintings or sculptures or other artefacts would be nice too. Or you could tell me about magical accidents affecting statues or paintings or the likes.

Original Work

A note on Original Works: while I may have suggestions about the possible scenarios these tags could lead to, feel free to go with your own idea there, perhaps even more than with other fandoms. After all, original works are, well, original (and I can’t think of everything so there’s a good chance I’ll love your idea very much).

Stern King's Advisor/Curious Royal Herbalist (M/F)

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - A Page From An Herbal

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Worldbuilding Headcanon

I won’t give precise prompts for this since OW tags are basically prompts already, but I can tell you what I imagine this could be. What interests me here is the potential for Enemies to Lovers or Enemies to Friends to Lovers since it’s likely that these characters will have divergent moral values. Perhaps the herborist is all for science and experiments, while the advisor is suspicious of her work and tries to keep her in check. Perhaps he’s very religious and suspects her of witchcraft. I also love the likely power unbalance here, since there is a chance that a local herborist doesn’t have that much political influence. Or perhaps she does, and that is the problem? Power struggle would be cool then, as well as reluctant hurt/comfort since it’s also the herborist’s job to take care of sick or wounded people.

I’m good with any historical setting here, but also with various fantasy settings: what if the herborist is (secretly?) an alchemist or discover magical secrets? Or the advisor plans to replace the king one way or another, and tries to convince her to help?

Excentric Genius Detective/Her More Traditional Older Assistant (F/F) (OW)

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Academic Publication

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Advertisement

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Worldbuilding Headcanon

For this I’m seeing more of a genderswapped Sherlockian setting, perhaps Victorian, but feel free to try anything else that you think might work (20s in a Madame Storey or Harriet Vanes spirit for example, or noir). I like the idea of an age gap here, with the assistant being older and perhaps a bit judgmental of her employer’s lifestyle, but also very much smitten against her will. This is a recipe for conflict and tension (and Idiots in love) if I ever saw one, especially if they more or less live together. Perhaps the assistant has a darker past or on the contrary is ashamed of being “too plain and boring”, perhaps the detective is a womanizer or has only ever loved her assistant. Give me outraged Assistant and smug Genius Detective, with all the tropes you can think of (disguises and masquerades, pretend relationship on a case, evil Nemesis playing with their mutual feelings, etc.)

Casefic and drama very welcome, but I’m also interested in their everyday life if that’s more your thing.

The Remains of the Day

Mr Stevens / Miss Kenton

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice of 3+ Different In-Universe Mediums Per Work

Medium Opt-In: Any - Creator's Choice: 3+ Diff In-Universe Mediums/Work That Fit The Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

I think what interested me in the novel (and movie) is the way the tragic and failed romance blends with social themes like service in England from the 30s to 60s, and the whole idea of sacrificing one’s autonomy in one way or another. I love how repressed the characters are, even if it drives me completely mad with frustration. And the way Miss Kenton and Mr Steven keep challenging each other, especially when it comes to values. I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of reading possible scenarios of how they finally get together (despite what my rational mind tells me), and I’m a big fan of the little things when it comes to them: touches, hidden emotions, unresolved tension that escalates, looks, etc.

Prompts:

- What if she did come back after he offered her the job at the end of the book/movie? How does one go back to being a servant in the 60s after all this time and everything that happened? When you’re older? And how do you rekindle an old romance, especially when both parts are aware that your return has something to do with it but no one dares mention it at first?

- Any fake/pretend relationship/forced proximity scenario you can come up with: for example, their new employer only wants married staff and they concoct a lie, or they have to pretend for an event, or because an important guest of the house has taken a fancy to one of them and they need a cover.

- Miss Kenton is led to believe that Mr Stevens, as extraordinary as it sounds, is having an affair with someone (staff or someone in the village, perhaps a guest, I don’t know). It’s actually not the case but it drives her absolutely up the wall.

- Miss Kenton is offered a job elsewhere, and Stevens does everything in his power to convince her to stay (including perhaps resorting to his knowledge of romance novels, or by being a decent human being for once).

- Something something “reversed book scene” something (after the book scene, a situation in which it’s Stevens who tries to initiate contact, and Miss Kenton who’s reluctant).
 

Succession

Roman Roy/Gerri Kellman

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Any - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Excerpts from a Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Diary Entry

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Non-Linear Narrative

Ah, these two… I’m really fascinated by this ship, and what the show did with them. And I’ll admit I’m of two minds when it comes to them. On the one hand, my heart craves for some more feelings, something more tangible being revealed in the midst of their complex games, the idea that eventually it could lead to (unwanted?) emotions. But on the other hand, they are both very selfish and it’s also clear they’re using the other in multiple ways. Roman never questions what Gerri actually gets out of their arrangement, which is something that deeply interests me. The power dynamic is so complex: who really has the upper hand? Is it harassment (on Roman’s part), is it a way to exploit someone’s else traumas to one’s advantage (on Gerri’s), is it indirect therapy (for Roman, or for both), a way to take revenge (Gerri, who works in a misogynistic environment), something else? Feel free to mix those elements in any way you want, that’s basically what the show does and I’m all for ambiguities here. In terms of characters, a lot of fics for this pairing focus on Roman, and I love that, but I admit I’m also very intrigued by what Gerri might want, what she might think of him, of all this, even if it’s only suggested. I feel like the only thing that bothers me in fics exploring their relationship is when Gerri is only used as a device to explore Roman’s desires and trauma, and her own feelings and needs are not taken into account.

If you want to write smut for this, it will be very welcome. And if you are unsure how far you can go, I have bookmarked a ton of E-rated Gerri/Roman stories that will probably help you see what I’m comfortable with, but on the whole I’m pretty open to everything that fits into their dom/sub dynamic.

Prompts:

- Post-canon: Gerri decides to reconnect with Roman for strategic reasons (maybe Tom asks her to, or maybe she does it to protect herself from Tom or Mattson), or that is what she tells herself. He still allegedly has that connection with Menken that they need to exploit. But she’s surprised to see how much emotional baggage emerges when they see each other again.

- Anything that explores the changing power dynamic between them, even in minimal ways. For example I love the idea that Roman could become gradually less self-centered and actually try to praise her/woo her during their sessions, because I think Gerri would absolutely panic.
-Their obviously under-negotiated kink blows up in their face at some point. Perhaps it's Roman who goes from excited to plain hurt by the insults. Perhaps something goes wrong with Gerri (I think this is also really worth exploring: what in her position in what they have going on could end up being too much for her too). Is this the way to deeper feelings being expressed, a warning sign, an occasion to talk and negotiate, etc? How do they deal with the power they have over each other?

- Though I know this all began with Gerry buttoning Roman's shirt, they almost never touch after that (and we get why, but I think that's still a complicated 'why'). So: 5 times + 1 they touched accidentally, or something of the sort that explores why touch is difficult between them, all the things it could mean. Same goes with kissing: given their usual dynamic it seems to be off-limit, and I’d like to see how that could become a Thing, perhaps something they both fantaisize about in different ways but refuse to allow themselves to do, or perhaps not. In fact, and in more general terms, I would like to see how feelings and gestures that are less clearly of a sexual nature fit into their dynamic. And what it does to them whenever that line is crossed.
- Gerry betrays some sort of reaction (as opposed to: acting cold and impervious) during one of their 'sessions', or perhaps even out of their sessions in an inappropriate setting, at work or in any other social context. Could be purely sexual, could be emotional, perhaps a mix of both. What does it lead to, what does Roman make of it? What does *Gerri* make of it? In short, and in more general terms: what does Gerri want? What does she feels? Does she know, and if not does she tries to figure it out, or to avoid thinking about it at all costs? Would love to see Roman losing his mind trying to analyze the tiniest signs.

Dear Writer,

Welcome to my letter, I hope this will be useful to you. You will find here a list of my General Likes, what I enjoy when it comes to relationships in fiction. I try to provide prompts, but if they do nothing for you, feel free to ignore them or pick something in my Likes if they inspire you. I had to sign up in quite a hurry this year, so apologies if things in the form were introduced a bit dryly, I want to reiterate these are suggestions and absolutely not demands (optional details are optional) The fandoms I’m requesting are quite different when it comes to moods, so clearly not every like will apply, but it’s a long list and I trust you to go where your (candy)heart leads you!

By the way, I’m Beatrice_Sank on AO3.

General likes

Romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, people falling in love While Trying Not To, things changing gradually so it’s hard to put it into words or name it, friends/enemies to lovers, fake/pretend relationships, angst, accidental proximity, little touches and physical reactions, focusing on characters’ hands, sensual things going on at a slow pace, first kiss/getting together, banter, fix-it, AU of the “what if kind”, backstory, alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records if it works with the fandom, outsider point of view…), found intimacy, intimate body language, found families, the little cruelties of everyday life relationships, queer narratives, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, sensory notations.

Sex scenes likes

Praise, alternate power dynamics, teasing, repressed character letting go, people having fun during sex, sex in semi-public places, voyeurism and mirrors, overstimulation, phone sex, edging, intimacy issues, clothed sex. I’m fine with dubcon, but no non-con, please.

I’m cool with everything from no sex to fade-to-black to allusions to actual descriptions. To be clear, I’m not particularly expecting sex scenes: write one only if you feel like it.

DNW: major character death (time loops and resurrection plots are fine + this DNW doesn’t apply to my Kit/Olaf request), non-con (dub-con is fine), sexual interaction involving children under 16, non-canonical children and pregnancy, watersports, unrequested crossovers, AUs that change the setting (A/B/O, soulmates, coffee shops and the likes; canon divergences are fine).

An Unfortunate Series of Events

Kit/Olaf

Ah, the delicious tension between star-crossed lovers who are also extremely morally dubious! Well, it’s especially true of Olaf, of course, but I like how he voluntarily overplays the whole “villain” aspect, when we know Kit probably had something to do with his parents’ death too. I’ve always been curious to see them interact more, in this adult, complex way that seemed so mysterious to the Baudelaire when they witnessed it at the very end of the books.

Please feel free to imitate the books’ style if you want, or to go your own way. I love them hot and tragic, but I’m also curious about their quiet, “heart of the storm”, stolen moments. My personal headcanon is that Kit probably continued to love Olaf in a way despite herself over the years, and that he continued to pine for all this life. I think as adults they would probably both hate and love each other in a way that clearly isn’t sane. But I’m also interested in how they might have interacted as teens, before things got tragic. Were they awkward, already too serious, witty and annoying? Any moment in their relationship is fine, including the very last one if that’s where you want to go (note that my DNW for major character’s death doesn’t apply here).

I’m quite open to heardcanons about VFD, the Schism, their respective crimes and backstory, who’s dead, who’s alive, etc. This canon is an enigma on many aspects, and I don’t mind reading hypothesis (though I would really prefer that you build upon the books’ lore, and not the TV show’s).

Prompts:

- The evolution of their relationship through various snippets (if you want a theme it could be the times they chanced upon each other during missions, or the various times they half-heartedly tried to kill each other, quiet moments, or just randoms scenes of your choice, I’ll be equally happy).

- Outsider’s point of view! I’m thinking for no particular reason the Duchess of Winnipeg because I’ve always been very intrigued by her, but use anyone you want!

- 5 times + 1 they lied to each other (or 3+1, 5+1 is already an awful amount of times!)

- Different coded messages they sent each other, or books they used to communicate/flirt (perhaps when they were younger, perhaps later in life when they couldn’t see each other).

- Something exploring the distance between them: forbidden phone calls, letters, taxi rides, etc, when they cannot really touch (but the atmosphere is still charged, or even steamy – note that I’m very open to phone sex, if that’s your thing).

- Also quite interested in something involving jealousy: Olaf being jealous of Dewey or any other suitor Kit might have had, Kit being jealous of Esmé or anyone Olaf is keeping around.

Harry Potter

Minerva McGonagall/Original Female Character

Minerva McGonagall is one of my favourite character ever, and I think she’s at her best when she’s allowed to be witty, dry or/and annoyed, which is something we see often in the books: it’s delightful (“Take a biscuit, Potter”: best line ever). So I guess I’d like to see her meet her match and banter a bit, or being very much annoyed by that new and intriguing Female Character of Your Invention. I’m not very particular about who could capture her heart: I love middle-aged women with a passion, but I’m also fine with an age-gap as long as it doesn’t make the character a former student (that would have been a DNW but I realize I haven’t put it in my sign-up, so you’re technically free on that front, but I would really prefer the person in question not to be a former student).

Prompts:

- An inspector from the Minister of Magic is coming to Hogwarts to review all the classes, and she somehow manages to annoy Minerva and makes her nervous at the very same time… Passionate discussions / fights about the art of teaching could lead to more.

- There’s a new teacher this year, and for inexplicable reasons Minerva is very intrigued by her…

- Minerva meets a Muggle while she is undercover for some reason. In that case, perhaps they keep meeting over the years and learn to slowly know each other. Or the Muggle accidentally witnesses magical events, and Minerva has to Make Sure She Doesn’t Talk About it.

- Epistolary fic: perhaps she writes to a fellow researcher she’s never met in person to contest some point made in a Transfiguration paper, or something of the sort, and it leads to a long correspondence. Or perhaps she accidentally gets someone else’s letters and begins to write back because the person seems interesting.

- All seers are scams, for sure. But for some reason, this particular seer Minerva just met is far less annoying than she expected….

Original Works

Middle-aged Virginal Queen / Her Faithful Guardwoman

I’m seeing more of an historical setting for this one, but not necessarily something historically accurate, if that makes sense: fantasy history is really fine too, as well as something more fairy-tale like. What appealed to me in the pairing is the idea of middle-aged women who, potentially, have come to know each other very well over the years. I can see two routes there, and they are quite different. You could go in a direction where the hierarchy is strongly present (in that case I’m very open to something with dom/sub undertones). But for me it also suggests something more quiet and intimate, and I like that mood too. Imagine two people who basically live in a sort of intimacy (because a guard is always near her queen), who perhaps have become friends over the years despite their differences in status. And perhaps it’s a love story and they haven’t realized it because it’s so embedded in their everyday life, or perhaps because they don’t know much about love… Anyway, I’m babbling, but here are some prompts!

Prompts:

- Something ordinary, customary leads to a realisation of feelings / a confession / first kiss / love scene (your pick!). Could be a game of chess they play every day, could be a walk the queen always takes, any ritual they have established, etc.

- Accidental proximity: for example the guard is called in the middle of the night and mistakes something for an attack, or the queen is in minor physical danger and the guard intervenes, etc. Obviously, it leads to more, immediately or some time after the fact.

- The queen asks her faithful guardwoman about love and what she knows of it. Awkwardness, allusions, veiled confessions, or perhaps even philosophical discussions ensue.

- The queen’s order have become gradually stranger these last few weeks, and the guardwoman is loosing her mind over it…

Our Flag Means Death

Stede Bonnet / Edward Teach

I adore these two and I just love thinking about the million different ways they could have gotten together in s1, and how they could go back together in s2. I realise this is a hug fandom and a million things have already been written, so if my prompts seem too tired to you feel free to explore in a whole new direction. But know that I will deeply enjoy your own version of those ideas, no matter how tropy they are!

Prompts:

- Stede teaches Ed how to dance like a gentleman, and Ed in turn teaches him how to dance… like a pirate. I’d like to think both styles would imply prolonged and ambiguous contacts, awkwardness perhaps, tension certainly, but you’re free in your interpretation (perhaps the “dancing” is also less innocent, who knows!)

- “Just for fun” (or for the love of theater), one of them suggests they roleplay different clichés of pirate literature: pirate and captive, pirate and mermaid, moral enemies… I’m thinking of a context when they are not together yet, and this could stray off course in various ways. I would like to see them exaggerate their own character traits, or roleplay as women for example: the show does interesting things with gender, and that could be a way to explore that too. Or they could be together already and trying out new things, if you prefer! This could get sexual real quick too, or just stay fun and leas to realisation of feelings or something like that, just do what you want with it.

- Outsiders’ point of view: various members of the crew noticing there is something more between them when they remain oblivious.

- For something a bit darker: after s1, Stede has been made prisoner by Ed’s crew. Ed is still very much behaving like Black Beard and Stede is convinced he’s going to kill him/be violent. And perhaps it was his original intent, but then… it leads to something else (and possibly them getting back together). Give me all the drama, the feels, the hurt/comfort, the slap slap kiss, Ed being actually very scary, you name it.

- Any alternative scenario of how they get together will delight me!

Persuasion

Anne Elliot/Frederick Wentworth

The ultimate canon for romantic tension! Anyway that’s mostly what I’m here for, but I also love the whole atmosphere of the book and the historical setting. I guess what I’m craving here is just some more tension, and a different kind of resolution possibly, or no resolution at all (just loads and loads of sweet, sweet tension). Admittedly, I’m rather intrigued by the underlying cruelty of the novel: how Anne has to watch Wentworth flirt with someone else, how spiteful Wentworth can be too, implying publicly she’s too old now and has lost her beauty… The intricacy of pride, shame, regrets, love and desire really interests me. So I would love to read something mainly in the spirit of the book, but that goes a little deeper, or even maybe a little darker with those two and the tension between them. Period-typical attitudes are very welcome, but if you want to make them more daring or expressive than in the novel, be my guest too.

Prompts:

- Wentworth is made to describe his ideal woman when Anne is present. Time for some indirect communication! But is it flirty, emotional, wistful, cruel, all of the above?

- Anne watches Wentworth being close to another woman (feel free to use who you want among the existing characters or to invent your own, of course) and imagines herself in her place. It could be a misunderstanding, or Wentworth could actually be flirting, is very much aware he’s being watched, and is using it consciously (bonus points if it’s both cruel and sexy).

- Jealousy as the motivation for a confession: perhaps things go further with Mr Elliott, perhaps it’s Anne who finally snaps and confesses out of desperation (I realize it would be shocking for the time period, but I still like the idea of the heroine confessing instead of the man, and she could use discreet means to do so, I suppose), perhaps there is another misunderstanding between them.

- Anne and Wentworth find themselves staying at the Crofts’ at the same time. They keep trying (and failing) to avoid each other, awkwardness probably ensues, and perhaps Sophia is discreetly playing matchmaker? I don’t know, I just like the idea of them being there, do what you want with it!

- If those are too specific, know that I’ll be very, very happy with any sort of happy resolution that differs from the book’s (as in: they get together, but in a different way) or with a good old first kiss scenario.

Succession

Roman Roy/Gerri Kellman

Ah, these two… I’m really fascinated by this ship, and what the show did with them. And I’ll admit I’m of two minds when it comes to them. On the one hand, my heart craves for some more feelings, something more tangible being revealed in the midst of their complex games, the idea that eventually it could lead to (unwanted?) emotions. But on the other hand, they are both very selfish and it’s also clear they’re using the other in multiple ways. Roman never questions what Gerri actually gets out of their arrangement, which is something that deeply interests me. The power dynamic is so complex: who really has the upper hand? Is it harassment (on Roman’s part), is it a way to exploit someone’s else traumas to one’s advantage (on Gerri’s), is it indirect therapy (for Roman, or for both), a way to take revenge (Gerri, who works in a misogynistic environment), something else? I’m interested in both directions: the perhaps more romantic one (although it could still be quite unhealthy) and the darker one (where it’s sex and power and moral ambiguities and layers of traumas and frustrations and they both stand for someone or something else and they sort of know it). Feel free to mix them however you want. In terms of characters, a lot of fics for this pairing focus on Roman, and I love that, but I admit I’m also very intrigued by what Gerri might want, what she might think of him, of all this,

If you want to write smut for this but are unsure how far you can go, I have bookmarked a ton of E-rated Gerri/Roman stories that will probably help you see what I’m comfortable with, but on the whole I’m pretty open to everything that fits into their dom/sub dynamic.

Prompts:

- Though I know this all began with Gerry buttoning Roman's shirt, they almost never touch after that (and we get why, but I think that's still a complicated 'why'). So: 5 times + 1 they touched accidentally, or something of the sort that explores why touch is difficult between them, all the things it could mean.
-Their obviously under-negotiated kink blows up in their face at some point during one of their 'session'. Perhaps it's Roman who goes from excited to plain hurt by the insults. Perhaps something goes wrong with Gerri (actually I think this is also really worth exploring: what in her position in what they have going on could end up being too much for her too). If exploring that interests you, be my guest, I'm interested in all the directions this could go. Is this the way to deeper feelings being expressed, a waning sign to quit, an occasion to talk and negotiate, etc?
- Gerry betrays some sort of reaction (as opposed to: acting cold and impervious) during one of their 'sessions', or perhaps even out of their sessions in an inappropriate setting, at work or in any other social context. Could be purely sexual, could be emotional, perhaps a mix of both. What does it lead to, what does Roman make of it? What does *Gerri* make of it?
- For something broader, give me their first kiss: is it messy, twisted, unhealthy, complicated, or surprisingly sane? I'm really open to various takes here (hey I'm even open to variations on that theme, because parallel universes something something, or just because Roman (or Gerri?) likes to fantasize about this and try out different scenarios.

Dear Worldbuilder (alright this is officially the coolest title),

In this letter you will find my list of General likes (specially trimmed for world-building purposes), my DNW (unde each fandom), and some prompts. Just so you know, I nominated most of the things I’m asking for, so feel free to ignore those prompts and go straight for what you had in mind when you offered the WB element in question : most of them are precise enough that they’ll act as prompts, and anything you want to do with them will make me happy. And if you feel like you need to bring this or that character in, be my guest.

Here’s my AO3 account, if you’d like to know me better: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Beatrice_Sank/works

World-building likes: alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records, outsider point of view, montage of various documents…), period-appropriate details, conflicting hypotheses and theories about how things work in universe, nerdiness, minority-related themes (feminist and queer takes and the likes), lush descriptions of things (also known as __!porn, e.g. architectural porn, landscape porn, whatever), literary allusions, elaboration on what the characters like to read/listen to/watch, backstory.

I’m always happy to read something that reflects the author’s field of expertise or culture, so don’t hesitate to do that if you want (some of the prompts specifically invite you to do so).

Other likes: mystery, bittersweet atmospheres, banter, sensory notations, plottiness, experimental writing, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, competent characters (especially female characters), found families, magical realism.

Ships-wise (not sure it will be relevant for this exchange, but I leave it here from other letters just in case you’re in the mood for shippy world-building): romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, friends/enemies to lovers, fake/pretend relationships, accidental proximity.

All the Wrong Questions

Myths and culture surrounding the Bombinating Beast

Pretty self-explanatory: I would love some lore about the traces the beast has left/will leave into the culture of this universe (feel free to extend the interpretation of this tag into the extended Snicketverse, it’s absolutely fine by me). For example:

- The Bombinating Beast in children culture: tales, sayings, songs and tongue-twisters

- Presence of the Beast in the literature and films of the universe (twisted version of Moby Dick, horror movies, comedic representations, etc).

- The Beast in sailors culture (sea shanties, superstitions, tales, etc.)

Stain'd-by-the-Sea and VFD

Anything about the history of relationships between townsfolk and VFD members over time.

- I’m curious to know who else in town might secretly be a member, and how they might have worked behind the scenes for the whole time Lemony was there. Was he secretly assessed, was his supervisor secretly supervised/assessed? I’m up for ridiculously complex hierarchical structures in true VFD style (or hierarchies that are pretending not to be there).

- Stain’d seems isolated from the world, so I’m also curious what people there might make of VFD and VFD values. How do they intersect or clash with the town’s issues (economical and otherwise)?

- And how do those relationships evolve? Was there a time when the town was more of a VFD base, and a time when things all went south and VFD wasn’t welcomed there anymore? What of the schism? Any character’s point of view on those issues would suit me, as well as conflicted points of views and, of course, fragmentary plots.

- Did members of VFD work in Stain’d at other points in time to solve some of its issues (or make them worse)? I’m thinking about the missing ocean, but it would be anything (Ink Inc, the failing justice system...)

Stain'd-by-the-Sea after canon

- Does it get better, or worse? What about the ecological issues Hangfire was concerned about? What about Cleo’s plans for Ink Inc? And what of Ellington’s role in the future of the town? I imagine her grief and anger will likely have consequences too.

- Does Stain’d develop other sources of income (I’m thinking perhaps something more “modern” that invisible ink, but whatever might work in canon)? Or does the town finally fades away completely? I’m very up for something like “How Stain’d-by-the-Sea disappeared”, and what remained in the end.

Stain'd-by-the-Sea local newspaper

I would love a story revolving around the publishing of an issue of Stain’d newspaper or just the actual issue itself.

- Something from the time Moxie’s mother was still around, and the town was flourishing? How was the local news, then? You can get wild with this one: what about the gossip column, recipes, crosswords or games, reports about what’s going on outside of Stain’d, and so on. I imagine it would be at least a little weird, or at least very much informed by a Stain’dian perspective.

- Same prompt, but with Moxie as the director of publication. Maybe she revives it after canon, and it’s grimmer in tone, or it shows she has changed after Lemony’s departure? I’d like to get a sense of Moxie’s evolution through her editing choices. And who is she working with on this?

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic violence, anything that you might want to rate E, in fact.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Academic production of VFD members

- A peered-review VFD paper: I’m sure they would give a new meaning to “double-blind reviews”. And what if they only give feedback in code? Any oddities, absurd level of complexity, chaotic structure, power play

- Several volunteers working on a collective paper, but they have conflicted views about the subject at hands.

- Two people fighting via research articles, responding to each other, and it gets very personal pretty soon (I think Kit and Olaf would work well for that, Olaf and Lemony as well: if you want to go further with those relationships, bitter exes or otherwise, I’m open to anything).

- For suggestions of possible research topics that I would be into: literature, the library system, codes in literature and the fine arts, fire (I mean this cursed add is probably from a VFD member anyway), sociology of VFD (a Bourdieu-style inquiry would be nice), History of the Great Failures of VFD, history of codes, philosophical zoology (the Great Unknown), VFD folklore.

History of VFD

- Anything about The Distant Past! I’m sure the organization has existed for a long time, even informally. Any idea about its origins? I’m curious to know how the volunteers operated, say, in Victorian England, or in medieval times, or anything of the sort.

- Any origin tale of the Schism, or versions of what people think happened.

- The books (and the Unauthorized Autobiography) gives the impression that volunteers were often very young, and I would be curious to read something about that, the fact that they recruited children, and what role it played in the organization’s history.

- Traces of VFD in Official History that are only visible to the trained eye (eg: the Great Fire of London was about them from the start, something was up in the Library of Alexandria too, that sort of things).

In-universe interpretations of the sugar bowl

Emphasis on the plural here: it’s totally okay if you want to suggest that one option is the right one, but I’d like to read about debates and questions and doubts over that damned bowl too!

- I can just picture VFD members losing their time arguing about the true nature of the sugar bowl, perhaps in a quasi theological way, rather than trying to fix their problems or actually trying to retrieve the bowl.

- a VFD recipe about the sugar bowl, and it turns sour.

- An academic paper or a conference would be a good way to explore the subject too, especially if you want to write about the future of VFD and people trying to find out what the hell this whole sugar bowl thing was about.

- Speaking of the future, imagine the sugar bowl becomes, I don’t know, a myth, something grand and undecipherable for future VFD generations, a symbol used in poetry, much like the Arthurian Grail...

Movies shot by VFD

I’m very fond of the whole “coded movies” thing, and I’d like to hear more about that, especially if you’re willing to explore different genres and different interpretations of the phrase “coded movies”.

- The shooting of a VFD movie: is everyone aware the movie contains code? What goes wrong on set? Are there any truly artistic moments? Are they planned or accidental?

- Movie critics writing about a VFD movie: they could be from either side of the Schism, but also outsiders wondering what the hell they just saw.

- Highlights of Gustav Sebald’s career.

- Different forms of codes in VFD movies (for example, I’m interested in queer coded movies that also contain actual code).

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic violence.

The French Dispatch

I love that movie, in all its authentic artificiality. Being French, I have to admit that this version of Europe (to speak broadly, even if Ennui looks mostly French) is actually not that absurd, under the layers of caricature. For example, the way it depicts May 68 sounds more truthful to me than a lot of more serious, historically accurate versions. I like how this fantasy version of France meets the very American tradition of New Yorker style journalism, and was very moved by the idea that those reporters are all, in a way, far from home and choosing to live in that new place with all the difficulties, wonders and nostalgia it entails. And I would love to see those delightful characters interact more than they do in the movie?

PS: I’m open to all sorts of ships between the nominated characters, work-place crushes, unrequited interest, past love story (I’m getting those vibes between Krementz and Howitzer, but I’ll accept any headcanon of yours).

Collaborative writing at The French Dispatch (The French Dispatch)

I love all the reporters, and I would like to know if they ever work together, because it was quite frustrating they were so separated in the movie. I’m sure they’re all loners in their own way, but they’re bound to have some sort of professional relationship (and Berensen and Sazerac seem to be good friends in the final scene, for example).

- Any article signed by two of the journalists (or by new journalists of your invention). Bonus points if they sometimes disagree on something and it’s visible in the article.

- Alternatively, the story of how two of them or more have to write a collective piece and that creates all sorts of problems/comedic mishaps.

- What would they write together? An homage to their deceased editor? A scenic tour of Ennui’s landmarks? A guide to Ennui’s cultural habits?

The French Dispatch's agony column (The French Dispatch)

I like to this there is one such column. And I like to think it’s quite bonkers.

- The mystery surrounding the identity of the agony aunt/uncle. Is it one of the reporter? All of them and they take turns? I’m sure Berensen and Krementz, for example, wouldn’t give the same sort of romantic advice… Or is Arthur Howitzer Jr. secretly the one who writes it?

- Very American advice for very European problems? Or the reverse?

- What if one of the journalists tried to write to the agony aunt/uncle under a fake name? What sort of problem do they have?

The French Dispatch's covering of Ennui's historical landmarks (The French Dispatch)

Like I said, I enjoy the way they covered a fantasy version of May 68 events very much, so I’m wondering about other major French or European events of the period (I’m quite open about the dates, feel free to extent the existence of the journal if you need to). You can also bizarre historical events, of course, and twist the actual events in a lighter (or apparently lighter)/quirky way.

- Krementz and Berensen (or other new journalists) covering women’s right movements in the 60-70s.

- Something about the Cold War in Europe, but French Dispatch style?

- Any original form of counter-culture developing in Ennui, and the way it’s captured by the reporters.

The French Dispatch's Letters to the Editor (The French Dispatch)

I’m sure they receive many letters, I’m sure some of them are weird.

- Some personal enemy of Howitzer writing every month to criticize the previous issue.

- An anthology of the reporters’ favourite letters to the editor (they can be favourite for a large number of reasons...)

- Fan mail/hate mail for some of the reporters.

The French Dispatch's movie reviews section

I’m sure Ennui has a solid movie industry (just like France), and I imagine some of those movies are bound to be caricatures/fantasy versions of Nouvelle Vague films.

- Give me some reviews of those movies, invent whatever you like, parody European movies, invent new movies, etc.

- Who on the editorial board is a snub, and who falls asleep every time and has to invent a review out of the first and last minutes of the movie? Do they fight over movies? Who’s the Pauline Kael and who’s the Roger Ebert of the board ?

DNW: non-con, underage.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Obscure (unknown or forgotten) female magicians

So we know a few things about British female magicians from canon (Catherine of Winchester, Maria Absalom, the Ladies of Grace Adieu), but I’m curious about the (probably numerous) women forgotten by history.

Here I would be interested on anything you might invent about female magicians at the time of canon anywhere in the world, so feel free to use your own culture or to write about whatever area of the world you know best. For example, I would be cool to look into traditionally female fields of expertise (like lace-making or cooking or midwifing and the likes) and see what magic might be hidden there. Or into important figures who have been erased for some reason. What is their legacy?

I really enjoy the idea that female magic would be less noticeable, hidden or ignored because of the historical and social context (we know that Norrell isn’t very enthusiastic about female magicians). Feel free to explore that or come up with your own explanations. Were there any secret societies of female magicians in the past? Perhaps some female magicians were ignored because they weren’t British (gasp)?

I’m up for anything political there, in the canon’s spirit.

In-universe books of magic from the Aureate period

We know that the Aureates wrote very little, allegedly. But maybe those texts were lost, or maybe they weren’t identified as texts because they adopted alternative forms of writing, and what about the ones that were actually preserved?

- So, do you want to try and write a book of magic? If so, I would be on board with whatever spell or page you might want to invent

- Lost or mythical books from this period, and what they may have contained (speculations welcome).

- Alternative methods of writing for uneducated Aureates magicians (were do they store their magic knowledge, and how).

- A conversation between characters (Strange and Norrell, or others) about those ancient and rare books.

- The story of a forgery: someone invents a lost book and tries to sell it as authentic (perhaps it’s another scandal from the Norrell period, perhaps not).

In-universe parodies and lampoons of Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange

(Very optional ship: Jonathan Strange/Mr Norrell)

Okay so this is a weird one, but consider. Norrell and Strange are extremely famous in England, we know there are etching of them, probably portraits circulating too, so I’m thinking there must be caricatures and offensive lampoons circulating too.

- I’m sure English magic doesn’t only have friends: about about its enemies? What scathing critics do they address to Norrell and/or Strange, what is their game. Do they have different views about magic, or do they simply want to abolish it? I’d love to read a lampoon attacking Strange and Norrell’s positions on magic, bonus points if it’s partially bullshit and partially super on point ^^.

- The comedic potential of Strange and/or Norrell (or other characters: eg Childermass) seeing themselves caricatured in a text or in a play.

- Lampoons are often filled with lewd allusions and sexual accusations, so what if Norrell and/or Strange chanced upon something that accuses them of sleeping together? Hilarity and awkwardness could ensue. I’m up for any scenario: they aren’t sleeping together and the thought is appalling to them (but it might be funny to other people, I’m thinking Childermass, but really whoever you want); they aren’t sleeping together, but one of them is pining ; or maybe both of them; or maybe they are sleeping together, but it’s certainly not respectable to see it printed in cheap ink! If you want to add actual porn to this, be my guest.

- Honestly, anything you can come up with that will make me laugh.

Influence of magic on the British literary canon

So, JS&MN as well as some parts of Ladies of Grace Adieu (especially “Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower ») famously read like Jane Austen, but with magic. I would really love to read something like an anthology of British literature after magic is revived in England. The excepts and authors could be invented (maybe new authors entered the canon, it’s alternative history after all). Or maybe the well-known texts got altered because magic was rediscovered. I mean, I’m curious about what Dickens, or Alice in Wonderland, or Jane Eyre, or modernist literature (oh my God, Woolf) might become in a context where magic is part of society.

Alternatively, does Norrell and Strange’s life and fate influence literary history? Do they become the model for something like a new type of Byronic hero? Do famous authors write about them (poems, plays, novels…)?

Magic and the fine arts

Basically the same as the influence of magic on the British literary canon, but applied to fine arts? Feel free to use real paintings and identify magic elements in it, show me how De Chirico’s work, or Raphael’s, or Da Vinci’s, or Dali’s, or whoever you want, has to do with the history of magic. Alternatively, do artists in-universe attempt to use magic to paint or sculpt or create new forms of visual arts? Descriptions of invented paintings or sculptures or other artifacts would be nice too. Or you could tell me about magical accidents affecting statues or paintings or the likes.

DNW: non-con, underage.

Piranesi

Academic production of the characters

- I’d like to read other takes on the nature of the House, by other characters than Arne-Sayles. Extracts from papers by both people from his side and people with different views would be very cool, with perhaps even weirder takes (I’m sure Sylvia would have her own way of describing things for example, no matter how influenced she is by Arne-Sayles).

- I’m also curious about Angharad Scott’s work: I’m sure all her work isn’t just biographies. Does she have an unpublished, sulfurous piece about magic or alternate sources of knowledge hidden somewhere in her attic? And what about her biography work?

- Same goes for all the nominated characters: give me Matthew’s account of marginal science, or perhaps his new projects once he’s well enough to go back to research (that is, if he goes back to it: if he doesn’t, maybe a farewell paper?)

- What about the Dead. Some of them must have been scholars. Did some of them write about the House? Do they still murmur theory to each other at night?

Sylvia D'Agostino's artistic works

- Anything elaborating on The Castle, Sylvia’s movie about the House, or other movies she might have shot. Or her poems, or anything she might have produced.

- I’m also interested in pieces alluding at the suffering she experienced at Arne-Sayles’s hands, so it can get dark too.

- What about her missing works, things she could have written after she disappeared, before she died?

The Dead

- Any take on who they are, especially the oldest skeleton. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, it can remains mysterious and hypothetical.

- Honestly I would love to read some grim guide of the various ways to die inside the House. A dark anthology of sorts.

DNW: Non-con, underage.

Dear Yuletide Writer,

Another year, another Yuletide (the third for me, it keeps getting better). I hope to do honour to that magnificent tagset. This is the year of nerdy books and movies for me, I’m in the mood for atmospheres and ambiguities, but also and more importantly for whatever you had in mind when you offered those wonderful fandoms.

I’ll do my best to give you an idea of what I like in general and what I particularly love about those works, and to give you prompts to use as inspiration if you’re so inclined. Prompting is an exercise I very much enjoy for creativity reasons, and I also do it for my own fun: don’t feel compelled by what I suggest, and please don’t think that if I prompt for one fandom more than another it means I want it more. Sometimes ideas come and sometimes they don’t, and it’s objectively easier to find potential scenarios for a (relatively) straightforward narrative than for, say, Mulholland Drive. My general likes can just as well provide some help if that is needed. But basically, I want you to have fun and create something you love. I’m always a bit awed by the idea of having someone writing for me specifically, and I trust you with basically everything since apparently we like the same things!

Here’s my AO3 account, if you’d like to know me better. Bookmarks will probably give you a hint of what I tend to enjoy.

A note, though I doubt it will apply: I also read French (it’s actually my first language), so I’m happy to receive something either in English or in French if you desperately want to write in that language.

General likes

Themes, atmosphere and tropes

Banter, future fics, fix-it, AU of the “what if” kind, backstory, plottiness, world-building, character study, competent female characters, experimental writing, alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records if it works with the fandom, outsider point of view…), found intimacy, intimate body language, found families, queer narratives, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, sensory notations, lush descriptions of things (also known as __!porn, e.g. architectural porn, landscape porn, whatever), a strong sense of place, literary allusions, elaboration on what the characters like to read/listen to/watch.

Ships-wise: romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, people falling in love While Trying Not To, things changing gradually so it’s hard to put it into words or name it, friends/enemies to lovers, fake/pretend relationships, angst, accidental proximity, little touches and physical reactions, focusing on characters’ hands, sensual things going on at a slow pace, first kiss/getting together (not a fan of established relationships).

I’m fine with sex scenes for any of those fandoms, if that’s what you want to write (though I’m not a fan of PWP). Things I enjoy if you go there: praise, alternate power dynamics, teasing, repressed character letting go, people having fun during sex, sex in semi-public places, voyeurism and mirrors, overstimulation, phone sex, edging, intimacy issues, clothed sex. I’m fine with dubcon, but no non-con, please.
 

General DNW:

- Major character death: here I mean that I don’t want any of the requested characters to die irremediably in the fic; resurrection plots (e.g. in the context of a time loop) are fine.

- Non-con: when one of the character isn’t described as wanting the sex to happen, explicitly says no and/or isn’t showing any sign of desire for the other character. By contrast, I’m fine with dubcon: i.e. when the characters are ambiguous about whether they want the sex to happen (for various reasons like internalized homophobia, or conflicted feelings) or the sex happens in the context of an imbalanced power dynamic, or when the characters are possibly roleplaying but it’s not explicitly said. To me dubcon implies at least physical signs of desire and no explicit absence of consent (otherwise it falls under non-con).

- Underage: I don’t want any character under 18 to have sexual interaction with an adult; and I don’t want children under 15 to have sexual interactions together. Non-genital sexual acts like kissing or touching (other parts than genitals) between characters in their teens (by which I mean from 15 to 18) is fine.

- Gore: detailed description of body harm and blood. Short mentions of blood, like characters cutting themselves superficially, or using blood to perform a ritual, is fine.

- Sickfic: I don’t want the plot of the fic to revolve around any character falling sick or suffering from any kind of disease.

- Established relationship when the relationship in question isn’t canon: some of my prompts are request for ships that are not canon. What I don’t want is those relationships being presented as already established in the fic without telling first how they got together.

- Non-canonical children and pregnancy: by that I mean I don’t want the characters to get pregnant or have children during the course of the fic. If they canonically have children it’s fine to mention them. It’s also fine to talk about the characters’ childhood.

- Watersports

- Unrequested crossovers

- A/B/O, soulmates and that brand of AU where you change the setting (coffee shop, space, vampires, etc.): canon divergences are fine.

Ammonite (Mary Anning; Elizabeth Philpot)

I did a promo post for this fandom, which went ridiculously wrong because I forgot to log in and the pictures were all broken, but it does sum up my deep appreciation for the movie.

I really enjoyed Ammonite, mostly because of its themes and the way they are handled (and also because of the cast, and my undying love for Fiona Shaw who is the most wonderful apparition in this). The subtlety of it all is something I keep thinking about. Sex scenes notwithstanding (not a fan of how those were shot), it’s a very honest queer narrative to me, and perhaps an even more honest take on women’s work and women’s contribution to science in that time period (perhaps even beyond that). And let me say right away that I do enjoy Mary/Charlotte, I just feel like the movie did a good job of showing why that particular story could not entirely work. I felt more invested in Mary/Elizabeth or Mary&Elizabeth because it felt like there was more common ground for them to understand each other through the place work occupies in their life. And again, because of Fiona Shaw (I mean, besides everything else she’s hot as hell in it). So what really makes me want more of those characters is the idea of two women teaching each other about paleontology, discovering amazing things and becoming friends/lovers through that process. In that particular time period and location too! The atmosphere of the movie is amazing, and I’d like more of the cold English shore, more mud and flowers and fossils.

I’m really interested into pre- or post-movie, how the two of them met and got together, how they worked together, or how they reconstruct any sort of relationships after what transpired between Mary and Charlotte. That last scene between the two of them is full of intriguing elements. The sheer love that Elizabeth seems to feel for Mary, but also the idea that she often felt she was “the enemy” when she was with her. I would love anything that explore that. Why would Elizabeth be the enemy? Historically, those women didn’t belong to the same class, much like Mary and Charlotte, but I feel that divide would play differently here, because they have acquired a sort of independence through work (and not only scientific work, but physical tasks too). Money is obviously an issue, and perhaps Mary’s mother is one too. Does that change after her death, when Mary finds herself alone and entirely self-reliant? Is age also an obstacle? If so, how? Or do they just enjoy finding someone who understands them despite all that? While I’d love a love story or anything exploring their friendship in a Gen way, I enjoy the nuances and ambiguities that were alluded at in the movie, and so I’m fine with any degree of hesitation, conflict or misunderstanding in their relationship. But also happy with them drawing ammonites and drying flowers in the sun.

If you go post-canon, feel free to evoke Mary/Charlotte if you want or need to, it’s completely fine by me.

Prompts:

- The story of how they first met and fell in love. Ho do they manage to make themselves known to each other, how do they build trust, what role do the various barriers that exist between them play in all that?

- Elizabeth teaching Mary, Mary teaching Elizabeth, them working together, making art together, drawing each others, anything like that. Elizabeth Philpot actually used fossilised ink to paint: how cool is that?

- Reconstructing their relationship after Charlotte, after Mary’s mourning. The vulnerability that comes with allowing love to grow again. Learning to trust each other. The fear of being a second choice. How different is it to be together later in life?

- Were they rivals at first? Or at least looking at each other with a degree of suspicion, taught to be wary of any female rival even in the professional field? Because they needed to sell those fossils and the museums couldn’t handle more than one female paleontologist? How do they overcome that?

La Locandiera (Mirandolina; Baron Ripafratta)

I don’t know how I became so involved in an 18th century Italian comedy, but here we are. I guess what got me hooked is how modern a character Mirandolina is, if you look closely. It’s a woman who does whatever she has to in order to survive and gain relative independence. Sure, she exploits her clients. But what choice does she actually have? Rich men will come and harass you, and you still have to eat. I like to think her announcing her marriage to Fabrizio in the end is just another trick: she needs it in the moment, but she wouldn’t actually renounce her freedom. Ripafratta on the other hand, with his absurdly simplistic views on women but otherwise upright character, intrigues me.

I think they both could evolve beyond what we see in the play, and after some growth, learn to communicate and meet in the middle. With potential resentment, banter and flirtation, of course. Or, and there I fall victim of my favourites tropes, maybe Mirandolina did perceive the baron’s good qualities beyond his more obvious flaws, and her act ends up being more sincere than what she intended. Maybe that is why she get rid of him as harshly as she did. I would enjoy all sorts of things, from a romance to a confrontation scene that really let them challenge each other’s faults and opinions. In any case, they would probably be a certain degree of conflict, humiliation or even violence (she did burn him with an iron; he tried to break into her room) involved.

Given the historical context, one of my (very optional) headcanons for this is that one of them, or both of them, could get into philosophy and more specifically into the debates surrounding women education. I could see Mirandolina getting rid of her suitors and welcoming writers and philosophers in her inn, while benefiting from their talks. Or maybe Ripafratta do some reading after his painful experience at the inn? It’s a bit random though, so I’m just putting that here but feel absolutely free to ignore it.
 

Prompts:

- An epistolary narrative could be interesting: maybe they wrote notes to each other when Ripafratta was staying at the inn, or/and maybe they wrote letters after he left (because they still needed to insult each other, and maybe things evolve?)

- Future fic: they meet by chance a few years later and reconsider what happened. Maybe they feel a bit different now?

- Ripafratta confronts Mirandolina about her lies, but something betrays that she isn’t really as indifferent to him as she claims, changing the dynamic of the scene (bonus point if Mirandolina does everything she can to hide that ‘weakness’/still tries to win the fight).

Mrs Dalloway (Clarissa Dalloway; Doris Killman)

This book is often the one I name when asked for my favourite novel. I didn’t nom this but when I found it in the tagset I was over the moon, because I’ve been meaning to do that for years and never actually dared/managed it. If you were the nominator, thank you! Basically, you can’t go wrong here: write whatever you had in mind when offering! I loved all the nominated characters, but I’m restricting myself here for pragmatic reasons. Feel free to have whoever you want feature as well.

There’s something very raw and compelling about Doris Kilman in the book, or should I say about the way Clarissa thinks about her. “Don’t quite forget me” are frightening words in many senses: I’d like to read something that interprets those words in a more compassionate way. The secret war between Clarissa and Miss Kilman is quite violent, but I would love for them to connect even in the midst of it, in unexpected ways. They can continue on hating each other (I feel like they would insist on that), but it’s hard and tiring to feel so strongly about someone all of the time, especially when you do, in fact, have things in common. Them spending more time together, hating it but finding accidental common ground, accidentally sharing memories or anything remotely intimate and immediately regretting it, worrying about the adversary because they come to realise they may not hate her as much as they want to. If Doris could learn to be less angry, Clarissa possibly needs to accept her own anger more openly, so there is that too.

Any sort of exploration of that relationship would delight me, especially if it’s ambiguous and twisty, cruel and sweet at the same time. Reluctant acquaintance, reluctant friendship, reluctant ‘can we call ourselves lovers’, everything goes. I’m very much here for slash, even if it has to come with self-hate and regret (before it gets better? Just a little bit, maybe. Sometimes we can’t fix the world. But I also love happier things, so you’re very free).

Prompts (or moods, really):

- The social rules of having tea at one’s house become a latent occasion for war. Despite this, they keep having tea every week. Just the two of them. Perhaps there are “accidents” (I’ll let you decide what those could be).

- A more in-depth and ambiguous exploration of why Doris dislikes Clarissa so much, and how that could easily reverse into kinship or attraction.

- By accident or malice, Doris learns about Clarissa and Sally. That triggers a moral crisis for her, with the result of your choice.

- Trying to preserve Elizabeth, Clarissa throws herself under the wheels of Miss Kilman’s teaching and attention. Maybe she decides to study history too. Maybe they find themselves walking together through parks more often than not. Maybe it’s more radical, and involves inviting Miss Kilman to spend the summer with them (cohabitation of any kind).

Mulholland Drive (Any)

You read this and tell yourself: but isn’t it cheating to ask for “Any” in Mulholland Drive? Reader, it very much is. But as the same time, how could I not? How many selves does one have? I mean, that’s it, that’s the whole request (not really, but like...is it?).

I love how beautiful and tragic and pathetic those characters are, and how visceral their relationships, be it Rita’s vulnerability or Diane’s sheer misery and (self-)hate or Betty’s openness. I’m also a big fan of all Lynchean creatures, great and small, like the Burned Woman behind the dinner (burned in my mind), who was asked to play her part as lovingly as possibly and still traumatised rows and rows of viewers, or the Blue Woman who is forever in my heart. I love the heist aspect of the movie, and its dreamy quality, I love every single image (those dancers, those palm trees, even the stones in that wall…). Feel free to go as experimental as you want.

I think for this I would enjoy anything that plays along the movie’s twisted logic, while exploring the echoes, identities and relationships from a different angle. While there’s no canonical understanding of it, I’m more familiar with what I believe (?) is the most common reading: it’s Diane’s fantasy and she ends up dead. I would enjoy any narrative that challenges that.

And while I accept everything the movie showed us as necessary, I’ll admit I would like to read something more authentic regarding its queer themes. I get why it has to feel artificial but still: I think there is space in the narrative for a more honest lesbian story (I mean, it’s about identity, isn’t it?). If you think you can handle that, I would be very interested to read your version.

A note: I’m entirely open to any other character from anything else by Lynch to show up and play a part in this, if you’re so inclined. Could be Twin Peaks (we know that Cooper, like sand, can get everywhere; maybe this Diane calls for another Diane, etc.), Inland Empire (do I really need to go there), Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, etc.

Prompts (or something like that):

- What would happen if say, two of those characters went to the movies together? So much of this film being about the fictions you invent for yourself and the others, I’m curious. What do they see on that screen? Is the movie something like Alice in Wonderland, or Gilda, or something else entirely? What goes wrong and what goes right?

- Anything that changes the existential balance between those characters. Perhaps through different interactions with the surreal figures of the movie. For example, who can one learn to speak again after being “Silencio”-ed?

- They find out something new about Betty’s aunt, the one who’s “gone to Canada”, and somehow that changes everything. They get to go on another heist and play dark Junior Detectives.

- Instead of Diane’s, we get to see through Camilla’s eyes, and suddenly things are not quite what they were.

The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (Mr Stevens; Miss Kenton)

I think what interested me much in the novel (and movie) is the way the tragic and failed romance blends with social themes like service in England from the 30s to 60s, and the whole idea of sacrificing one’s autonomy in one way or another, be it to your job or your family (Miss Kenton’s marriage doesn’t seem to be a very happy one, and yet she cannot really brings herself to leave). I love how restrained the characters and the whole narrative is, even if it drives me completely mad with frustration. And the way Miss Kenton et Mr Steven keep challenging each other, especially when it comes to values. I’m very much here for romance, but if you want to go Gen, that’s fine too!

Prompts:

- What if she did come back after he offered her the job at the end of the book/movie? How does one go back to being a servant in the 60s after all this time and everything that happened? When you’re older? Could be Gen or romance. In the latter case: how do you rekindle an old romance, especially when both parts are aware that your return has something to do with it but no one dares mention it at first?

- For something set during canon: Miss Kenton has given up on Mr Stevens, and that’s when he suddenly decides to court her. Is she oblivious, or incredulous, or angry?

- Any “fake/pretend relationship”/forced proximity scenario you can come up with (like their new employer only wants married staff, or they have to pretend for an event, or Reasons).

- For another Gen idea: character study centered on the way they see service, what they put into it (I would imagine they see it sort of differently).

Dear Worldbuilder (alright this is officially the coolest title),

In this letter you will find my list of General likes (specially trimmed for world-building purposes), my DNW, and some prompts. Just so you know, I nominated most of the things I’m asking for, so feel free to ignore those prompts and go straight for what you had in mind when you offered the WB element in question : most of them are precise enough that they’ll act as prompts, and anything you want to do with them will make me happy. And if you feel like you need to bring this or that character in, be my guest.

Here’s my AO3 account, if you’d like to know me better: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Beatrice_Sank/works


Likes
 

World-building likes: alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records, outsider point of view, montage of various documents…), period-appropriate details, conflicting hypotheses and theories about how things work in universe, nerdiness, minority-related themes (feminist and queer takes and the likes), lush descriptions of things (also known as __!porn, e.g. architectural porn, landscape porn, whatever), literary allusions, elaboration on what the characters like to read/listen to/watch, backstory.

I’m always happy to read something that reflects the author’s field of expertise or culture, so don’t hesitate to do that if you want (some of the prompts specifically invite you to do so).

Other likes: mystery, bittersweet atmospheres, banter, sensory notations, plottiness, experimental writing, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, competent characters (especially female characters), found families, magical realism.

Ship-wise (not sure it will be relevant for this exchange, but I leave it here from other letters just in case you’re in the mood for shippy world-building): romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, friends/enemies to lovers, fake/pretend relationships, accidental proximity.

All the Wrong Questions
 

Stain'd-by-the-Sea and VFD

Anything about the history of relationships between townsfolk and VFD members over time.

- I’m curious to know who else in town might secretly be a member, and how they might have worked behind the scenes for the whole time Lemony was there. Was he secretly assessed, was his supervisor secretly supervised/ assessed? I’m up for ridiculously complex hierarchical structures in true VFD style (or hierarchies that are pretending not to be there).

- Stain’d seems isolated from the world, so I’m also curious what people there might make of VFD and VFD values. How do they intersect or clash with the town’s issues (economical and otherwise)?

- And how do those relationships evolve? Was there a time when the town was more of a VFD base, and a time when things all went south and VFD wasn’t welcomed there anymore? What of the schism? Any character’s point of view on those issues would suit me, as well as conflicted points of views and, of course, fragmentary plots.

- Did members of VFD work in Stain’d at other points in time to solve some of its issues (or make them worse)? I’m thinking about the missing ocean, but it would be anything (Ink Inc, the failing justice system...)

Stain'd-by-the-Sea after canon

- Does it get better, or worse? What about the ecological issues Hangfire was concerned about? What about Cleo’s plans for Ink Inc? And what of Ellington’s role in the future of the town? I imagine her grief and anger will likely have consequences too.

- Does Stain’d develop other sources of income (I’m thinking perhaps something more “modern” that invisible ink, but whatever might work in canon)? Or does the town finally fades away completely? I’m very up for something like “How Stain’d-by-the-Sea disappeared”, and what remained in the end.

Stain'd-by-the-Sea local newspaper

I would love a story revolving around the publishing of an issue of Stain’d newspaper or just the actual issue itself.

- Something from the time Moxie’s mother was still around, and the town was flourishing? How was the local news, then? You can get wild with this one: what about the gossip column, recipes, crosswords or games, reports about what’s going on outside of Stain’d, and so on. I imagine it would be at least a little weird, or at least very much informed by a Stain’dian perspective.

- Same prompt, but with Moxie as the director of publication. Maybe she revives it after canon, and it’s grimmer in tone, or it shows she has changed after Lemony’s departure? I’d like to get a sense of Moxie’s evolution through her editing choices. And who is she working with on this?

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic violence, anything that you might want to rate E, in fact.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Academic production of VFD members

- A peer-reviewed VFD paper: I’m sure they would give a new meaning to “double-blind reviews”. And what if they only give feedback in code? Any oddities, absurd level of complexity, chaotic structure, power play

- Several volunteers working on a collective paper, but they have conflicted views about the subject at hands.

- Two people fighting via research articles, responding to each other, and it gets very personal pretty soon (I think Kit and Olaf would work well for that, Olaf and Lemony as well: if you want to go further with those relationships, bitter exes or otherwise, I’m open to anything).

- For suggestions of possible research topics that I would be into: literature, the library system, codes in literature and the fine arts, fire (I mean this cursed add is probably from a VFD member anyway), sociology of VFD (a Bourdieu-style inquiry would be nice), History of the Great Failures of VFD, history of codes, philosophical zoology (the Great Unknown), VFD folklore.

History of VFD

- Anything about The Distant Past! I’m sure the organization has existed for a long time, even informally. Any idea about its origins? I’m curious to know how the volunteers operated, say, in Victorian England, or in medieval times, or anything of the sort.

- Any origin tale of the Schism, or versions of what people think happened.

- The books (and the Unauthorized Autobiography) gives the impression that volunteers were often very young, and I would be curious to read something about that, the fact that they recruited children, and what role it played in the organization’s history.

- Traces of VFD in Official History that are only visible to the trained eye (eg: the Great Fire of London was about them from the start, something was up in the Library of Alexandria too, that sort of things).

In-universe interpretations of the sugar bowl

Emphasis on the plural here: it’s totally okay if you want to suggest that one option is the right one, but I’d like to read about debates and questions and doubts over that damned bowl too!

- I can just picture VFD members losing their time arguing about the true nature of the sugar bowl, perhaps in a quasi theological way, rather than trying to fix their problems or actually trying to retrieve the bowl.

- a VFD recipe about the sugar bowl, and it turns sour.

- An academic paper or a conference would be a good way to explore the subject too, especially if you want to write about the future of VFD and people trying to find out what the hell this whole sugar bowl thing was about.

- Speaking of the future, imagine the sugar bowl becomes, I don’t know, a myth, something grand and undecipherable for future VFD generations, a symbol used in poetry, much like the Arthurian Grail...

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic violence.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell & Related Fandoms

Female magicians outside of Britain

So we know a few things about Brisith female magicians from canon (Catherine of Winchester, Maria Absalom, the Ladies of Grace Adieu), but I’m curious about the situation abroad. For example, they mention at some point Napoleon was looking for a magician of his own but was unable to find one on the continent: but I bet they weren’t looking for a woman…

Here I would be interested on anything you might invent about female magicians at the time of canon anywhere in the world, so feel free to use your own culture or to write about whatever area of the world you know best. For example, I would be cool to look into traditionally female fields of expertise (like lace-making or cooking or midwifing and the likes) and see what magic might be hidden there.

I really enjoyed the idea that female magic would be less noticeable, hidden or ignored because of the historical and social context: is that the case elsewhere in the world? Do we have like, secret society of female magicians in Italy or Poland or Uruguay? Or are they doing magic in the open in some places? What about the colonies? I’m up for anything political there, in the canon’s spirit.

In-universe parodies and lampoons of Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange

(Very optional ship: Jonathan Strange/Mr Norrell)

Okay so this is a weird one, but consider. Norrell and Strange are extremely famous in England, we know there are etching of them, probably portraits circulating too, so I’m thinking there must be caricatures and offensive lampoons circulating too.

- I’m sure English magic doesn’t only have friends: about about its enemies? What scathing critics do they address to Norrell and/or Strange, what is their game. Do they have different views about magic, or do they simply want to abolish it? I’d love to read a lampoon attacking Strange and Norrell’s positions on magic, bonus points if it’s partially bullshit and partially super on point ^^.

- The comedic potential of Strange and/or Norrell (or other characters) seeing themselves caricatured in a text or in a play.

- Lampoons are often filled with lewd allusions and sexual accusations, so what if Norrell and/or Strange chanced upon something that accuses them of sleeping together? Hilarity and awkwardness could ensue. I’m up for any scenario: they aren’t sleeping together and the thought is appalling to them (but it might be funny to other people, I’m thinking Childermass, but really whoever you want); they aren’t sleeping together, but one of them is pining ; or maybe both of them; or maybe they are sleeping together, but it’s certainly not respectable to see it printed in cheap ink! If you want to add actual porn to this, be my guest.

- Honestly, anything you can come up with that will make me laugh.

Influence of magic on the British literary canon

So, JS&MN as well as some parts of Ladies of Grace Adieu (especially “Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower ») famously read like Jane Austen, but with magic. I would really love to read something like an anthology of British literature after magic is revived in England. The excepts and authors could be invented (maybe new authors entered the canon, it’s alternative history after all). Or maybe the well-known texts got altered because magic was rediscovered. I mean, I’m curious about what Dickens, or Alice in Wonderland, or Jane Eyre, or modernist literature (oh my God, Woolf) might become in a context where magic is part of society.

Alternatively, does Norrell and Strange’s life and fate influence literary history? Do they become the model for something like a new type of Byronic hero? Do famous authors write about them (poems, plays, novels…)?

DNW: non-con, underage.

Piranesi

Academic production of the characters

- I’d like to read other takes on the nature of the House, by other characters than Arne-Sayles. Extracts from papers by both people from his side and people with different views would be very cool, with perhaps even weirder takes (I’m sure Sylvia would have her own way of describing things for example, no matter how influenced she is by Arne-Sayles).

- I’m also curious about Angharad Scott’s work: I’m sure all her work isn’t just biographies. Does she have an unpublished, sulfurous piece about magic or alternate sources of knowledge hidden somewhere in her attic? And what about her biography work?

- Same goes for all the nominated characters: give me Matthew’s account of marginal science, or perhaps his new projects once he’s well enough to go back to research (that is, if he goes back to it: if he doesn’t, maybe a farewell paper?)

- What about the Dead. Some of them must have been scholars. Did some of them write about the House? Do they still murmur theory to each other at night?

Sylvia d'Agostino's artistic works

- Anything elaborating on The Castle, Sylvia’s movie about the House, or other movies she might have shot. Or her poems, or anything she might have produced.

- I’m also interested about pieces alluding at the suffering she experienced at Arne-Sayles’s hands, so it can get dark too.

- What about her missing works, things she could have written after she disappeared, before she died?

The Dead

- Any take on who they are, especially the oldest skeleton. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, it can remains mysterious and hypothetical.

- Honestly I would love to read some grim guide of the various ways to die inside the House. A dark anthology of sorts.

DNW: Non-con, underage.

Mary Poppins

The international society of magical nannies

(Very optional ship: I ship Mary/Winifred, so if that’s your thing and you want to fit them into this, feel free)

I didn’t nominate this but boy, do I love the idea. It evokes vivid images of flying nannies from every country, dressed in various ways, with various educational principles.

- Do they have a yearly convention somewhere? Does Mary Poppins have friends there, and how is it to be friends with magical nannies? I would love if you could keep her in character (a bit stiff, a bit restrained, a bit cold) while at the same time having her interact with her peers, who are probably, if not like her, strange in their own ways. Do magical nannies feel lonely sometimes? I would be up for something melancholic but also for found families and solidarity.

- Is this international society a hierarchical structure? Do they edict rules? Is it democratic, are debates taking place? What is Mary’s place in this? Anything where she gets to be a speaker.

- Alternatively, I would love for Mary to take any of the other characters to a meeting (especially Winifred, because of the parallels with the suffragettes’ meetings, but all the others would be nice too). It could be an adventure of sorts, or a life-changing experience.

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic depiction of violence.

Dear Yuletide Writer,

 

Welcome to my letter! This is my second Yuletide, last year was fabulous so I’m very pumped and I hope you are too: I wish all the Yuletide excitement to you! After all you deserve it for offering such excellent, excellent fandoms and characters.

This year I figured my requested fandoms had widely different atmospheres: 2 are full of mystery and potentially surreal (Twin Peaks and Young Woman With Unicorn), 2 are campy Mankiewicz movies with assorted mind games and queer potential (All About Eve and Sleuth), 1 is a historical failed romance (Remains of the Day), and 1 is a comforting bundle of fluff and joy (Bedknobs and Broomsticks). With such diversity, it’s hard for me to keep my “General Likes” section coherent, so. What you’ll get here is a list of things I enjoy at all time, in every context. Then I’ll specify the things I tend to like for each fandom, so you’ll have a wider variety of things you can pick up if they speak to you.

I love to prompt, as you’ll soon see, but please keep in mind that if you’re not feeling it, you can ignore that and use my Likes (most of those work as less-detailed prompts anyway). In any case, optional details are still optional, shockingly. I do enjoy a lot of things and I’m always awed by the idea of having someone writing specifically for me, so don’t sweat too much over it: I really want you to have fun and love what you’re writing.

Here’s my AO3 account, if you’d like to know me better: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Beatrice_Sank/works

General likes

Themes, atmosphere and tropes

Witty banter (you can never go wrong with that), sensory notations, future fics, fix-it, AU of the “what if” kind, backstory, plottiness, world-building, character study, competent female characters, experimental writing, alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records if it works with the fandom, outsider point of view…), found intimacy, intimate body language, found families, minority-related themes, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, lush descriptions of things (also known as __!porn, e.g. architectural porn, landscape porn, whatever), literary allusions, elaboration on what the characters like to read/listen to/watch.

Ships-wise: romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pining, slow burn, people falling in love While Trying Not To, things changing gradually so it’s hard to put it into words, friends/enemies to lovers, fake/pretend relationships, angst, accidental proximity, little touches and physical reactions, focusing on characters’ hands, sensual things going on at a slow pace, first kiss/getting together.
 

General DNW:

- E-rated stuff (except for All About Eve and Sleuth, where I’m super okay with it): by this I mean anything that would fall under the Explicit rating on AO3 (so mainly sex and/or violence that is described in graphic details).

- Major character death: here I mean that I don’t want any of the requested characters to die irremediably in the fic; resurrection plots (e.g. in the context of a time loop) are fine.

- Non-con: when one of the character isn’t described as wanting the sex to happen, explicitly says no and/or isn’t showing any sign of desire for the other character. By contrast, I’m fine with dubcon: i.e. when the characters are ambiguous about whether they want the sex to happen (for various reasons like internalized homophobia, or conflicted feelings) or the sex happens in the context of an imbalanced power dynamic, or when the characters are possibly roleplaying but it’s not explicitly said. To me dubcon implies at least physical signs of desire and no explicit absence of consent (otherwise it falls under non-con).

- Underage: I don’t want any character under 18 to have sexual interaction with an adult; and I don’t want children under 15 to have sexual interactions together. Non-genital sexual acts like kissing or touching (other parts than genitals) between characters in their teens (by which I mean from 15 to 18) is fine.

- Gore: detailed description of body harm and blood. Short mentions of blood, like characters cutting themselves superficially, or using blood to perform a ritual, is fine.

- Sickfic: I don’t want the plot of the fic to revolve around any character falling sick or suffering from any kind of disease.

- Established relationship when the relationship in question isn’t canon: some of my prompts are request for ships that are not canon. What I don’t want is those relationships being presented as already established in the fic without telling first how they got together.

- Non-canonical children and pregnancy: by that I mean I don’t want the characters to get pregnant or have children during the course of the fic. If they canonically have children it’s fine to mention them. It’s also fine to talk about the characters’ childhood.

- Watersports

- Unrequested crossovers

- A/B/O, soulmates and that brand of AU where you change the setting (coffee shop, space, vampires, etc.): canon divergences are fine.

FANDOMS

Young Woman with a Unicorn, (Young Lady ; Unicorn)

This painting is so striking and intriguing, and I did a promo post here that explains why it fascinates me.

Mostly I’m interested in two things: the mystery of it all (the atmosphere! the symbolism! the different layers and secrets of the painting! the setting of the whole thing, the fictitious history of why the painting was made!); and the contrast between the enigmatic, almost cold or determined expression of the young lady and the tender way she’s holding the unicorn (and how cute a unicorn that is!).

I can’t help but think this would make a tremendous starting point for historical fantasy, or secret history or something of the kind. I love the conjunction of Renaissance and magic here. I’d like to know more about the world this painting exists in, and what unites the young lady and the unicorn. But you don’t have to explain everything: I enjoy the mystery of this, as I’ve said, and it’s completely okay to leave some ambiguities there, suggest various trails, even contradictory ones.
 

Fandom likes:

Magical realism, symbolism, dreams, mysterious atmospheres, multiples universes, time-loops and timey wimmey shenanigans, historical RPF, alternate history.

Prompts

For this I have more questions that actual prompts, and I’m really interested in any idea you can come up with!

- The different layers of the paintings and their unknown history are almost a prompt in themselves: why? How? Who painted this (is it really Raphael?), and the other layers, why/how were the layers uncovered, to which effects, etc.

- Who was/is the young woman? I would like to get a sense of her life and experience, to understand a bit her determination. Is she a witch developing her powers, a young girl trapped in marriage plans, someone who yearns for knowledge, someone who’s already weighted the world and is looking beyond the veil, whatever that means? I feel like there is a sense of power around her, but at the same time she is so young. Unicorns are also often used to symbolize virginity: is there something there, too? (queer themes welcome).

-What about the unicorn: is it even real, a companion, a familiar, a daemon, a symbol, something else entirely, that only a few people could see?

- Of course this can be a perfect setting for world-building around the characters. I’d like the Renaissance aspect to be there if possible, but how much their world resemble ours is up to you.

Crossover suggestion: if you know these fandoms, I would be very, very happy with a crossover with the universe of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and The Ladies of Grace Adieu (aka the Susanna Clarke extended universe), because I feel like the atmosphere of the painting and the feeling of magic and mystery it evoke are very compatible with it.

Alternatively, this could also work very well as a Harry Potter crossover, because of the painting aspect, as worldbuilding for a Renaissance wizarding world or something like that.

The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro (Mr Stevens ; Miss Kenton)

I think the honest reason it remains with me as much is the way the tragic and failed romance blends with social themes like service in England from the 30s to 60s, and the whole idea of sacrificing one’s autonomy in one way or another, be it to your job or your family (Miss Kenton’s marriage doesn’t seem to be a very happy one, and yet she cannot really brings herself to leave).

So while I’ll admit I’m primarily requesting this with something shippy in mind, if you’re here for Gen that’s fine, because the themes of the novel also interest me greatly.

I love how restrained the characters and the whole narrative is, even if it drives me completely mad with frustration. So yes, the Pining. Any resolution of that unresolved tension is fine by me.

Please note that I don’t tend to separate book canon and movie canon strictly. I nominated the book, but both tend to blend in most fics in the archive, so feel free to do the same, and use the movie’s imagery in any way you like.
 

Fandom likes: canon divergence, post-canon, nostalgia, tenderness, the Time that Remains, attention to the body (the pains of service/repressed desires), conflicting world views, social themes, feelings confession. I’m cool with sex if you feel like it, but I would appreciate if you keep it M-rated rather than E.

Prompts:

- What if she did come back after he offered her the job at the end of the book/movie? How does one go back to being a servant in the 60s after all this time and everything that happened? Could be Gen or romance. In the latter case: how do you rekindle an old romance, especially when both parts are aware that your return has something to do with it but no one dares mention it at first?

- For something set during canon: Miss Kenton has given up on Mr Stevens, and that’s when he suddenly decides to court her. Is she oblivious, or incredulous, or angry? This could also be rather light and fun, if you feel more like it.

- Any “fake/pretend relationship”/forced proximity scenario you can come up with (like their new employer only wants married staff, or they have to pretend for an event, or Reasons).

- For another Gen idea: character study centered on the way they see service, what they put into it (I would imagine they see it sort of differently).

Twin Peaks (Constance Talbot ; Diane Evans ; Lucy Moran ; Lil the Dancer)

Notes: 1) You don’t have to include all those characters for this fandom, I’ll be equally happy with literally any subset. 2) This show has a large cast to say the least: I’m fine if you want to include other characters, in the background, whoever you may want.

I love how beautifully strange the show is, comforting and traumatic, mysterious and absurdly funny sometimes, warm and surreal, sometimes merciful, most of the time heart-breaking. I’m also a huge fan of The Return, but I suppose it’s sort of obvious given my requested characters.
 

Fandom likes: bittersweet atmosphere and plots, mystery and magical realism, fragmented identities, absurd jokes, contrasts, liminal spaces, huddling together for existential warmth, comfort, recovering process, exploration of traumas.

Prompts (prompting for every combination is a bit of a mess, feel free to ignore me and go wild)

- Everyone: I mean, managing to get all those characters in one fic is a prompt in itself. And obviously they don’t have to find themselves all in the same place at the same time, or even at the same level of reality. I’m thinking phone calls, records, echoes between conversations across time and space, dreams and the likes. Though an actual reunion of any kind would sure be fun too! What interests me is that they all belong to different parts of the show’s universe. And also, I suppose, that they’re all women doing the dirty/menial work in some way, but not necessarily being involved or being given significant input in the larger scheme (so agency also interests me as a theme here). I imagine Lil can easily be seen as the one that can link those different places, in any way that seems fit to you (I suspect, from what we see of her in FWWM, that there’s a change she’s not a stranger to Lodge things, or anything Blue Rose by definition).

- Diane: I love how she became a full-fledged character in such a short amount of time (Tulpa or not, to me she's very much her own person). I love how angry she is, because she's right to be, and how thin-skinned in a way that still allows her to retain a tinge of the mysterious presence she had in the first seasons. I'm also fascinated by the concept of someone who's just supposed to be a professional listener. And I adore her style, both verbally and fashion-wise.

* With Constance: I think I’m here for any sort of real meeting, because they don’t get that in the show and I’d love to see them discover each other (Constance’s good-natured jokes vs. Diane deadpan is something I would love to read). I love the idea of Diane haunting Buckhorn post-canon, in any form (wonder if that police station has a secretary), or of Constance visiting her in some way (wherever she is). I also ship them, so if you want to go that way, I’m totally game.

* With Lucy: I’m here for the contrast, the potential comedy, and the echoes between their original jobs. I think Lucy understands a lot of things most people don’t get, and if someone can get Diane, it’s her. Not sure if Diane would be as tolerant with her, though (poor Lucy!). Did they communicate during the Laura Palmer investigation? Do they meet again post-canon? I feel like it’s important somehow Lucy was the one to take care of Naido, and that Diane ended up “reappearing” in her bathrobe. There’s a link here that is worth exploring.

* With Lil: it’s either “Diane and the supernatural”, which is forever interesting to me, or “Blue Rose dogsbodies bond over shared experience”. Since we don’t know if Lil can talk or not, you have a lot of leeway here.

- Lil: I like to think about it as a supernatural presence in some way, but she can also be a normal gal who got sucked into Blue Rose and has probably lost something to it, like all the agents. Also, I wonder where she’s been (I’m forever frustrated she wasn’t included in The Return. Or was she, secretly?). I really love the idea of someone who doesn’t communicate with direct language, but only code, or something like code, be it verbal or body language or anything else. I love the idea of Lil “dancing” with any of the other requested characters, since she is, after all, Lil the Dancer. You’re free to interpret that in any way you want. I think interactions with Lil are always a way to confront characters about what Blue Rose things mean to them.

*I think her trying to communicate with Lucy could be sweet and fun and intriguing, or reveal a deeper aspect of her personality ; with Constance, who apparently wants to know more about anything Blue Rose, it could be rather more Faustian, but also pretty sweet, because Constance is nice that way; and with Diane I feel it would be more intimate, more linked to traumas and not being able to express oneself.

- Lucy: Lucy is the best <3. I mean, the way she thinks, the way she talks, even the way she dresses is endlessly fascinating, and I love the fact she’s doing things at her own rhythm. To me she’s very wise in unseen ways, and I like that she is so nice and pays attention to little things most people find inconsequential.

* With Diane: I’ve got a sense she would be very curious about Diane, if they ever met. I like the idea of them having unexpected shared opinions or tastes. If you really feel like experimenting with plot and tone, what if they switched jobs? This could go multiple directions, my my.

* With Constance: I’ve always enjoyed the idea of Constance visiting Twin Peaks, looking for answers or as a coroner for the Palmer case. A scene where Lucy tries to explain the town’s whole deal to her or direct her to the major points of interest would certainly be charming.

* With Lil: I think Lucy is more equipped somehow to deal with the supernatural than most characters. She would probably tries to talk to Lil. Imagine for example that Gordon sent Lil to the Sheriff’s Station with any sort of message to deliver, but of course everyone is helpless about it, except perhaps for Lucy…

- Constance: Constance is brilliant, and we don’t see enough of her in The Return. That combination of sharp and nice is so charming, I love her so much. Give me more jokes and more quirks! Questionable stand-up about terrible autopsies and pre-recorded laughs!

*See other characters for prompts.

 

All About Eve: Margo Channing and Eve Harrington

My two main interests here are the twisted identity issues, and the theoretical queerness of it all. Because the potential confusion between “wanting to be someone” and “wanting someone” really fascinates me. I mean, what if Eve thinks she wants the first, but ends up realizing she’s been mistaken, or that her perception’s changed, especially now that she knows Margo more intimately and she’s potentially become more than an image to admire? And I think this somehow helps to nuance the perception that “Eve is all evil and manipulative”: I think she’s clever and hard and conniving, but I would love to see her being allowed a touch of scorched humanity here. I also don’t buy Margo’s “perfect housewife” act for a second: it really doesn’t feel true to who the character is, and I bet that facade only lasts a month. Bill cares for her, sure, but I’d like to see her gaining independence from the male gaze, as an actress and a person, even if she still has emotional and self-image issues.

I would love an exploration of how they could gradually figure out what they really want out of life – the result doesn’t have to be shippy if you’re not here for that.

Thematically, I love the idea of exploring that special bond between an actress and her most faithful spectator, the watcher and the person who’s being seen, and how one can grow to rely more and more on that look, to cherish it and be transformed by it in a strange way, if that makes sense. And being about to eventually watch back, maybe (does Margo goes to see Eve’s movies?). Anything about that, and self image, and would make me happy, Gen or F/F, any rating.
 

Fandom likes: F/F, mind games, no man in the picture, slap-slap-kiss, anger, positive attention to aging bodies, reference to movies (real and fakes), Hollywood and the theater world, conflicting world views, feelings confession.

If you go the shippy way, I think I would prefer the ending not to be totally and irremediably unhappy; bittersweet or “there is hope for the future” is fine.

If sex: praise, alternate power dynamics, teasing, sex in semi-public places, voyeurism and mirrors, overstimulation, phone sex, edging, intimacy issues, clothed sex. I’m fine with dubcon, but no non-con, please.

Prompts (I think most of them could have Gen or Slash interpretation, so do what you want with it):

- You know what, in Sleuth’s opening credits (that’s another Mankiewicz’s movie, see below), a character is fictitiously credited as being played by “Eve Channing”. And, you know, the mind reels… If that inspires you in any way, go for it. I’m sure Eve would certainly feel something over reading those words (I think this works in both Gen and F/F direction, depending on how you interpret it).

- Post-canon, they end up being cast in the same movie, Eve as the star and Margo as a deluxe cameo or something of the sort. A recipe for disaster, for sure, but what comes out of it? Do they finally manage to yell at each other and have it all out? Do they end up pinning each other against props in their dressing room? How does this affect the movie?

- So there is of course that scene when Margo asks to be tucked into bed, and says: “Eve would. Wouldn’t you, Eve?” and Eve answers “Would you like that?”. And then Margo goes “No” and flees, but I mean come on. So, any exploration of the idea that “Eve would” could be good, whether it’s Margo fantasizing about it, or Eve offering out of nowhere, or any situation where they discuss what is implied here (and when I say “discuss”, I don’t necessarily want it to be calm and rational ^^).

- Forced proximity of any sort, and the consequences.

- Identity issues and Eve trying to figure out where she stands regarding Margo, and the reverse. Eve watching Margo, Margo watching Eve, them being allowed to be both actresses and spectators. Can they coexist, or does one necessarily has to destroy and incorporate the other? I think it could be interesting to use the opposition that is outlined in the movie between the theater world and Hollywood, here whether you want to subvert it or run with it.

Sleuth (1972): Andrew Wyke and Milo Tindle

I haven’t fully recovered from how twisted, dark, fascinating (and weirdly erotic) that movie is (I’ve tried to promote it here).

On the one hand, there are concrete reasons for the animosity and resentment between the characters: sentimental rivalry, social contempt (it sure isn’t a “classless society”, to quote Andrew), money issues… But, on the other hand, why so deeply personal? Why brag about sexual feats, why the constant physical humiliation? Honestly, it feels like women end up being very incidental to their relationship. And in the end, wouldn’t they keep playing those games forever if they could?

So I’m here for even more mind games, but what interests me is that if they were stuck together in some way they also would be forced to talk or at least think a bit more about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. In other words I want more of that relationships because it seems so layered with possibilities and complex twists and we only get a glimpse of it during the movie. Elaborate on the hatred, tell me if and how they could see get to see each other as equals, what they get from torturing the other, what they understand of each other.

Also, boy do I need slash for this. If you’re into it, I feel it has spectacular potential. Eveything’s there, especially the costume scene where they flirt, but even the fact they stand in Marguerite’s room together, or when Milo pretends to have slept with Thea... There’s all this play around triangular desire and how the games seem to excite them in a much deeper way than when they talk their actual lovers. I’m not saying it could be this big, fluffy romance, oh no, but… it could be something. Hot and messy and angry, sure. But maybe they would be ‘happier’ in the end, if happier means truer to who they really are.

Side note but I adore the setting for this movie: that house is fabulous, and I’m sure it’s full of devices we haven’t seen yet. If you want to explore that aspect, be my guest.
 

Fandom likes: Angst, character study, puzzles and games, references to Andrew’s books, time loops and the likes, forced to cohabit, social themes, queer themes, identity issues, plot twists, forced collaboration, M/M, costumes and roleplay (sexual or not), restrained characters, slap-slap-kiss.

If sex: dirty talk, humiliation, shifting power dynamic, clothed sex, frottage, competing for sex, orgasm denial, light bondage, anything involving Margaret’s room. Dubcon is fine (no non-con please, see DNW).
 

Prompts:

- The costume scene, or a later occurrence of the costume scene, except the ambiguity escalates in some way.

- They get stuck together in the castle, no phone, no police. What happens when they repeatedly fail to kill each other/to beat the other in any significant way? It doesn’t have to be completely resolved, I’d just like them to achieve some state of balance. If you want to throw a time loop or something of the kind in there, I’m game too (I’d like to see them try to figure that one out, potentially after killing each other multiple times ^^).

- Andrew decides to “keep” Milo for his own enjoyment, and puts him through various puzzles and tests (much like a GlaDos with Chell in Portal, if that speaks to you ^^). And he watches him. A lot. It can be sort of a kidnapping plot, but I’m also curious about what could convince Milo to stay willingly.

-Any scenario in which they are forced to help each other for some reason, and they have to actually think about their relationship. 

Bedknobs and Broomsticks : Eglantine and Emelius

This is my comfort movie, and I love it so much in all its camp ridiculousness (psychedelic special effects! Super fake Nazis speaking gibberish German! “lovely bit of string!”, etc.). To me it’s like Mary Poppins but with working-class characters, a bit darker, the characters are rougher around the edges but also ultimately so earnest in their feelings and appreciation of each other, and it’s all so lovely.

What I’d love to see here is a more “serious” (or realistic) exploration of Emelius and Eglantine’s relationship, because (even in the way the movie sets it up) it’s Complicated between them. We don’t really see them get together (which will forever frustrate me), and there’s reluctance on both parts for different reasons. I just love this association of a crook who’s completely aware he’s one and gets both his self-esteem and lack thereof from that knowledge, and someone who’s so prim and proper and no nonsense but also quite eccentric in her own way. I adore how Emelius is completely awed by her ten minutes after meeting her, and immediately wants to put her in a fetching costume and sing her praises to an audience, constantly flirts and, while being sometimes an ass, also feels unworthy of her (and/or is terribly afraid to commit to something like this). And I think it’s interesting too that Eglantine’s always wanted to be a recluse and never risk her heart to anyone, even in a non-romantic way. The various cut songs and scenes are very helpful in developing their characters, see for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTeWW3X7gdQ for Eglantine The Loner (Lansbury is so touching in this, my heart), or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MqX8dtnQiQ for Emelius the Lovesick Coward. And of course I find it hilarious that the whole town and the children ship it very overtly.

So I’d be happy, for example, with anything that explores how it’s Complicated and why It’s Complicated between them, and any sort of character study. That being said, I’m also very happy with fluff of any kind, and you can go as troppy as you want.

Side note: As much as it is my comfort movie, I'd love to see those characters written as adults with desires and contradictions, a bit less "Disneyfied" version of them if you will. I'm not asking you to write porn at all, mind you, but I've always found that in the movie you could feel that underneath it all they had it bad for each other, and it's not really shown because it's a kid movie. So if you want to include a bit more romance and ST in this, I'll be very happy. 

Side note two: If you’ve got a great idea to include the War in this, go for it, but otherwise I would prefer it to remains a background. I’m not the greatest fan of “Mr Browne goes to war” as shown in the movie: it feels a tad chauvinist and pointless since, come on, they’ve got magic and a bed that can travel everywhere, don’t go get yourself killed when you have that. But on the other hand, I do like the idea of “it’s the war and it’s hard to ask someone to commit and share your life with so little to be sure of”. Anyway I’m very open to canon divergence on that point.

Fandom likes: Magic, 5 times + 1 and the likes, fluff or bittersweet fluff, restrained characters, playfulness, slice of life, missing scenes, canon divergence, them being not quite together yet but it’s There and they don’t know what to do about it. Any appearance by the children is fine if you want to include them.

Prompts:

- They go together on a magical adventure (on the bed? But not necessarily), maybe right after canon? And it’s somehow the occasion to discuss their relationship. The more ludicrous the adventure, the better ^^.

- I’ve always loved the jealous priest and how he could play a pivotal role in their relationship simply by being a nuisance and force them to come to terms with things.

- The letters they wrote to each other while Eglantine was taking the witchcraft correspondence class. I like to imagine they bond in some way while not really knowing each other yet.

- Any exploration of their relationship (could be Gen too) on the background of the found family they ended up with. How do you learn to live with other people after being loners for the most part of your life?

- Accidental magic that keeps happening between them, and how it says things about their relationship they can’t quite express with words.

Dear Yuletide Writer,

First of all, welcome! This is my first Yuletide, and I'm really excited about it. 
Let me apologize for not posting this letter sooner : I had to do it after sign-ups closed, because I was traveling abroad without a computer, and a letter is too important to be written on a phone. I know you got matched with me without being able to have a look first at what I wanted exactly, so I hope this won’t be a disappointment to you.
I'm extremely grateful to anyone willing to write for these characters and these fandoms. It’s especially true if we match on the smaller ones, where there was only one request and one offer: in that case, you’re the bravest of the braves.

If you want to get to know me better, I'm Beatrice_Sank on AO3. 

 

I want to immediately point out that, while I’m often requesting “Any” or several characters per fandom, I would be happy with any subset that you might prefer. I try to provide prompts that have both all the characters I asked for and specific subsets. I hope it will be helpful rather than unhinging for you. Apology to the mods for not including this in my sign up earlier: I realize now it’s a nuisance, I didn’t know better but I will not commit that error next year.

I’ll try to give you a sense of what I like about the fandoms I asked for, and about the characters I requested. The prompts I give are only suggestions (but you already know that, optional details being optional), and if they’re too detailed or too elusive for you, you can always pick something that inspires you more in my General likes section. Or just go with something you had in mind when you offered the fandom. I really want for you to have fun and not suffer over your assignment: the best works are love works, so don’t sweat too much over it.

General likes (depends on the fandom’s global atmosphere, but most of them are compatible)

Themes, atmosphere and tropes

Bittersweet atmospheres, symbolism, slices of life, alternative story-telling forms (letters, diary, found manuscripts, found records, annotated texts and the likes), experimental writing, 5 times +1, fluff and fluff with A Deeper Meaning, future fic, fix-it, very specific canon references, literary references, magical realism.

Recovering process, intimacy of any sort, found families, nocturnal settings, anything involving plants and trees, seasonal moods, witty banter (you can never go wrong with that one), elaboration on what characters like to read/listen to/watch, sensory notations, memories, integration of historical elements in the background (i.e. acknowledging canon is set at a certain point in time and that has an influence on who the characters are and what they can and can’t do), exploration of social and political themes, gender issues, minorities-related themes and feminist takes on canons and characters, extremely competent female characters (because it always warms my heart) but also female characters being allowed to be complex and interesting without being “strong”, characters being allowed to be Wrong even if I love them, conflicting worldviews and people having their reasons, deeper takes on apparently stereotypical or “shallow” characters, characters playing Junior Detectives.

Crossovers between my requested fandoms are fine, although I never gave it much thought and I’ve never written crossovers before, so I'm not sure it this can work well here. That being said, if crossovers are your thing, you can always have a look at my bookmarks for other suggestions of fandoms I enjoy and am familiar with: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Beatrice_Sank/bookmarks.

AU are great and lovely as long as they’re not mundane AU (deviations from canons and What If: excellent; fairy tales, Victorian, Noir novel AU, for example, also excellent; coffee-shop AU: I would rather not).

Ships-wise: tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, things changing so gradually it’s hard to put it into words or name it, but also relationships discussions, people struggling but still trying, people falling in love while Trying Not To, first kiss and first times in general, femslash, fake/pretend relationship (one of my favourite tropes), accidental proximity, moderate angst, sensual things going on at a slow pace, people being bad at feelings, realistic (and loving) depiction of bodies, sex positivity. In short, I like people being so much into each other it’s hard to bear ^^.

If you enjoy writing sex scenes: it’s totally fine as long as it’s for a ship I mention. Although no PWP, please? And I would appreciate if you could keep it rather vanilla. I realize it’s a bit vague and I hope it won’t be frustrating for you, but the thing is I’m still not sure if I want to read kinky things, and if so, what kind. Maybe next year!

General DNW:

Non-con, non-canonical rape, underage, abuse painted in a good light, non requested ships, unmotivated conflicts for the sake of drama, character bashing (exploring a character’s faults and problematic aspects or unchecked privileges is often very interesting; using the narrative to debase a character, less so), sickfic in a shippy context (specific, I know), non-canonical established relationships (if it’s canon, it’s more than fine), non-canonical children, PWP.

Mame

This musical has only two fics in the archive, and they’re both crossovers, so I requested this in the delusional and desperate hope that we could see the very first exclusive Mame fic on AO3! So if you’re here for that specific ride, *chef kiss* to you!

Happy with any subset of characters, individual character studies, anything, please just give me some Mame content and I’ll be over the moon (swidt?).

While I had to nominate the musical because All media wasn't allowed, I have no issues whatsoever with you treating this as an All media request if you want to. I’ve seen and loved the Rosaline Russel movie, seen clips of the Lucille Ball one, and while I haven't read the book yet, it sounds like it's very close to the movie, too, and I'm all for it. We need more Mame, so anything goes.

What I love about this fandom:

I know the show is relatively well-known, but it’s also quite old, and I wish more people knew it exists. It has the raddest heroine you could ever wish for: eccentric, confident, witty and elegant as hell Mame Dennis, and look, someone even wrote catchy songs about it. This show is such a bundle of joy and energy, everyone so witty it feels like a PG Wodehouse novel, and prejudiced people are ridiculed in a marvelous way (well, except for that Southern episode, which is problematic as hell). I love how Mame manages to make everything looks bright around her, even when there should be genuine sadness (she’s not a merry widow in any way, but the tragedy of it all is always kept at bay, life always goes on and it makes her such a force of nature in a very 60s way). I’m also very fond of the found family dynamic here, and how it basically deconstructs what a traditional family is supposed to be. Mame and Patrick relationship is everything, and I love that he gets so many uncles and aunts (especially drunk aunty Vera) out of his new, exciting life. I really likes how this show is rooted in its time period (despite some problematic bits, granted, those are best avoided or explored in a critical light). So, I’m still fine with AU if you have a great idea, but please try to keep this specific spirit going. Also, this show has such a queer vibe you can probably see it from the moon. I’m sure Mame is somewhat disappointed Patrick ends up dating a girl. Feel free to explore that field if you want, Jerry Herman and Bea Arthur will be proud of you.
 

Requested characters:

(Any: the prompts are given by character, then for ensemble and subsets)

Mame:

What an icon. The class, the raw energy! I love her being so careless about any obstacle that dares come her way. I also enjoy how much of a snob she is, and her links with artistic circles. Am also delighted by how freely she lives her life for a woman of that time, and how terrible she is at any job she tries her hand at. One of her best trait is how interesting in everything she is. I love myself a curious and open-minded character. She’s some sort of pioneer in that way, and really ahead of her time. If you manage to emulate that whirlwind, I will love you forever. Very curious about both her love life and how it is to raise a child when you never expected to do something as mundane as that in your life. Especially not on your own. Except she’s not alone, is she? She likes to keep people around, and that’s an interesting topic too: where does that come from, how does she feel about it, does she see herself as having some sort of mission, helping people enjoying life? Any expand on Mame’s philosophy is welcome.

Also, I’m sort of in love with Angela Lansbury, especially in that role, so if you could keep the physical descriptions close what she looked like at the time (over, for example, Rosalind Russel’s incarnation, or Lucille Ball), I would be delighted.

Vera:

I love how messed up and loyal Vera is, and her whole dynamic with Mame. The barbs! The throwing shade! I love the “old diva” vibe she has, and the counterpoint she is to Mame, being much more directly sarcastic and dry, when Mame tends to be a bit more sly about it, or at least pretend (well, not always, cf “somewhere in between forty...and death”). I’m interesting in why she sticks with Mame, and what she finds in that particular family. If you want to address the alcohol issue more seriously, it’s cool with me (and if it’s a topic you’d rather avoid, also feel free to ignore it completely).

Also: Bea Arthur, my heart.

Patrick:

We’re all Patrick, in some way, aren’t we? I think I’m more interested in his point of view as a child, but as an adult it could also be great to explore the contradictions he has to deal with. Being raised in a boarding school after touring the world with Mame might have been difficult. What influence the various characters have had on him? Why is he tempted by “normality”? I think a story about how his gender identity is shaped by his time with Mame and her friends, and the things he discover during that period, would be very cool too. I mean, for a kid in that time period, he sure learns a lot of interesting words, and witnesses a lot of interesting situations…

Dwight Babcock:

Every show needs a good opponent. But in that particular case, I think it’s nice how they manage to suggest that Mame’s appeal could be powerful enough to turn even stern Dwight Babcock on his opinions. Of course that doesn’t happen, but I can’t help but feel he’s not totally hermetic to that strange life. I wish he would be forced to spend more time at Mame’s home for one reason or the other, so that we learn more about him and why he’s so attached to conventions. Maybe he develops a secret crush on one of the resident (Mame? Vera? Gooch if you’re willing to go beyond nominated characters, or God forbids, a man? That sure would be nice).

Pairings I’m cool with:

Mame/Vera, Mame/Vera/Babcock (or any side of that triangle, really)

Prompts

- for an ensemble piece: Mame and Vera takes Patrick on a ridiculous trip somewhere (is it a special holiday to go and see rare sights/events, or a tour for one of their shows?). Mr. Babcock has to follow along to make sure they’re not “corrupting the child” or making him do bonker activities (they sure are). Could be the occasion for an outsider’s point of view on this unusual family. Do they manage to “convert” Babcock to their world view? Does he have so reluctant fun? Does Mame (or Vera!) keeps distracting him by shameless flirting so that the others are free to go to experimental art shows, or go body painting or skydiving or what have you?

- Mame/Vera or Mame&Vera: the best duo that ever was! I’m so interested in their relationship, their way of throwing merciless barbs at each other while sticking together through thick and thin like an old married couple. I’m up for both comedy and intimacy here, a bland of the two, or even light angst if it comes to that. I ship them hard, and have several ideas for them: for example, building on sexual tensions while in rehearsal for Vera’s play would be great. “The Man in the Moon” is a very interesting song to exploit in that sense: that lady in the moon sure sounds lovely, according to Vera… Alternatively, Mame defending Vera, or the other way around, and being caught at it: feelings ensue. I’m very much for the slap-slap-kiss trope here, and all the love-hate relationships tropes, really. Feel free to explore gender and identity issues here, if you find the idea interesting.

- If you’re more interesting in Gen: how did they meet? Were they really bosom buddies? I could picture them competing about love interests and ending up being more interested in each other (platonically) than they are in their male target, because of the intellectual challenge and the sense of kinship they develop. Mame taking care of a hangover Vera, or/and Vera taking care of a depressed and mourning Mame would be very sweet too.

- Mame&Patrick: the Best Boy and the Best Girl! I’d love to see them wrecking havoc together, for example pulling pranks on Babcock or Vera or Gooch. Or is it mainly Mame’s doing, and Patrick trying to be the reasonable person in the family and doing damage control? Alternatively, something a bit more serious about family loss: they’ve both experience it, and I’d love to read a scene when they try to discuss it while keeping a light facade. It doesn’t even have to be a facade, mind you, Mame could expose her life’s philosophy in more details there, and Patrick could bring his two cents too. I’ve got a feeling he would be more ready to acknowledge the sadness than she is, even if he loves his new family. How does Mame react to that?

- Patrick&Vera: what does his favourite, ill-advised aunt has to teach him? Does she tries to prove him that there’s no business like show business?

- Mame, Vera and Mr. Babcock: Babcock being somehow stuck for the evening with the infernal duo, maybe at a party, maybe in a ridiculous situation (stuck in an elevator, pushed on stage by accident and having to improvise, having to pause as a couple with either of them because Reasons, going to see Patrick’s school play together, what have you). Comedy or conflict ensues. Feel free to explore any ship you want in that triangle, it’s all good to me.

Anyone Can Whistle:

The reason I asked for "Any" of the nominated characters is because I really hoped to see this tag created, as for now there is no fic for it on AO3. So, if you're there for this one, thank you and welcome, fellow semi-obscure musicals enthusiast (still a Sondheim but, you know, it ran for all of nine performances).

What I love about this fandom:

“The curtains rises to a burst of circus-like music on the main square of a town. The colors are gay, exaggerated; the look is rather Pop Art cockeyed”: the set description says it all.

I’m so much into the mix between absurdist tones and political themes in this musical. I just love how weird and unconventional it is. It's often said that the book is sort of a mess, but on the other hand, there are great opportunities for structural fix-its (for example by deciding what kind of persons the Cookies are supposed to be, as it remains rather open in the musical, or giving the characters more background). Good occasion to update the canon on certain issues because it sometimes feels...ahem...dated (but the absurdist take makes it hard to say how much, granted).

The contrast between the characters is fantastic, and I love how this is reflected in the music: Cora's exuberance and bad faith (expresses through fabulous torch songs pastiches), Hapgood's irony and philosophical stance, Fay's earnestness and genuine despair. They're all so different, and the tension between comedy and tragedy allows for subtle nuances. I think globally I would like to see the very cartoonish characters (Cora, Schub) humanized a bit more (their relationship is worth exploring, Cora hints at a difficult past, and the general issue of political power and wanting to be loved is a fascinating one), and the more serious characters being given a chance to expand on their issues (Fay's precarious position between open-mindedness and conformity, Hapgood mysterious persona).

The political message of the show is really of interest to me: at one point Hapgood addresses the audience with "You're all mad here", and that Alice-in-Wonderland question about what society calls madness is a fascinating one: is it anticonformism? being a minority? mental illnesses that spread from social realities?

In short, you can go for light comedy (lots of banter in the show), political comedy, philosophical questioning, social issues and so much more! Yeay, major Sondheim flops! So much to explore here. Whatever your take, it will make me happy.

Requested characters

(Any: the prompts are given by character, but include larger sets)
 

Cora: 

Fair warning, I'm a huge Angela Lansbury fan, and this was her debut role on Broadway, so of course Cora has a very special place in my heart. And I mean. We’re talking about a character who mostly navigate the stage on a litter carried by her own page boys. So.

I like that she's both hilariously "evil" (the scheming, shady stereotypical politician) and strangely vulnerable and willing to help the town in a twisted way (once again, wanting to be loved by an entire town is a good theme to explore). I'm also very fond of how flirty she is with everyone (and consequently I ship her with virtually every character, even if she canonically has something going on with Schub and would like to get something going with Hapgood).

Some prompt ideas:

- So, what *is* going on with Schub exactly? A bit of twisted romance would be sweet. Since they're both so full of intrigue, I wonder how that plays out in their relationship. Is a date like a chess game? Do they ever learn to trust each other, or does the tension that comes from distrust becomes their fuel? Is it a political partnership that turns into an honest romance unbeknownst to them?

- I could imagine Cora trying to romance *everyone* to push her political agenda and/or pamper her ego. Pick any number of characters you want. Could be hilarious or sexy, or both!

- for a deeper take on the character, I'm curious about her relationship with power and the fact that her position was basically handed to her by her late husband. Is she empowered or trapped into something gendered that reduces her to this cartoon dimension? Gender is something that the show marginally questions, so that's a line of inquiry. Her opposition to Fay could also be a point of interest.

Hapgood:

A very intriguing character. There's a lot to build here. Is he an absurdist philosopher with 3 PhD from the Sorbonne and a book by Beckett in his pocket? Is he suffering from some mental health issue (depression or something else)? Why does he take pleasure in spreading chaos in town? I like how confident and charming he can be in his provocative attitude.

Some prompts ideas:

- Hapgood and the Cookies: what does he really think about the people he "sorts out" in different groups? What is madness to him? Is there a reason (personal, political) why he takes pleasure in spreading confusion?

- Hapgood having a sort of double date with Fay and Cora, and having to manage them both and their diverging interests. Does he end up influencing their opinion (about the Cookie situation, about the future of town, and does the end justifies the means)?

- Hapgood and Fay: I'm interested in the tension between those two, since he's sort of harsh with her at first, in his attempt to make Fay realize her own contradictions. Does she call him on his bullshit? I think he sort of deserves it. 

- Darker AU where Hapgood actually becomes mayor, destituting Cora and setting absurd rules. What does the town looks like now? Are we all mad here, or does that question loses its sense when anticonformism rules? Maybe it's not dark at all, maybe it's the only town in the world where everybody gets to be as 'weird' as they need to be. How does this affect the other characters' life?
 

Fay:

Very touching character, and very reliable in her struggles. I'm interested both in her relation to the Cookies and to Hapgood, but also in her crazy French persona (honestly that bit comes out of nowhere).

Prompt ideas:

- Fay and her two selves: we know from the script (easily found on the net) that there is more to this than a ruse. There is some allusion at trauma here. What does she suppress in herself, and why? I would like to see how it plays out in new situations (using it in a confrontation with Cora, for example). Does she sees herself as a Cookie, secretly? How does her work relates to that part of herself?

- Fae and the Cookies: how does she see them, why is she the only one to truly care for them? I think you'll have to decide how you want to paint Cookies for this one, even if keeping it ambiguous could be interesting too. Some sweet scenes between her and various "unusual" patients would be nice.

- A more frontal and detailed confrontation with Cora than what we get in the show. Could evolve into something shippy if that's your thing (the song "There's Always a Woman", that was cut from the show, can be a great source of inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJhrq0semTc). It would be interesting to use the occasion to explore their mutual contradictions but also their hidden depths: Fay may be the "good one" but she's part of a questionable institution. On the other hand, Cora keeps lying to everyone but in the end her schemes might save the town's economy even if the miracle is a fake one.

Schub:

I feel the script often paints him as the true villain and the one in control, taking advantage of Cora's flaws to rule the town, but I mean, he's not *that* good at it, is he? I mean his plans are canonically terrible (“Peer Gynt festival”, anyone?). I rather enjoy the way he’s struggling with everyone.

Prompt ideas:

- In addition to the ones with Cora, I’d like to know more about his goal. Why is he doing it? Is he manipulating Cora or trying to get into her good graces for more personal reasons? Why is he taking such care of his appearance, despite his job having nothing to do with it? Is he secretly as insecure as Cora?

- Some comedic scenes with his stupid accomplices. Maybe surrounding Cora’s original election, or relection after Hapgood’s departure?

Pairings I’m cool with:

Cora/Anyone and everyone (because it’s Cora), but especially Cora/Schub, Fay/Hapgood

Twin Peaks

What I love about this fandom:

I want to say everything. I love how earnest and strangely nostalgic it feels, the weirdness and most experimental aspects (I think The Return might be my favourite thing on screen, ever). I love how the characters all feel like complex and complete human beings even when they're probable tulpas with 5 minutes of screen time. I love the small details and memorable dialogues and attitudes, the mystery of it all, and the fact it’s never really resolved and makes you question your own expectations. The way traumas and loss are expressed through symbols, images, and sounds experiments deeply moves me: the complex tangle of emotions and surrealist elements is just so compelling. The show also happens to have the best absurd jokes ^^.

Please note that every character you may want to add to this mix is very welcome. There was a lot of noms for this fandom, the cast is huge and I absolutely adore ensemble pieces, so if that’s your thing, go for it.

Requested characters
 

Constance:

I'm so glad The Return gave us a character like Constance, so grounded in reality and so bright. Sometimes it feels like she's from a different show entirely, an actual murder mystery show where people actually solve crimes, but of course we all know how *that* goes. So of course it’s a character I worry about, future-wise. Especially since she’s one of those people who added light to an overall heartbreaking third season (on the other hand, which season isn’t). Her encounter with Albert is such a joy, and I like that she had a good working relationship with Dave Macklay, we don't see that so often in the show. And her jokes… I live for this. This and Constance’s seemingly very normal life, it’s almost exotic in that setting.

Albert:

It’s hard not to relate to Albert, both in his attempts at rationality, which put him closer to acknowledging the reality of the situation than most of the characters ever are ("the evil that men do"), and in the way he struggles to express his emotions (Albert's path is a difficult one). And he's just brilliant. I mean he's got the best dialogues lines in the series, probably, so I’d really love to hear his voice done right. I just want to hug him and tell him it's going to be fine, even though that is, at best, unclear… His evolution between the old seasons and the Return breaks my heart: his relationship with Gordon, the whole gun business, shooting Diane, seeing Cooper come back and disappear without even acknowledging him…

Diane:

I feel very protective of her, and I love how she became a full-fledged character in such a short amount of time (Tulpa or not, to me she's very much her own person). I love how angry she is, because she's right to be, and how thin-skinned in a way that still allows her to retain a tinge of the mysterious presence she had in the first seasons. I'm also fascinated by the concept of someone who's just supposed to be a professional listener. I mean those tapes... Especially if you're familiar with My Life My Tapes (the book that was written by Scott Frost as Cooper’s autobiography), but even the ones Cooper records on screen are often very worrying, heartbreaking or just hilarious. I love to think about her listening to them in her Philly office. But canonically she never gets to see Twin Peaks for herself. Wonder how that feels. And of course, trauma-wise, she's another example of shattered personality, but I feel she might be able to reclaim her sense of self in the indefinite future. I really hope so at least. Explorations of that trauma are very welcome, and needed I think. Much more shallow, but I’m in love with her style, both verbally and fashion-wise.

Pairings I’m cool with:

Diane/Constance, Albert/Constance, Albert/Harry (not requested, but he’s in the noms, so if you want to allude at it or include it, it’s totally fine).

Prompts

Group prompt ideas

- After the final's disaster, Albert doesn't want to have anything to do with anything or anyone Blue Rose related (except Tammy, but now he might be afraid of ruining her like his experience in the FBI ruined him?). What would happen if he got back to Buckhorn under a pretext to help close the case? Things there used to feel more real than in Twin Peaks, but with the recent surreal events, is it still the case? How are the locals reacting? Does Constance grounds him and helps him recover, or is she developing her own issues? How does that relate to Diane coming back and disappearing with Cooper again?

- 2 a.m. prompt idea that I really like: Constance doing stand up at a local bar (Buckhorn's version of the Roadhouse?). Is she joking about her work and latest extremely weird and worrying case? Albert is in the audience, because what can you do of your evenings when you’re stuck in Buckhorn working on a case anyway? One version or the other of Diane could be observing in the back, too. Does that number becomes a bit surreal (we know what usually happens to on-stage performers in this show)? If you want to have Candie, Sandie and Mandie selling popcorn in the back, be my guest.

Subsets prompt ideas:

Constance&Albert

- Constance interacting with the whole Sheriff station, while Albert is around too. What would the station want with a coroner who’s not Albert? What does everyone think of her? Maybe it occurs early on, when he’s there in the first season to do that autopsy. Maybe it’s later, and they visit together [insert Blue Rose related reason or the like]. Ship wise, I’m happy with a bit of Albert/Harry, so if you want to fit that in, you can.

- Any form of continuation of that dinner scene. What does Constance think of Albert? How does their experience in police work compare? Does the conversation turns into a wit competition, or is it a partnership in crime? If you ship them, it's also cool with me (a bit of romance sure won’t hurt Albert).

Albert&Diane

- After he shot Diane, Albert begins to receive tapes. It sounds like it's her voice, and he’s almost sure they are meant for his ears, but can we be sure? What is she telling him about? Which Diane is it, talking to which Albert? Where does it go? You decide.

- For something lighter (we singularly lack light Diane content right now), I like the idea of Diane pulling some sort of prank on Albert when they worked together in the early days (so before the show, basically, when nobody had disappeared yet). What is she like when she's, well, not traumatized? I would think mostly the same but much more serene, and so that anger could well be turned into wits or some mischief. I mostly feel that her and Albert would be the most rational parts of that team, and we know they’re canonically good friends, or used to be, so what was it like when it wasn’t so dramatic? I wonder if Albert takes kindly to being the butt of a joke. Who am I kidding: he sure doesn’t. Who are Diane’s allies in this? From the nominated characters, Lil would be an interesting choice.

Diane&Constance

- I suddenly have an impulse to request some Diane/Constance. Because I feel they could get along so well. It can of course be gen if you're uncomfortable with writing romance. They could get more time to talk during Diane's time in Buckhorn (she's a witness in that horrible Hastings death, after all), or meet in a different way: in a bar? Maybe there's an open mic night somewhere in town, Constance always has jokes ready and Diane is after all described by Cooper as "a cross between a saint and a *cabaret singer*", so… Does this happen after canon, after Diane returned from wherever she was, and on her way to recovery? Is Albert there too? It would be great if they met through him, or if he just happened to be around, because I’m sure he would be adorably uncomfortable with the whole thing. Or maybe putting in some barbs while discretely playing match-maker. Oh my God, matchmaker Albert.

I don’t have a definite opinion over the dynamic of that ship, but I get the feeling that they’re both tired in very different ways, and that could be something to bond over. Does Constance remind Diane of how her life used to be, before it all went south? What does Constance understand of Diane’s traumas? I like the idea that they would impress each other, for different reasons. Sharp women, different edges. And of course, the banter.

Fleabag

What I love about this fandom:

The writing is one of the best thing I've ever seen on TV. Brilliant dialogues, even more brilliant situations, I think the "female rage" Phoebe Waller-Bridge talked about bringing to the screen is one of the most relatable and realistic theme around. The mix of cruelty and tenderness of it all rings true, and the multiple flaws of the characters make me love them even more. Most of their issues are never addressed directly, so much is left unsaid but Fleabag and Clare both manage to deal with things in their own way and tangentially, which is way closer to what usually happens in real life than any direct confrontation where everyone suddenly says the right thing and people end up hugging each other. I’m also very attached to the specificites of the performances: the cast is spectacular, Sometimes the humor gets a liittle bit too sexual and based on embarrassing moments for me, so maybe try not to lean to heavily on it? But most of the time I find the show hilarious (especially in season 2). Finally, I really love how she keep breaking the fourth wall, and how it’s canonically established that some people are able to notice it (the Priest, because he’s able to see her dissociate, but that could be exploited with other characters too).
 

Requested characters

I know I may be requesting too many characters for the fandom to match, but I honestly couldn't choose. I'm happy with any combination and subset, and character study for only one of them is very good too. I think the possibility here as so great for various combinations. 
 

Fleabag:

I love that she's genuinely flawed like a real person, and despite the fact that I wish I could (I, the almighty Viewer) fix her life for her, it's just makes me love her even more in the end. I'm genuinely horrified at the amount of awful things she has to deal with (it often feels like nothing is right, nothing has been right for a long time now and she's unable to pinpoint it). The level of cruelty is so high in this show (I mean, "I love you but I don't like you"? Gosh. I can't). It's sometimes hidden by the comedy of it all but damn, is it heavy. So I sort of wish she had a good time and continues on her journey to deal with her issues, because she's just at the beginning of that at the end of S2 (at least I hope). I love that she stays unnamed (although that's probably a pain to write, come to think of it. Sorry writer!). Her ability to crack bloody hilarious practical jokes without anybody noticing is also one of her greatest trait. The fact that she can be so cruel and distant (essentially with her lovers, with the exception of the Priest, even if that still could be discussed) but also so vulnerable and protective of Claire is interesting. I'm curious about how she perceives her bisexuality (I don't think she uses a label in the show, I'm going for the general one, feel free to change it if that doesn’t fit the way you feel about it, but please don’t make her purely heterosexual). Globally I’m very interested in her relationships to other women. Finally, from guinea pigs to Piglet, animals seem to be a Thing, and that's very cool!

Godmother:

Gosh, that woman. I'm so in love with Olivia Coleman it's impossible for me not to love-hate this character passionately. The performance is just outstanding. It strikes me that, despite what Fleabag says at first, she seems to absolutely fit the "evil stepmother" stereotype (hitting her, erasing her from the painting, etc). Sometimes it almost feels too much to be true, but of course that sort of thing very much exists in real life. I'm very curious about that dark side, how it could be explored, and why it seems that it has so little to do with her husband. Her art and the fact that she's actually talented also fascinates me. I'm also ready to accept concurrent readings that challenge Fleabag's point of view (is that a distorted perception of reality? Is there another way to tell this story?). Not that I want to diminish how real the abuse is. But some sort of AU take would interest me. The thing is, Fleabag and Godmother actually have a few things in common: falling for the unattainable man, presumably, stealing their best friend's boyfriend, in a way, working with said friend – more or less, Fleabag's mother being a model for Godmother's work, and more generally trying to pretend to be something they're not, whether it's nice and open-minded on one side, or confident and independent on the other. So the parallels interest me too.

Therapist:

Another declaration of love to Fiona Shaw (so, I have that thing for middle-aged British actresses, yes). I adore her in Killing Eve, and she's nailing that small part like nobody's business. I wish we'd seen more of her, because people in this show sure need a psychoanalysis. I love the small details (the hand lotion!), her general attitude and how she's adamant on not taking any bullshit. Sounds very intelligent, very direct, very set on making her patients uncomfortable, too. Oh how we need her. An ideal character to point out unseen connections between characters and even, and a great outsider point of view on the show. Aren't we all the Therapist in this show?

Belinda:

So, remember that thing I mentioned about middle-aged to old British actresses? Yes. That. Anyway, I relate to Fleabag's reaction to Belinda big times. The age gap bothers me a bit, but at the same time it makes me wonder, since that sort of relationships are so rarely depicted, how it could be. In short I'm very curious about Fleabag/Belinda, but I also get why Belinda wouldn't date her. That speech of hers in the bar paints a very sympathetic character and it echoes with so many feminist themes that are important to me (the weight of being seen, of having to perform feminity for others more than for yourself, among other things). On the other hand, she's also a business woman, and you get a feeling that she's not to be messed with, even if she sees through the bullshit of her corporation. I think the fact she's successful makes her an interesting comparison to Godmother. I would like for her to get to know Fleabag more, whether it's in a romantic or mentoring way. Her experience could be needed, but also, maybe not. I just want her to be able to relate to Fleabag in a more equal way, because maybe experience or age isn't that relevant for what's going on here. Other thought: has she ever dated the Therapist? Hmmm. That’s a thought. (Sorry it seems that my brain is dead set on creating as many fem ships as it can in this fandom).

Pairings I’m cool with:

Fleabag/Belinda, Godmother/Belinda, Belinda/Therapist. Background unrequited or secret Godmother/Fleabag’s mother is also good, if you want to go that way.

Prompts

General prompt ideas:

- Fleabag goes back to see the Therapist, after the whole priest affair. Unbeknownst to her, her analyst is also seeing Godmother and Belinda. They all have their own problems, and talk about each other. It's sure is a hard day for Doctor Shaw.

- Fleabag brings Belinda as her date to one of Godmother's parties. Is it an actual date or just an exchange of services destined to make Godmother mad? How does she actually react to it, being who she is? No matter the original intention, what does this end up being for Fleabag and Belinda? A romantic thing, something sexy or a conversation about family, its composition and decomposition, expectations and the emotions that go with it? Maybe all of the above, depends if you want to ship them or not, I'm cool with both. What does the Therapist thinks of all this, and which character is she seeing that tells her about it (any pick would be interesting).
 

Subsets prompt ideas:

Godmother&Fleabag:

-I'd like to see a more affectionate or at least honest moment between Godmother and Fleabag. I think the fact that Godmother hit Fleabag needs to comes out at one point or another. Same thing with the relations Godmother had with Fleabag's mother (is she really like a leech who basically recreated her friend's life and stayed forever jealous, like Fleabag's point of view seems to suggest, or is it more complex than that? What's Godmother's point of view on the question?). I'm also curious about the relationship Godmother and Fleabag had before her mother's death. Was it happier, or strained already? What did little Fleabag noticed, that nobody else saw?

Therapist&Godmother&Fleabag:

- The Therapist attends one of Godmother's art show. What does she see in the exposed art? Any naked bosomy statue around? Is Fleabag serving cocktails, or is she absent but the subject of the art? What does Godmother have to say about it? I’m not sure she would react well to an unexpected psychoanalysis of her work (she’s here to be admired, after all).

Godmother&Belinda:

- Belinda and Godmother meet at a "Women of Influence 2019". What do they think of each other? Does Belinda try to hit on Godmother (or, more surprisingly, the reverse?). How does this go, awkward and terrible, confrontational, more personal and emotional? Can get shippy if you want, but I tend to think this would have to be a bit messy to work. Maybe they have diverging opinions on what being a "woman of influence" means, or on the validity of the phrase altogether.

The Remains of the Day

What I love about this fandom:

I think the honest reason it remains with me as much is the way the tragic and failed romance blends with social themes like service in England from the 30s to 60s, and the whole idea of sacrificing one’s autonomy in one way or another, be it to your job or your family (Miss Kenton’s marriage doesn’t seem to be a very happy one, and yet she cannot really brings herself to leave). I love how restrained the characters and the whole narrative is, even if it drives me completely mad with frustration. It’s the thing with this canon: I get why the characters can’t be together, why it can’t work, and it’s not just because they are both idiots. And yet… well I still badly want for them to be together, and I adore their banter. So, while with lighter fandoms I tend to want a bit more seriousness and nuances, for this I aspire to a happier treatment. That being said, I’m very attached to Steven’s emotional repression and to Miss Kenton’s stubbornness, but I think it could still work in a setting that allows for the tension to break at some point. So yes, the Pining. Any resolution of that unresolved tension is fine by me. Alternatively, if you want to get more reflexive, or if you want to write something Gen, I’m also very interested in the historical setting and the moral dilemma the characters have to face. How do they deal with the guilt of sending back the Jewish girls, as it builds over the years? Do they try to do something about it? Alternatively, do they feel anachronistic in some way, living in a world where service in this form is disappearing? I include Miss Kenton in this because I wonder if she ever fully adapted to her new life. Feeling out of one’s time even in that position would be an interesting topic to explore.

Please note that I don’t tend to separate book canon and movie canon strictly. I nominated the book, but both tend to blend in most fics in the archive, so feel free to do the same, and use the movie’s imagery in any way you like. You can of course stick to the book, since that’s what is nominated: it’s really the same to me, I know and enjoy both equally.
 

Requested characters

Mr. Stevens

*Sigh* Stevens. The most frustrating character that ever walked this version of England. And he *is* annoying that way. I rather like how clear it is he's being such a jerk to Miss Kenton because he doesn't know what to do with his attraction to her. And I love how deceptive his narrative voice is, because when he alludes at little shards of emotion, man, you feel like it's a hurricane. What I'd like for Stevens is for him to be shaken to his core, to let go of his certitudes a bit. This doesn't have to lead to a full break-down, I also like the idea of this happening gradually, and we get glimpses of it by the end of the story. I wish Old Stevens had the courage to free himself. Maybe he could take a step in the right direction, with Miss Kenton at his side? If you go the shippy way, inner acknowledgement of feelings would be lovely to read, even if there's good chance he may panic about it (or maybe not? Old Stevens could also be more serene and resigned about them). !Seductive Stevens would also be delightful to read. Would he be confident or clumsy? In control or losing it? Feel free to explore the sadness, too. I wished he would at least get to come to terms with that. 

Miss Kenton

Competence and loneliness, intelligence and fear. I really feel for Miss Kenton, because the canon gives you an idea of what it means to be a woman in that time period, to work and be good at what you do and still have so little autonomy. It gives you the impression that she never really finds her rightful place in the world. She needs to be needed, with is such a gendered trait, and so understandable too: the way she clings to her role in her family is quite heartbreaking. She's always trying so, so hard, at any point in the canon, and I think she needs a rest. I like to think of Old Miss Kenton as someone who's much more aware of the ways of the world and of the complexities of relationships than Stevens, because of what she experienced in her marriage. I imagine her older self wouldn't accept Stevens' rebuttals like her younger self was forced to do. On the other hand, the fact that she's so conflicted during her time at Darlington Hall also makes for interesting explorations. I wish she'd get a bit of a break of doing all the work in her relationship with Stevens, even if I love how enterprising and teasing she can be. I suppose I'd like it to be a bit more equal, if that makes sense. I'm also very curious about what she really think about having had a child, motherhood, and the way she sees her daughter. 

Pairings I’m cool with:

Mr. Stevens/Miss Kenton

Prompts:

- One scenario I’m especially fond of: what if she did come back after he offered her the job at the end of the book/movie? How does one go back to being a servant in the 60s, when so much has changed socially speaking, when the house is emptier than what you’ve been used to, and when you’re older, when you feel in your body your professional reflexes have dulled? Not to mention how do you rekindle an old romance, especially when both parts are aware that your return has something to do with it but no one dares mention it at first? What do you do with the remains?

- Alternatively, for something lighter and set at an earlier time: Miss Kenton has given up on Mr Stevens, and that’s when he suddenly decides to court her. She’s oblivious because it seems so unlikely, tension and/or comedy ensues. I like the idea of turning the table on their usual dynamic: he trying so hard, her refusing to see.

- I’m all for the “fake/pretend relationship trope” for this ship, so if you like it too, I’m sure there’s a way to make it happen. Maybe Miss Kenton stays, and their new employer thinks it’s more proper for his principal staff to be married, because he has Ideas about family and morality, and Miss Kenton (or Stevens? Unlikely, but it would be fun) save their skin by saying they are married. Since they’re so used to each other at that point, it’s believable. Forced proximity ensues, they’re probably both losing their mind about it.

- For something Gen, I’d like to see Steven or Miss Kenton share a memory, maybe something from childhood, that has something to do with why they came to work in service, and what they put into it, emotionally. I suppose their views on the subject will differ in some way, since what they’re willing to sacrifice is in the end not quite the same.
 

Moonrise Kingdom

What I love about this fandom:

The atmosphere. How quaint and nostalgic it all feels. The landscapes, the colours, the weather forecast, the absurdly lavish school play in the middle of a storm, the made-up children books, the quiet mystery of the island and the way children get to explore it. The music in this is also fantastic, and could be a good source of inspiration, I believe (those tracks that decompose and recompose Britten’s symphony are simply to good to be true, they are small narratives in their own right). There is so much going on, in terms of emotions and relationships, that is left unsaid or only mentioned, which allows the movie to retain its peculiar charm, but what I find really striking is the suggestion that, underneath it all, the innocence and hope that Suzy and Sam manage to conquer in Moonrise Kingdom is very fragile, and maybe just a storm away from being destroyed. These kids have a lot to deal with, and we get why they would feel the need to escape. But this decision shakes everyone on this island, including the adults who all seem to lead quite a depressing life. In the end, it forces a silver lining in that routine, even if their “secret kingdom” is destroyed by the tempest. It really feels like Sam and Suzy, despite being chased by everyone, are a miracle of some sort. They fall in that strange gap between childhood and adulthood where everything remains possible, but you begin to feel deep down that at some point, you’ll have to make definite choices. Watching this, I tend to forget it’s set in 1965, Wes Anderson movies often exist in their own parallel time. So you can either choose to acknowledge the time period or treat it like it’s entirely a fantasy world, close to ours but with its own secret rules.

Requested characters:
 

Suzy

There’s a sense of surprising maturity about Suzy, and I wonder where that comes from. Is it the supposedly strained relationship of her parents? Or simply the fact that she’s the older sibling in a family of very enterprising children? She sometimes acts in a lady-like fashion, while at the same time not letting herself be disturbed by earthly things: she’s an adventurer, but an organized adventurer. No comb? She’ll use her fingers. But she’ll do it stylishly. We know her life is less than ideal, and that she gets in all sorts of trouble (“I lost my temper at myself”), and I’m very interested in all that anger her character seems to chew. Again, that household seems happy but, as the movie shows you in a very direct way, it is sort of a facade. That being said, I enjoy the way the movie manage to keep things melancholic and poetic by not laying too heavily on such issues. If you want to explore them, maybe try to do something a bit similar? Or at least not go full dark: what I love about this fandom is the ray of light in everything.

Sam

While Suzy and Sam both tries to emulate adults in some way, Sam, to me, is a bit less good at it than Suzy is. The way he flirts like a mini Carry Grant is adorable though, because you can feel how hard he tries. I love his boy scout frame of mind, the need to always be prepared, which talks about a child who’s been used to rely only on himself. Mixed with his sadness and his gentleness, it makes for a very delicate portrayal: Sam respects the institutions, probably more than Suzy does, but he knows he doesn’t fit in, and that he cannot exist properly as himself in their boundaries. While Suzy is angry, Sam is more of a loner and a rationalist, and the fact that these two find each other despite being very different kinds of what the adults probably call “troubled kids” is both heartwarming and heartbreaking to me.

Pairings I’m cool with:

Sam/Suzy

For this fandom, since the two characters are underage and in love, you can of course explore their relationship in a romantic way, and even hints at the way they may discover desire (after all, Sam is painting Suzy in her swimsuit) but please keep it innocent, I really don’t want to read about underage sex or something that sexualizes them for an adult eye. I just want them to be who they are, teens who are discovering those things in their own way, and if that makes sense I’d like it to stay respectful of the characters?

Prompts ideas:

- Future fic: Sam and Suzy, a year later. I can see them being in a play together, and stealing moments together by hiding in various places when they should be rehearsing. Exploring the secret rooms of the church instead of learning their lines? Or rehearsing in absurd places, switching roles or really getting into their characters until shenanigans or accident happen? Bonus points if that play is as absurdly professional-looking and weird than the one in the movie. (The choice of play is yours, I feel something Shakespearean could resonate well, but a completely made-up play would be very cool too, or anything you may find appropriate).

- Suzy reading some her favourite (fictitious) books to Sam, and sharing her thoughts and criticisms about them. From what we see in the movie, most of them are fantasy or sci-fi (Francine’s Odyssey, The Girl from Jupiter…), but I’d love to hear how she links them to her own life and her view of the world. Sam has a different life experience, and they might disagree on some topics (family comes to mind). I just generally like the idea of them sharing what they enjoy about fantasy worlds and projecting in on their reality, their adventure and the way they see their relationship. Maybe at some point they realize that it doesn’t completely fits? Or on the contrary, that’s it’s a better lens that what “real life” (school, scout camp, parents, etc) has taught them to consider good, bad or desirable?

- A bit bolder, but I like the idea that Sam and Suzy fugue could fuel a children’s rebellion on the island (it sort of does in the movie, since they end up helping them get reunited). What if groups of children (scouts, Suzy’s brothers, kids from school, etc) found them instead of the adults, and decided to stay with them in Moonrise Kingdom, founding an actual “realm” for a couple of days? What would that little fragile society would look like, with Sam and Suzy as its head? How would they handle the sudden end of their voluntary isolation? How would they reinvent the rules? And how would that other magical parenthesis end?

- if that doesn’t inspire you, maybe tell me more about their time on the run, the way they survive and what they learn from each other and find in each other? I’m very up for anything comforting, fire camps and ridiculous surviving tips, Suzy being surprisingly good at some things, Sam having his own hidden talents, doing art together, exploring unknown parts of the island, discovering strange things in the wilderness, and so on.