FFFX Letter

[dye_ann]

Hello!

And thank you for writing (or thinking about) writing for me. Here you’ll find my general likes and dislikes, probably too many words about specific fandoms and relationships, and a list of prompts. Those, as you may know, are optional: if you come here with an already formed idea, I’d be happy to read it.

I’m Beatrice_Sank on AO3, and I guess my Bookmark section will show you things that I like too, although it’s clearly a mess because I only think of bookmarking when engaged in a reading marathon.

It’s my first FFFX and I’m not used to prompt for exchange with such a high word count: feel free to mix different ideas or to cherry pick if that seems to work for you. Or to ignore them altogether: it’s important that you have fun.

Treats in any media are very much 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 every 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: 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 good), non-con, underage, non-canonical children and pregnancy, emeto/scat/watersports, unrequested crossovers, AUs that change the setting (A/B/O, soulmates, coffee shops and the likes; canon divergences are fine).

 

 

 

 

Amadeus

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/ Antonio Salieri

 

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.
 

 

 

Derry Girls

 

Sister Michael / Janet Murray

 

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

 

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.

 

 

 

Killing Eve

 

Carolyn Martens/Eve Polastri

 

The baseline here is that I’m in love with every character played by Fiona Shaw and this is no exception. So I yearn for more Carolyn/Eve, especially since the mentor/mentoree relationship they sort of have, sort of don’t have is fascinating. The prompts I provide are heavily inspired by a request I saw here several years ago that I couldn’t get out of my head (if you’re reading this: thank you, and I hope it’s okay). Please, please feel free to ignore the last season completely (it will probably be easier).

 

I love that we never really understand how shady Carolyn is exactly, what her game is, and I love that Eve, on the contrary, has basically no poker face. The tension between them is always delicious, and whoever decides to seduce the other is entirely up to you. Of course Carolyn in control is sexy, but I’m also interested to see her finally having a moment of emotional vulnerability (since she never allows herself to have any feelings for anyone), no matter how short-lived. Or, on the contrary, being unreadable even in the midst of a steamy interaction. As for Eve, I imagine she would be either oblivious or panicked if Carolyn made any move (or a combination of both), which could be hilarious, but quite obsessed and awkward if she was the one to make one. But really, anything you may be willing to write here will completely delight me!

 

Prompts:

 

- Carolyn has to exfiltrate Eve to a safehouse (or any other place that Carolyn deems safe) and has to live there with her for an extended period of time. Proximity, tension and weird domesticity ensues.

- Eve could suspect Carolyn of working for the Twelve and decide to fake date/honeytrap her to ‘discover the truth’. And I mean, we all know how that would go…

- Carolyn tries to redirect Eve’s attraction for Villanelle in a more useful direction. In other words, trying to reconcile loyalty and attraction, which I think is a really interesting idea. Great set up for dom/sub undertones and roleplay, too, if that’s your thing. I wonder how Eve would react to something she can actually have, this time.

- 5+1 times Eve sees Carolyn in her bath, or something like that

- Accidental domesticity/proximity while on a case. Perhaps they spend Christmas/Valentine day by accident together. Perhaps they have to work at Carolyn’s house and are constantly distracted/disturbed. Fake dating could be very fun too.

 

 

Matilda the Musical 2022

 

Agatha Trunchbull/Original Female Character

 

This movie did something unholy to my brain when they cast Emma Thompson in that role. So yes, it’s “bad lesbian” coded all the way, and it’s wrong but also right? And it made me feel things for Agatha Trunchbull that I probably shouldn’t, but still: I believe there is a lot to be done about her in a queer perspective. Feel free to go full “evil dom lesbian” with her in a very E-rated way; I would also like something that takes the “sad repressed lesbian” route and explores softer shores, as she learns to understand herself and perhaps becomes a little less awful doing so (can you see me holding big “let the Trunchbull be loved” signs). I think it would also be super interesting if you managed to mix both approaches, but that’s really up to you and what you’d like to write. To be clear, I’m not asking for a complete psychological U-turn or to pretend she was Nice Actually all along, but I think it could be stimulating to take the character more seriously and less as a caricature.

As for the OC, there are suggestions in the prompt but I’m really open to everything you might want to try (though no underage please).

 

Prompts:

- Agatha just recruited a new teacher, and while she can’t stand the woman’s idealism and softness and tries to (metaphorically) beat it out of her, she’s growing obsessed and can’t figure out why.

- Someone is sent to inspect the school. Obviously, it does not go well, and now Agatha is stuck with a stern woman basically spying on her and judging her every move while trying to talk to her about “pedagogy” at every turn. It really is unbearable.

- Through an unlikely series of events, Agatha accidentally makes a friend. And she’s… nice. Different. And completely unaware she should be terrified of her as everyone else is. In fact, she keeps offering her cups of tea, probably.

- Something something evil dom lesbian, of course. There’s this woman Agatha really hates...

 

 

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)

 

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 herbalist 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 herbalist 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 herbalist’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 herbalist 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?

 

 

Cold Aristocrat/Her Smitten Maid (F/F) (OW)

Any historical period is fine by me for this one (from medieval to Victorian to more modern situations), and I’m also game for fantasy universes if that’s your thing. Service offers a lot of occasion for proximity, and a sort of strange intimacy that could easily evolve into something else. Given the power imbalance, there is a lot of potential for ambiguous and unexpected demands from the mistress, something that toes the line between normal and sexual perhaps, making the maid quietly loose her mind. Or perhaps it’s the maid who behaves in an ambiguous way, or both of them since twisting a monolithic power dynamic could be very interesting. I would love to read something that combines exploration of physical and emotional intimacy while taking into account how the class difference complicates everything. Money and power are very much on one side only, but then there’s also a potential for dependency in service that can be questioned (the whole “who serves who” problem). Very much here for mountains of denial, obviously, but also for more “political” themes if that speaks to you. If not, feel free to go “sexy all the way”, that’ll make me just as happy.
In terms of plot, there are a lot of possibilities, but I could see a more domestic path if you don’t feel like going for something very structured. Don’t be afraid of tropes either. Some random ideas:
- Class tensions in a pre-Revolutionary setting: the maid should hate her mistress, who represents everything she stands against, but...
- A sort of Devil Wears Prada dynamic: cold and demanding countess who keeps firing maids because they can’t keep up with her high standards for service, until she meets a determined ingenue.

- Everyone has a secret: the rich aristocrat is expected to marry and is courted by several men, but She Won’t Accept Them for Mysterious Reasons / the maid lied about her references and is afraid her mistress will one day discover the reason she lost her previous job...

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

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

 

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

 

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.