Hurt/Comfort 2023 Letter

[learnedfoot]

Dear Hurt/Comfort Creator,

Hello! I’m LearnedFoot on AO3! You’ve matched (or, if you’re a pinch hitter, chosen) on one of these pairs and freeforms, which already means we have things in comment. Excellent! I am very excited to see what you come up with!

To start, even though I’ve written a fair amount here, I want to say I’m actually very easy to please. As long as you stick in the general area of my likes and respect my DNWs, I’m going to be delighted. Also, I’m equally excited about all of these options! Some sections are longer than others because I have more specific ideas about certain character combos, but I didn’t request anything I wouldn’t be over the moon to receive.

I am open to both fic and art treats for all requests!

Here is what this letter contains:

General Likes
Art Likes
DNWs
The Bear: Carmy &/ Syd; Carmy & The Bear Crew Related [Fic]
Suits: Harvey/Mike [Fic]
Suits: Harvey/Mike [Art]
Ted Lasso: Jamie/Roy(/Keeley) [Fic]
White Lotus: Various Jack [Fic]

General Likes
Big Picture Points

Characters are the most important thing for me in fic. I certainly appreciate a good plot, but seeing more of the characters I love is my number one priority.

For requests where I’ve asked for romantic ship fic, I define that broadly — everything from pining/flirting/other pre-relationship up through established relationship can make me happy. If you want to write smut I’ve included information on my likes, but I’d be just as happy with something lower rated.

A note about links to past letters: In some cases, I’ve included links to past letters where I have requested these ships before. I in no way expect you to go reading past letters—those are only there if you WANT extra inspiration.

A note about the structure of the fandom-specific sections: Since the freeforms work as prompts on their own, in the fandom-specific sections I mostly I focused on general thoughts about the requests, with some prompts that can be mixed with a number of the freeforms, and expanded thoughts on certain freeforms. Please do not take the fact that I expanded on some freeforms and not others as suggestions those are the ones I want the most; those are just the ones that I thought it might be helpful to have some clarification or further thoughts on.

Hurt/Comfort Likes That Apply Across the Board

Character trying to hold it together fraying around the edges

Character lying about being fine (whether or not the other characters realize)

Confessions of feelings when out of it (drunk, feverish, exhausted, etc.)

Emotionally wounded character slowly opening up

Stoic and/or emotionally closed off character being forced to accept help (emotional or physical)

Stoic and/or emotionally closed off character revealing how much they care when forced to help someone else

Finding Someone Sleeping and Putting a Blanket or Coat Over Them

Carrying sick/injured character to bed

Noncon/dubcon from an outside party/bad guy as the hurt

Abusive relationship (romantic or otherwise) with bad guy/OC as the hurt

Character surprised to be re-confronted with past trauma

General Likes

Banter

Being taken off guard by small displays of affection, unexpected tenderness, etc. (platonic or otherwise)

Bonding over shared or similar trauma

Characters realizing what someone else means to them, especially when that realization comes as a surprise

Characters revealing what someone else means to them, especially if they are nervous about it but it turns out the feelings are reciprocated

Characters who keep getting back up no matter how many times they’re down

Strong character voices

Small romantic gestures:

• Carried to Bed
  
• Forehead Kisses
  
• Helping Someone Undress for Practicality's Sake (Mostly)
  
• Holding Hands
  
• Sharing clothing

Unlikely friendships

Trapped in an isolated or otherwise dangerous location

UST and mutual pining

Whump

Smut Likes: Consensual

Emphasis on what the sex means to the characters/the emotion of the moment

“Come,” not “cum”

Drunk/high sex

Dom/sub dynamics that develop without the characters talking about it (but not negotiated BDSM relationships unless requested), and with particular emphasis on:

• the sub getting off on pleasing the dom
• the dom praising the sub (and the sub getting off on that)
• bondage and blindfolds
• hair pulling, scratching, manhandling, and generally rough sex
• choking (on cocks or otherwise)
• Face fucking
• pain, but nothing that would draw more than a little blood or lead to permanent damage (nipple clamps and spanking are great/the level I’m aiming at)

Sex in semi-public/public places

• Generally prefer it without getting caught, but close calls, or trying to hide what's going on while one person fingers the other under a table or the like is great

Exploring new sex acts/kinks/etc.

• I’m happy to see the exploration go really well, or for someone to discover nah, they don’t like the thing. Or for them to like it but not be good at it at first, etc.
  
• In general, awkward, realistic sex is just as loved as perfect, mind-blowing sex

Tender sex, including:

• Being generally amazed at the other person's everything
  
• hand holding
  
• hand/palm kissing
  
• forehead kisses
  
• neck kissing
  
• thigh kissing
  
• hair stroking
  
• face touching
  
• tender kissing
  
• expressions of affection and love, etc.

If you want more information on my smut likes, you can check out my Smut Swap letter

Smut Likes: Non-con and Dub-Con:

• Manipulation and confused emotions on the victim’s part
  
• Victim gets in over their head
  
• Victim is drugged, drunk, or otherwise not all there
  
• Forced pleasure (including multiple orgasms)
  
• Forced to give blow jobs, rough blowjobs and face-fucking
  
• Rough sex
  
• Verbal humiliation (calling them a slut/whore, talking up how much they really wanted this, etc.)
  
• Sex that keeps going until victim is too limp and tired to do anything but lie there and take it
  
• Victim crying
  
• Victim feelings shame (about the forced pleasure, about what they’ve agreed to do, etc.)
  
• Use by multiple people, passed around parties
  
• Public sex (including super public for non-con; pressure into going further in public than really wanted for dub con)
  
• For more details on non-con and dub-con likes, check out my Consent Issues letter.

[back]

Art Likes
I don’t really know much about how to describe art, and I will pretty much be guaranteed to love whatever you create because I am just amazed at anyone who can make art, but some specific patterns I’ve noticed in things I like:

Colors

• Black and white + one color (esp. red, but really any)
  
• Rich colors, colors that glow
  
• Blue is my single favorite color, generally

Styles

• Some styles I’ve noticed I like: pop, graffiti, realism, cute & cartoon-y.
  
• I don't like porny or super romantic chibis, but I like it for gen or shippy stuff that’s leaning into the cute
  
• I’ve enjoyed both sketchier line art type things and more solid filled in things (<--I really don’t know how to use art terminology, sorry!)

Content

• Emphasis on touch between two characters. E.g:
  
  • hugging
    
  • carrying
    
  • hand-holding
    
  • cuddling
    
  • one arm thrown over the other
    
  • Kissing for ships, whether that be on the mouth or hand/head/face, etc.
• Emphasis on facial expressions
  
• Emphasis on pretty/unusual clothing
  
  • For Suits in particular there is a lot of opportunity to play with formalwear. Or the half-undressed look. Is there anything hotter than a loose bowtie and sleeves rolled up at the end of the night?
    
  • For ships: one character wearing the other's clothing, esp. smaller character in bigger character's oversized t-shirt, hoodie, button up, etc.
• H/C scenarios and/or characters be whumped. Some specific images I enjoy in this category:
  
  • Captivity: Chained up with arms above head
    
  • Character A drapes their jacket over B's shoulders
    
  • Draping a Blanket or Coat Over an exhausted, sleeping character
    
  • Injured character being bandaged up
    
  • Injured character being carried
• Incorporation of dialogue (even if it’s just one line)
  
• Funny/cute reactions and scenes
  
• For smutty art: really anything from my general smut likes list applies, but if you want specific ideas:
  
  • clothing being ripped off or pushed aside or general clothed sex/partially clothed/clothing in disarray
    
  • biting/marks
    
  • tender touch
    
  • one hand around a neck (choking or simply resting there, depending on the vibe)
    
  • cocks being held
    
  • one character bent over and being fucked
    
  • Semi-public sex (hiding in a coat closet? Under the table? Etc.)
    
  • Victim looking really whumped in non-con scenarios

[back]

DNWs
General DNWs

Hopelessly unhappy endings

• Things don't have to be perfect or even close to it, I just want at least a general sense that things are gonna work out for the characters (and for the ship if it's a ship request). So for instance, if it’s a captivity fic, I want to at least leave the fic knowing the characters did or will escape, etc. etc.

First or second person

Unrequested identity headcanons (trans, race, other) (However, I'm fine with assuming a character’s sexuality is more fluid than canon may let on)

Permanent, non-canon death of requested canon characters

Unrequested poly or otherwise open relationship involving the requested characters

• I'm fine with the characters seeing other people while also seeing each other in the context of "we're just FWB/dating casually/no commitments" (particularly if that is used to cause pining or jealousy between the ship). But once the character define the relationship/have the "we are committed to each other" talk/are in an established relationship/etc., I want the relationship structure to be monogamous unless otherwise requested

Focus on pregnancy (including requested characters being pregnant even in A/B/O requests)

• Basically, fine to mention pregnancy being a thing or a side character being pregnant, but I don’t want it to be the focus of the story or something that happens within the requested ship

There are also some fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions noted in the relevant sections

Sex Related DNWs

Any sexual situations involving characters under the age of 14

Breeding kink, lactation kink

Body modifications, including forced feminization

Cross-dressing kink

Daddy/mommy kink (in particular, use of the word “daddy” or “mommy”)

Enemas

Extended, on-screen consent negotiations

Feeding, weight gain, inflation, anything in that realm

Insertion of large objects, anal tearing, extreme stretching, sounding

Non-sexual body fluids in sex scenes (with the exception of a few drops of blood from scratching or because they were injured before sex)

Roleplay scenarios

Sex rough enough to permanently injure or leave severe scars

• E.g., spanking someone until their skin feels raw = fine; literally skinning them = please no. Choking someone = go for it; crushing windpipes = please no. If you’re not sure, feel free to ask through the mods!

Unrequested non-con

• Non-con requests from any of the other letters I link for inspiration are considered requested

Unrequested dub-con

• However, I am fine with drunk!sex, or sex on drugs, as long as the characters are subjectively aware of what they're doing while they are having sex. So, not when one half of the pair is passed out drunk. But, for example, I am totally fine with two characters getting high together and having sex (in fact, I love it!)
  
• Dub-con requests from any of the other letters I link for inspiration are considered requested

Completely physically pleasureless sex for the victim even in a dubcon/noncon scenario

• Forced orgasm, being ashamed of their body responding positively, etc. is all great

AU DNWs

I like canon divergence AUs where the fic is based in the canon setting but goes in a different direction after a certain installment, or changes the outcome of a certain event. So those are fine across the board, whether or not they relate to a specific prompt. But I DNW the following types of AUs unless specifically requested:

• AUs that change the canon setting, era, or rules of the universe (e.g., mundane AUs, addition of fantastical elements in a non-fantastical canon, soul mark worlds, A/B/O, high school setting, etc.).
  
  
• AUs that drastically change the structure of character relationships or fundamentals of their identity (making people related who are not, erasing characters from existence, etc.)

[back]

The Bear
Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto & The Bear Crew (hurt Carmy)
Sydney Adamu & Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (hurt Carmy)
Sydney Adamu/Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (hurt Carmy)
[Fic]

• 2AM talk in the kitchen after a nightmare/insomnia
• Character acts like physical/emotional hurt they suffered is no big deal; others strongly disagree
• Realising someone you care about is in an abusive relationship
• Character lies badly about where their bruises came from
• Aftermath of sexual assault attempt
• PTSD - From past sexual assault
• Dub/noncon - Character surprised and upset by seeing their rapist years after dub/non-con
• Dub/noncon - Character unable to hide evidence of their rape from others
• Dubcon - Blackmailed/Coerced into sex by a bad guy and forced to hide it
• A doesn't know how to help shaken-up B after B is nearly raped
• A doesn't know how to help shaken-up B after B is raped
• Character's Sexual Trauma Revealed During Consensual Sex They Thought They Could Handle
• Hidden trauma is revealed
• Downplaying Trauma
• Char A accidentally reveals tragic backstory to B while out of it from illness or injury
Character runs into someone who reveals past traumatic/shameful event to the one they're pining for
• Character is forced to work with someone who scares them
• Old Abuser Tries to Resume Abuse; Doesn't Realize Victim Now Has People on Their Side
• Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
• Intoxicated character confesses that actually things are NOT okay

• Accidental touch leads to discovery that character has a fever
• After injuries are patched up character A falls asleep on character B
• Altered States - Character is out of it due to pain
• Carrying A Sick/Hurt/Exhausted Character To Bed
• Catching Hurt Character as They Collapse
• Character A falls asleep on B's shoulder
• Character A grudgingly receiving comfort and Character B enthusiastically giving it
• character A has a flashback and character B comforts them
• Character A has been crying and tries to hide it but B still notices it
• character A is under too much pressure and character B relieves some
• Character A reveals they know B's secret and reassures B that it changes nothing
• Character A tries to help Character B without offending their pride and dignity
• Character comforted after having mundanely terrible day where a thousand small things go wrong
• Character is bad at identifying their own emotions/physical discomfort
• Character is Exhausted From Overwork
• Character is weak and fatigued but doesn't slow down because they're "just tired"
• Character trying to hold it together is clearly fraying at the edges
• Character who is clearly not fine insists they are fine
• Comforting a Hurt Character by Indulging Them in a Way That Reveals You Really Know Them
• A doesnt take care of their needs and dissosciates so B helps them get back to normal

A non-exhaustive lists of other freeforms I also enjoy for this request:

• Altered States - Nonconsensual Drug Use
  
• A is roofied and B takes care of them
  
• Dubcon - character lies to themselves that they are ok with it until one day they can't anymore
  
• Character discovers video of their rape on the internet
  
• Character resigned to loneliness finds unexpected intimacy with other(s)
  
• Character completely withdrawn and self-isolated who feels like no one can help or understand
  
• Character looks okay...except to those who know them well
  
• Character's Past Trauma Is Revealed Against Their Will
  
• Character stoically hiding trauma finally gets to talk about it
  
• Technically awful attempts at comfort are actually very comforting
  
• Kissing Pain Lines From Around A Character's Eyes
  
• kissing scars or still healing injuries
  
• Character A is self-conscious about their scars; B touches them for comfort and affection
  
• Character A is Touchstarved while Character B notices and tries to help
  
• Caring for a character's injured hands then sucking their fingers

General Thoughts: Carmy hurts real good. I want to roll around in that, and also in him finally getting some comfort. I am so into the way he represses, represses, REPRESSES on the show, and how little he seems to care about his own wellbeing (mental or emotional). But I also love the catharsis of him finally saying some of his shit out loud in that stunning monologue in the Season 1 finale. So any fic that plays with either or both sides of that will be A+ in my book.

For Carmy &/ Sydeny, I love Carmy’s relationship with Sydney—the way they butt heads and push each other, but also really get each other. The scenes where they are just together, talking, are some of my favorite of the show. So anything where Carmy reveals himself to her a little more or they become more intimate (in a shippy way or not) is awesome.

For Carmy & The Bear Crew, I also just love Carmy and his relationship with his entire staff, and would love to see any of those relationships explored, particularly the context of Carmy needing (and accepting, though perhaps reluctantly) their help. Feel free to bring in whichever canon characters you want—I love all of them. And any ships between those characters is fine!

Prompts That Can Be Combined With Freeforms & Thoughts on Some Specific Freeforms:

• New York Chef hurt: I would love anything dealing with the aftermath of Carmy’s time in New York. We know from canon that it was very traumatic, the New York Chef was at least emotionally abusive as a boss, and Carmy hasn’t really dealt with that and how it still effects him. If you’re into it, I’d also be very into fic that adds physical abuse and/or dubcon (actual relationship, coerced sex, or Joel McHale’s character simply using sexual harassment as one more tool in his douchebag boss toolbar) to that backstory trauma as well, and I think that goes well with some of my dubcon related freeforms. If you’re interested in this and want more specific ideas, check out my Id Pro Quo letter.
  
  
• Other dubcon/non-con/abusive relationships/whump/etc: Hey, it doesn’t have to be the NY Chef. Also very happy to have original characters fill the dubcon/non-con-er/abuser/whumper role for any of the relevant freeforms. Someone else from Carmy’s past? An ex? Or maybe he gets involved with shady figures trying to finance the new restaurant and things go south? A shady figure Mikey owed money to, who now thinks Carmy owes them? Carmy winds up in an abusive relationship and tries to hide it?
  
  
• Physical hurt/illness/exhaustion: Carmy hurts himself in the kitchen, or is sick, or just plain totally exhausted. But he refuses to stop working. Maybe it’s the opening of The Bear, or a particularly busy day/week, or there’s a critic there that day, or he’s just plain stubborn. How long does he keep going until someone notices? Can they get him to stop? Does he push himself to a breaking point? How do they finally take care of him?
  
  
• Grief: Fic where the focus is Carmy’s grief over Mikey and coming to terms with that very welcome. Maybe it’s Mikey’s birthday? Or he finds something of Mikey’s that stirs up memories? Do other people who knew Mikey share their own memories to help him mourn? Does he share stories with Sydney?
  
  
• Food as love/comfort particularly welcome here!

[back]

Suits
Harvey/Mike (either or both hurt)
Harvey/Mike [Fic] | Harvey/Mike [Art]
Note: While I’ve divided my prompts into different themes for organization’s sake, please feel free to mix and match as makes sense to you. The art requests are also things I love in fics! And if you're inspired by the fic requests for art, I want to see it! Mix bad guy whump with AUs! Etc. Etc.

Request Specific DNWs:

• DNW killing off canon love interests
  
• DNW Mike and Harvey cheating, either on each other or on anyone else
  • Obviously I do not count any sort of dubcon/non-con sex with bad guys as cheating
    
  • In terms of dealing with canon love interests, fine with anything other than cheating or killing off the canon love interests. Setting the fic when they’re both single, adding a breakup during a fic, AUing an earlier breakup or AUing the relationship away all together, etc. are all fine.
• DNW use of “Alpha” and “Omega” honorifics in A/B/O AUs (ie. “Yes, Alpha!”)

General Thoughts That Apply Across All Harvey/Mike Requests: This ship is my biggest OTP right now. They have everything I love in a mentor/mentee ship. Being centrally important to each other! Enough of an age gap and experience differential to really have a mentorship! But the mentee character still being very brilliant at what they do (for a rookie) and having their own POV about how to go about things! An easy banter and generally just very much enjoying each others’ company! Clear admiration for each other! But also emotional repression and difficulty expressing approval/affection on Harvey’s side! Intense, crazy, “I will risk destroying my own life for you” loyalty from the word go! Epically painful fights! But always, always forgiving each other in the end!

Obviously a lot of these requests could lead to Harvey and Mike meeting under very different circumstances than in the actual show. For me, the key to their dynamic no matter the setting or how they meet is: a) they get along great; b) Mike starts out in a not-great situation/wasting his potential due to past mistakes; c) Harvey quickly recognizing Mike is different (brilliant) and deciding he wants to help him, preferable in a way that goes out on a limb; and d) resulting intense loyalty on both sides. If you get that in there, I’m going to be thrilled.

In terms of sexual dynamics, I like everything from vanilla through having D/s-y dynamics in bed, preferably with Mike in the sub role (though that does not have to mean physically bottoming!). However, I am not into formalized BDSM unless it is in a prostitute AU where Harvey specifically hires Mike for that purpose, or a BDSM AU.

A note on other characters and ships: Feel free to include whichever other characters! I especially adore Harvey's relationship with Jessica if you want to bring that in (and am also very open to backstory Harvey/Jessica). In terms of non-Mike and Harvey characters, feel free to include any other ships you want.

Harvey/Mike
[Fic]

• A/B/O - Longterm Denial of Needs Has Bad Effects; Character Denies Self Anyway
• A/B/O - Longterm Use of Suppressants Has Bad Effects; Character Uses Them Anyway
• Accidental time travel into apocalyptic future
• Aftermath of Fighting Rings
• BDSM AU - character ashamed of their dynamic
• BDSM AU - character unintentionally revealed to be a sub
• BDSM AU - Dom assigned to "fix" sub-with-unconventional-personality to be more conventional
• BDSM AU - Longterm Denial of Needs Has Bad Effects; Character Denies Self Anyway
• Hurt character is rescued from a sexual slavery traffick ring
• Aftermath of Slavery
• Rescued from Sex Slavery - Initially Believes Rescuer is New Master
• Slavery AU - Slave Expects Hurt From Reluctant New Master; Receives Comfort Instead
• Punishment Collar Has to Be Worn for Reasons; Now It's Malfunctioning
• Arranged Marriage - Forced Public Consummation
• A rescues B from forced marriage

• Abusive ex branded A as their property; B accidentally sees the mark on A's skin
• Realising someone you care about is in an abusive relationship
• Dub/noncon - Character surprised and upset by seeing their rapist years after dub/non-con
• Dub/noncon - Character unable to hide evidence of their rape from others
• • Dubcon - Blackmailed/Coerced into sex by a bad guy and forced to hide it
Aftermath - Character doesn't tell anyone they were tortured/raped; is found out anyway
• Aftermath of sexual assault attempt
• Character discovers video of their rape on the internet
• Character runs into someone who reveals past traumatic/shameful event to the one they're pining for
• Character A finds out B was not only tortured and starved but also raped during long captivity
• Character's Sexual Trauma Revealed During Consensual Sex They Thought They Could Handle
• PTSD - From past sexual assault
• Forced mutual noncon by another but nonetheless tries to comfort the other
• Aftermath of bad-guys-made-them-do-it
• Captured and tortured together & doing their best to help each other through it
• Captivity - A begs/flirts to draw captor away from molesting hurt!B (fails)
• Character lies badly about where their bruises came from
• characters A and B are kept in adjacent cells; character A hears character B being punished
• A doesn't know how to help shaken-up B after B is nearly raped
• A doesn't know how to help shaken-up B after B is raped
• A is roofied and B takes care of them
• Old Abuser Tries to Resume Abuse; Doesn't Realize Victim Now Has People on Their Side

• 2AM talk in the kitchen after a nightmare/insomnia
• Accidentally hurting someone emotionally while believing they're being supportive
• Hurt through miscommunication
• Communication - talking about everything except what needs to be talked about
• Angry Broken Outbursts Resulting in Desperate Embraces
• Char A knows the truth that'll devastate B; lies to let B think they're the bad guy to protect B
• Emotional H/C - Character A forced to convincingly fake-betray B in order to protect them
• Character A's loyalty to B is used to hurt A
• Character A Makes Significant Sacrifice for Character B; B Horrified and Upset When They Find Out
• characters currently on the outs or in a fight having to take care of each other or work together
• Estranged Characters - Injured A shows Up on B's doorstep Saying "I didn't know where else to go"
• A drops everything to rush to B's side following long-distance confession of desired comfort
• Aftermath of Solitary Confinement
• character is having difficulties being touched after being in prison
• character is having trouble sleeping after being in prison
• Intoxicated character confesses that actually things are NOT okay
• Blaming Themself for the Other Character Being Injured
• Character A gets in trouble or injured protecting character B
• Character A gets injured or attacked while one the phone with Character B
• Character A wants to harm whoever hurt Character B; B just wants A to hold them
• Character trying to hold it together is clearly fraying at the edges
• Character A more concerned about Character B's injuries than their own
• Character A grudgingly receiving comfort and Character B enthusiastically giving it
• Character A has been crying and tries to hide it but B still notices it
• Character A hides illness/injury perfectly; Character B can still tell
• Character looks okay...except to those who know them well
• A can see B’s hurt but can’t do anything about it
• A copes badly with B being injured
• Character is prickly and bad-tempered while recovering from hurt; comforter is chill about it
• Comforting a Hurt Character by Indulging Them in a Way That Reveals You Really Know Them

A non-exhaustive lists of other freeforms I also enjoy for this request:

• Accidental touch leads to discovery that character has a fever
  
• Aftermath - Character A only feels safe when B is around
  
• Character A gives away Feelings by being Overly Tender with hurt Character B
  
• Character stupidly and stubbornly stoic
  
• Character doesn't realize how badly they're hurt until they collapse
  
• Character faints on the person they're pining for (& they don't know is pining back)
  
• Character is Exhausted From Overwork
  
• character A is under too much pressure and character B relieves some
  
• Character A is unconcerned about their severe injury/illness; Character B panics on their behalf
  
• Character is weak and fatigued but doesn't slow down because they're "just tired"
  
• Character who is clearly not fine insists they are fine
  
• Character jumped in front of a bullet to save other character
  
• Faking Recovery So Others Will Stop Worrying
  
• Hurt A is too tired/ill to move; calls B to take them home
  
• Technically awful attempts at comfort are actually very comforting
  
• Bad jokes to distract a hurt character
  
• After injuries are patched up character A falls asleep on character B

Prompts That Can Be Combined With Freeforms & Thoughts on Some Specific Freeforms:

General Prompts:

• Good ol fashioned H/C leading to feelings revelations: Sometimes the classics are where it’s at, and I love this for these two. One working themselves to exhaustion or working through being sick. Mike takes a spill on his bike. Someone is mugged or gets in a fight. Etc. etc. etc. I love Harvey being brusque but caring to a hurt Mike, or a hurt Harvey being resistant but ultimately giving into being cared for/comforted by Mike. Either or both being shocked by how much they like being in position of the comforter or comforetee. Tender touches giving away too much. Admitting feelings while loopy on pain meds or out of it from being sick. Etc. etc. etc.
  
  
• Taking on blame: I love any scenario where one blames themselves for the other’s hurt. Maybe one gets injured or in trouble protecting the other? Or Mike works himself to exhaustion and Harvey blames himself?
  
  
• Fuckbuddies, FWB, One Thinks It’s Just a Rebound, etc.: Just some casual sex between a wildly loyal mentor/mentee pair, what could possibly go wrong? Surely they are emotionally equipped to handle this, mmhmm. I love this trope so, so much, so any way you want to throw it into the mix, I’m down. Maybe one of them getting hurt/sick/whumped is what pushes either or both into realizing/admitting feelings? Or the fact that they are in this ambiguous relationship makes the fact that one is being so kind and comforting a special sort of torture for the other?
  
  
• Jealousy: I’m not into these characters being jealous and insecure once they are in a committed relationship. But before that? Sign me up. Mike’s heart breaking a little bit every time an evening out with Harvey ends with Harvey taking home a hot waitress. Harvey gritting his teeth through watching Mike flirt with Rachel. Either of them misinterpreting what are actually just platonic friendships (thought: Harvey being jealous over Mike risking so much for Kevin Miller?). Either of them finally reaching a breaking point and confessing feelings. Etc. etc. etc.
  
  
• Betrayal/fake betrayal/one's loyalty used against the other/etc.: I love how loyal these characters are to each other, so anything that uses that strength and flips it on its head to cause pain (emotional or physical) is A+. One has to betray the other or appear to for Reasons, and the fallout? One hurts themselves (physically, emotionally, career wise) rather than allow the other to be hurt? Etc. etc.
  
  
• Estrangement: I have some estrangement related freeforms, and also in general love h/c set during a time when they AREN’T on the best terms. You could use any of the points in canon where they have tension or haven’t seen each other for a while (while I have very mixed feelings about the later seasons, I love fic that deals with Mike moving across the god damn country…). Or even extend the points of canon estrangement! Maybe Harvey stays mad at Mike longer after the Season 2 finale? Maybe Mike goes to work for Forstman in Season 4?
  
  
• Prison Related: For the prison related freeforms, obviously those can combine well with canon as it played out. But I am also very open to AUs where Mike serves his whole sentence, or where Harvey ends up going to prison instead.

Alternate Types of Universe AUs:

• BDSM AUs: I love these for Harvey/Mike a lot. I prefer Harvey as the dom and Mike as the sub, but I also like them bucking against those roles, particularly in a world where subs are legally inferior in some way to doms. Maybe Mike has no interest in giving away his autonomy at all. Maybe Harvey has no interest in having that kind of responsibility for someone else (commitment issues, much?). Do they suffer socially or physically for denying their roles? Maybe Pearson Hardman only hires doms and Mike has to fake it (with or without Harvey’s knowledge)? Maybe Pearson Hardman requires partners to have subs and that’s how Mike and Harvey come in contact?
  
  
  • BDSM AU - Dom assigned to "fix" sub-with-unconventional-personality to be more conventional: for this, I was thinking Harvey as the assigned one. Maybe it's a pro bono requirement XD But obviously he'd realize he likes Mike just as he is... Alternatively, maybe this is the hurt that happened to Mike when someone else was assigned to "fix" him, and Harvey provides the comfort?
    
    
  • For more thoughts/prompts, check out my AU Exchange Letter. Fine with consent negotiation scenes for this.
  
  
• Slavery AUs: I prefer Mike as the slave character here. Debt slavery seems particularly fitting given Mike’s money problems at the start of canon, or slavery as a consequence of crime (maybe he gets caught with those drugs?), but I am down for basically whatever worldbuilding you want here. Is it explicitly sexual slavery, or service in general, maybe with an understanding that SOME owners use their slaves in that particular way? For more thoughts/prompts in this real, check out my AU Exchange Letter
  
  
• A/B/O: I prefer Harvey as an alpha and Mike as an omega, but as with the BDSM AU, very into them bucking against those roles and finding them confining. I enjoy Mike not wanting to be submissive, and Harvey finding the idea of having his biology control him in any way offensive. Either or both of them overly relying on suppressants is great, as is Mike pretending to be a beta or an alpha (maybe Pearson Hardman only hires alphas? Maybe he just hates that he’s seen as lesser as an omega so has always pretended? Etc.).
  
  
  • In general, things I enjoy about A/B/O are inequality, difficult or impossible to control mating urges, bonding, knotting/being stuck together for a while. Scenting is fine but not my kink. I’m not very interested in the breeding kink element, and DNW Mike or Harvey getting pregnant. DNW use of Alpha and Omega as titles, especially during sex scenes (ie., no “Oh yes, Alpha!”).
    
    
  • Down for a wide range of worldbuilding, from worlds where all “genders” are theoretically equal (even if there is social bias, etc.) to dystopian worlds where omegas have few to no rights (though if the latter, I prefer Harvey not really being comfortable with that, even if he pretends to go along with it for appearances’ sake).
    
    
  • For more thoughts/prompts in this real, check out my AU Exchange Letter
  
  
• Punishment Collar: Could combine well with one of these other AUs, or just be its own AU. Maybe everything is the same, except punishment collars are a thing for parolees or as an alternative to prison, and Mike ends up with one after Season 5/6.
  
  
• Marriage Tropes: I nominated a couple of marriage freeforms that I feel like mix well with weird dystopian/alternate society worldbuilding. Feel free to combine with slavery, A/B/O, BDSM AUs, or have it be its own worldbuilding you think would be fun! For more ideas along these lines, check out my Just Married letter!
  
  
• Aftermath of fighting rings: Another fun AU (or could be combined with some of the others—maybe slavery). Mike does fighting rings out of desperation? Or flip it on its head and it’s Harvey, canonical boxer, who is somehow in fighting rings?
  
  
• Accidental time travel into apocalyptic future: Obviously cool with allowing time travel into the Suits universe for this request. I have no specific thoughts, I just think this is a cool idea, so if it inspires you, go for it!

Bad Guy Whump/Captivity/Non-con/Dub-con Prompts:

• Use canon bad guys if you want. Daniel Hardman seeks revenge. Gallo does even worse to Mike in prison. Mike actually goes to work for Forstman and it goes very wrong. The drug dealers from Season 1 are even worse. Etc. etc. etc. But also very open to OCs! Maybe someone from Harvey’s DA days comes back to haunt him?
  
  
• A client pressures Mike into sexual favors. He’s in over his head and doesn’t want to let Harvey down. Or maybe the client gets him drunk or drugs him. Maybe this is set during the Season 2 finale fight, and Mike doesn’t think he can turn to Harvey for help? Etc. etc. For more prompts along these lines, check out my FIAB letter
  
  
• Mike used to be a prostitute, escort, etc. A Pearson Hardman client turns out to be an old client of his. Does the client try to use that to get back in his pants? To blackmail him as his lawyer? Or maybe the client acts totally normal (perhaps doesn’t even remember him) but Mike freaks out anyway and Harvey notices? Or maybe this is someone on the other side of the table (opposing counsel?), and they try to use it to gain an upper hand in the legal battle...
  
  
• Kidnaped/captivity together. I love this scenario and all the ways it can go from there. One non-conned or beaten in front of the other; one trying (successfully or not) to make the bad guys focus on them instead of the other; made-them-do-it; comforting each other on the aftermath; etc. etc. etc.
  
  
• One is non-conned or otherwise abused (by an OC SO? Random assault?) and tries to keep it hidden from the other. How long does it take the other to notice? How do they react?
  
  
• Harvey and Cameron Dennis once had a fraught and not very healthy sexual relationship in which Cameron took advantage of his status as Harvey’s mentor. Harvey has never properly dealt with this (because lol, when has Harvey ever properly dealt with any emotional scars?). It makes his feelings for/relationship with Mike even more complicated
  
  
• Also obviously feel free to combine non-confon/dubcon with my AU requests. There are so many possibilities for bad actors in a/b/o, slavery, BDSM AU etc. situations!

[back]

Harvey/Mike
[Art]

• Bruises on the Face
• Catching Hurt Character as They Collapse
• Caring for a character's injured hands then sucking their fingers
• Carrying A Sick/Hurt/Exhausted Character To Bed
• Character drapes their own jacket/coat over hurt character's shoulders
• Character drapes their own jacket/coat over sick character's shoulders
• Character A falls asleep on B's shoulder
• Character A falls asleep on B's shoulder; B gently moves A to rest on lap instead
• Character Cradling Hurt Character's Head In Their Lap
• Character Cradling Sick Character's Head In Their Lap
• Character wears out of character clothes while not feeling well
• Concealing illness/injury at a formal event
• Kissing away tears
• Kissing Pain Lines From Around A Character's Eyes
• kissing scars or still healing injuries
• Lending Sunglasses To Sick/Injured Character

General Thoughts: These are just some freeforms the struck me as particularly good for art! Though if you’re inspired by one of the freeforms/requests from above, feel free to role with that, too. I don’t really have anything to add here: anything pretty you want to make me inspired by these will thrill me!

[back]

Ted Lasso
Keeley Jones/Roy Kent/Jamie Tartt (hurt Jamie)
Roy Kent/Jamie Tartt (hurt Jamie)
[Fic]

• aftermath of kidnapping
• Aftermath of sexual assault attempt
• A doesn't know how to help shaken-up B after B is nearly raped
• A doesn't know how to help shaken-up B after B is raped
• Character discovers video of their rape on the internet
• Dub/noncon - Character surprised and upset by seeing their rapist years after dub/non-con
• Dub/noncon - Character unable to hide evidence of their rape from others
• Dubcon - Blackmailed/Coerced into sex by a bad guy and forced to hide it
• Realising someone you care about is in an abusive relationship
• Dealing With An Abusive Parental Figure Coming Back Into Your Life
• Character Hiding Abuse Because They Feel They Deserve It
• Old Abuser Tries to Resume Abuse; Doesn't Realize Victim Now Has People on Their Side
• Character is forced to work with someone who scares them
• Character runs into someone who reveals past traumatic/shameful event to the one they're pining for
• Character's Sexual Trauma Revealed During Consensual Sex They Thought They Could Handle
• Faking Recovery So Others Will Stop Worrying
• A is roofied and B takes care of them
• Character A has been crying and tries to hide it but B still notices it
• character A tries to curb character B's self destructive behavior
• Character acts like physical/emotional hurt they suffered is no big deal; others strongly disagree

• Character finds comfort in being told what to do/manhandled by comforter
• Char A knows the truth that'll devastate B; lies to let B think they're the bad guy to protect B
• Character A attempts to sacrifice themself for B; B gets very upset
• Character A Makes Significant Sacrifice for Character B; B Horrified and Upset When They Find Out
• Character A gets in trouble or injured protecting character B
• Character jumped in front of a bullet to save other character
• Character A gets injured or attacked while one the phone with Character B
• Blaming Themself for the Other Character Being Injured
• Character A gives away Feelings by being Overly Tender with hurt Character B
• Character A hides illness/injury perfectly; Character B can still tell
• Character A tries to hide injuries or pain from Character B due to pride
• Character doesn't realize how badly they're hurt until they collapse
• Character is weak and fatigued but doesn't slow down because they're "just tired"
• Dealing with uncertainty about making full recovery after an injury
• A discovers an injury B has been trying to hide
• Hiding injuries from onlookers but comforter knows

A non-exhaustive lists of other freeforms I also enjoy for this request:

• Abusive ex branded A as their property; B accidentally sees the mark on A's skin
  
• After injuries are patched up character A falls asleep on character B
  
• Angry Broken Outbursts Resulting in Desperate Embraces
  
• Anxiety over how to navigate boundaries of unestablished relationship
  
• Bad jokes to distract a hurt character
  
• Bedsharing while one of the characters is injured
  
• Carrying A Sick/Hurt/Exhausted Character To Bed
  
• Catching Hurt Character as They Collapse
  
• Character A falls asleep on B's shoulder; B gently moves A to rest on lap instead
  
• Character A drapes their jacket over B's shoulders
  
• Character A wants to harm whoever hurt Character B; B just wants A to hold them
  
• Character is bad at identifying their own emotions/physical discomfort
  
• Character is prickly and bad-tempered while recovering from hurt; comforter is chill about it
  
• Character looks okay...except to those who know them well
  
• Character faints on the person they're pining for (& they don't know is pining back)
  
• Character stupidly and stubbornly stoic
  
• Character trying to hold it together is clearly fraying at the edges
  
• Character who is clearly not fine insists they are fine
  
• Characters A and B tag-team comforting hurt C
  
• Characters A and B take care of hurt/ill Character C whom they both love
  
• Characters argue over the best way to comfort hurt character
  
• Comforter Rains Down Retribution On Hurt Character's Behalf
  
• Character lies badly about where their bruises came from
  
• Heartbreak through thinking they're just Friends With Benefits but feelings are mutual
  
• Falling Asleep As A Sign Of Trust
  
• Lending Sunglasses To Sick/Injured Character
  
• Taken Off Guard By Small Displays Of Affection
  
• Misunderstandings - Pining character thinks they're FWB; other thinks they're already dating
  
• Neither comforter or comfortee will directly acknowledge that comforting is taking place
  
• Noncon - Victim Imagines Being Fucked by Love Interest Rather Than Rapist(s)
  
• Pining Character Has Been Third Wheel When They Could Have Been Polyamorous Partner
  
• Seeing character hurting prompts unexpected feelings

Canon specific DNWs and DNW exceptions:

• DNW open relationships or unrequested poly. By which I mean obviously one of the requested ships is poly, but if you write Keeley/Roy/Jamie and they define the relationship, I would like it to be a closed relationship between the three of them. And if you’re writing Roy/Jamie and they define the relationship, I would like that relationship to be monogamous.

General Thoughts: I did a rewatch of this show recently in preparation for the new season, and was reminded just how much I love these characters and ships. Jamie is the kind of character who goes straight to my id, with all that jackass arrogance hiding all the hurt inside. The slow character growth, the moments of sweetness. And Roy! Roy, my beloved man of few words. I LOVED his Season 2 arc, especially, of trying to figure out what to do now that his playing career is over. And Keeley is simply the best; adorable and smart and ambitious and so confident while also being kind and supportive of everyone else.

For Keeley/Roy/Jamie, I really like the idea of Keeley and Roy bringing Jamie into their pre-existing relationship. I don’t mind some tension between Keeley and Roy as they navigate that and how it changes their relationship between themselves, or where they are both hesitant to tell the other they’d be interested in adding Jamie to the mix, but I do want them to fundamentally be on the same page and feel good about it—I want everyone to ultimately be very enthusiastic about this threesome. Since all of my requests are Jamie hurt, I really like situations where Keeley and Roy realize there’s something wrong with Jamie and come together to help him, each on their own ways and also together as a couple.

Alternatively, if you want to set it when Roy and Keeley aren't together, I'd also be very down with coming together to help Jamie bringing them (back) together, too.

For Roy/Jamie, I just ADORE their push-pull relationship in canon. Butting heads but also learning to work together. Gosh that hug. I love the idea of Roy giving Jamie comfort in his most gruff, Roy way, and Jamie being tentatively being really touched about it but also confused about what that means Feels wise. Also, like, the D/s vibes of that Ugly, ugly boy with bad hair scene are very good and if you want to explore that further I am all for it.


In terms of dealing with Keeley here, I am happy for AUs where Keeley and Roy never got together, or fics where they break up before Roy/Jamie—preferable amicable or at least not a super bad breakup (ETA after watching the Season 3 premiere: or just set after their canon breakup!). Keeley still being friends with either/both is good.

Feel free to incorporate any other characters from the show you want, as you see fit, and any other ships between those characters. I also ship Keeley/Rebecca a lot, if you want to put that into a Roy/Jamie fic.

Prompts That Can Be Combined With Freeforms & Thoughts on Some Specific Freeforms:

• Illness/injury that effects Jamie’s ability to play: Jamie is sick or injured. Does he try to hide it until he collapses? Does Roy/Keeley notice, or do they miss it until he pushes himself too far, and then take care of him after? Does he try to hide it from the rest of the team but Roy knows and helps him cover it up? Or post-injury/illness, getting back into the game. Maybe Jamie is unsure and Roy helps? Or is he so injured he’s pulled for the rest of the season, if not longer, and has to figure out how to deal with not just the physical pain but the mental devastation of that? Both Roy and Keeley have dealt with evolving their careers, so they could relate…
  
  
• Attacked/takes a bullet/protects other character/etc.: For these kinds of freeforms, could be just a random thing (mugging, etc.), or maybe something with a crazed fan? Someone blames Jamie for a loss and attacks him? Or goes after Roy for the same reason and Jamie intervenes? Keeley has a stalker Jamie protects her from?
  
  
• Sacrifice/attempted sacrifice: Again, could be about stepping up for a mugging/crazed fan. Or maybe kidnapper or blackmailer trying to go after one or the other for their money? Or could be more of a career sacrifice. Like for some reason there’s a PR thing, or a budget issue, or whatever that would mean the team can’t keep both Roy and Jamie and Jamie tries to be the one to leave. Or whatever else comes to mind!
  
  
• Any sort of hurt from Jamie’s relationship with his dad. Opening up about past abuse. Or his dad tries to work his way back into his life AGAIN, or maybe succeeds this time. Or his dad dies and he has complicated feelings about it. Etc. etc. etc.
  
  
• Dub-con/non-con freeforms: Ah, yes, one of my favorite kinds of whump, either as backstory or as a bad thing that happens over the course of the fic. I’d prefer the aggressor not be one of the team or any other canon character who has been presented as positive, but very open to OCs or, e.g., one of his dad’s shitty friends or someone like that. I do have a preference for the aggressor being male, but beyond that, let your imagination run wild. An obsessed fan? An old coach? Maybe an old teammate from Man City who he runs into after a game or who transfers to the team? A NEW teammate who decides to target him? Etc. etc.
  
  
• Other kinds of abuse: Or doesn’t have to be sexual abuse! Maybe verbal abuse, or physical? Again, I really like the idea of an old coach or teammate who Jamie has a bad past with coming to work for the team and Jamie having to deal with that, or something along those lines.
  
  
• Kidnapping: Jamie is kidnapped. Obsessed fan? For ransom money?
  
  
• Abusive Relationship: Could be emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive, whatever you want. I would prefer the abuser be a man. Jamie gets in over his head with a new partner and ties to hide it. Do Roy or Roy/Keeley notice? How long does it take them to work out what’s going on? How do they react?

[back]

White Lotus
Jack/Original Male Character (hurt Jack)
Jack/Quentin (hurt Jack)
Jack/Portia (hurt Jack)
Jack & Portia (hurt Jack)
[Fic]

Jack/Quentin and Jack/Original Male Character(s)

• Aftermath of Fighting Rings
• Aftermath of unsuccessful suicide attempt
• Aftermath of sexual assault attempt
• Aftermath - Character A only feels safe when B is around
• Agreeing to rough sex as self-punishment
• Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism
• Altered States - Character Does Drugs To Numb Pain
• Altered States - Nonconsensual Drug Use
• Altered States – Withdrawal
• assisted self-harm
• Attempted Rape/Non-Con
• Attempted Sexual Assault
• character a comforts character b after b was forced to kill someone
• Character A comforts Character B in their most vulnerable moment as emotional manipulation
• Character A doesn't want to live any more; tells Character B to do whatever they want with them
• Character A expects Character B to take care of them; B doesn't
• Character A reveals they know B's secret and uses it to blackmail them
• Character A thinks they deserve hurt and bait others into hurting them
• Character Accepts Bad Comfort as Better Than None
• Character doesn't trust comforter's motives
• Character finds comfort in being told what to do/manhandled by comforter
• character gets comforted by someone they can't trust but secretly wish they could
• Character goes back to the person who hurt them
• Character Hiding Abuse Because They Feel They Deserve It
• Character is forced to work with someone who scares them
• Character resigned to their death survives; doesn't know how to cope
• Comforter exploits hurt character's vulnerability
• Dub/noncon - Character surprised and upset by seeing their rapist years after dub/non-con
• Dubcon - Blackmailed/Coerced into sex by a bad guy and forced to hide it
• Dubcon - character lies to themselves that they are ok with it until one day they can't anymore
• dubcon - character offers sex to bargain or for a bet; doesn't expect to actually have to pay up
• Dubcon - victim goes along with attempted noncon because they think they deserve it
• Dub/Noncon - Comforter assumes they are owed sex in return for comfort
• Dub/noncon - Hurt character feels like they can't say no to sex
• Dub/Noncon - Ignored Safeword
• Touch-starved character enters unhealthy relationships; it's better than nothing
• Touch-starved character lets themself be dubconned because they like the attention
• You're Possessive Obsessive and Cruel (and still i'm not running away)

Jack/&Portia and Jack/Original Male Character(s)

• 2AM talk in the kitchen after a nightmare/insomnia
• Abusive ex branded A as their property; B accidentally sees the mark on A's skin
• After injuries are patched up character A falls asleep on character B
• Aftermath - Character doesn't tell anyone they were tortured/raped; is found out anyway
• Anxiety over how to navigate boundaries of unestablished relationship
• A believes the love they’re shown is conditional; they expect to be cast aside
• Char A accidentally reveals tragic backstory to B while out of it from illness or injury
• Character A attempts suicide; character B finds & stops them in time & helps them recover
• Character A is Touchstarved while Character B notices and tries to help
• character A tries to curb character B's self destructive behavior
• Character acts like physical/emotional hurt they suffered is no big deal; others strongly disagree
• Character being protected isn't used to being cared about
• Character completely withdrawn and self-isolated who feels like no one can help or understand
• Character Doesn't Expect Tenderness But Gets It Anyway
• Character expected to die but didn't and has no idea how to live anymore. Other helps & comforts.
• character expecting harm is comforted instead
• Character ground down by emotional abuse builds up self-esteem and happiness
• Character isn't used to being loved and shown tenderness/affection
• Character resigned to loneliness finds unexpected intimacy with other(s)
• Character runs into someone who reveals past traumatic/shameful event to the one they're pining for
• Character used to past traumatic sexual experiences is confused by genuinely loving partner
• Character used to suffering alone is gratefully surprised to receive comfort
• Character who acts fine all calls Character B for help because they're self harming
• Character's Past Trauma Is Revealed Against Their Will
• Character's Sexual Trauma Revealed During Consensual Sex They Thought They Could Handle
• Drugged Confessions of Past Trauma
• Expecting more Hurt and then Receiving Comfort
• Falling Asleep As A Sign Of Trust
• Hurt A expects B to take advantage of them. Is stunned when B doesn't.
• Hurt character believes rescue/help has a price tag; surprised when there isn't one
• Intoxicated character confesses that actually things are NOT okay
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
• PTSD - From past sexual assault
• Realising someone you care about is in an abusive relationship
• Taken Off Guard By Small Displays Of Affection
• Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

A Non-Exhaustive List of Other Freeforms I Like for This Request:

• Angry Broken Outbursts Resulting in Desperate Embraces
  
• Character A is self-conscious about their scars; B touches them for comfort and affection
  
• Character acts casual about their scars from childhood abuse
  
• Emotional Distress From Emotional Manipulation
  
• Expecting more Hurt and then Receiving Comfort
  
• Downplaying Trauma
  
• good old fashioned manipulation and betrayal
  
• A is roofied and B takes care of them
  
• Dub/noncon - Character unable to hide evidence of their rape from others
  
• Dissociating During Sex

Canon specific DNWs and DNW exceptions:

• DNW killing off an original character if they are positioned as a positive post-canon love interest for Jack. (It’s fine to kill OCs who are bad/ambiguous, or to have a positive love interest die as part of Jack’s tragic backstory.)
  
  
• Poly/open relationship DNW waived.

General Thoughts: Did I expect to come out of Season 2 of White Lotus with a new ~poor little meow meow~ style despicable woobie fave? No, no I did not. And yet, Jack happened. I am just so endlessly fascinated by him and his very rough edges and his whump potential. What was the dark, dark hole he was in before Quentin rescued him? Is he gay at all, or does he just fuck Quentin (and presumably his friends) for the benefit of his money? How does he feel about any of this? If he is gay/bi, could he one day move on to an actually positive, healthy (or at least healthy-ish, or at least truly loving) relationship with a man? What about reconnecting with Portia in some capacity?

Feel free to incorporate any other characters from the show you want, as you see fit, and any other ships. Also feel free to mix and between the requests as makes sense to you -- for instance, hurt coming from Quentin and comfort provided by an OMC, etc.

Prompts That Can Be Combined With Freeforms & Thoughts on Some Specific Freeforms:

• Backstory! What was the very fucking deep hole? Was Jack prostituting himself? In gambling debt? Drug addiction? Some combo? Did he have anyone giving him comfort in his life? If so, was that real, or just another form of manipulation or pain? How did Quentin find him, how did Quentin decide to rescue him? How does Jack feel about any of it?
  
  
• Tragic first love. Maybe Jack had a person he really cared for, and something terrible happened? Maybe that kicked him into his downward spiral?
  
  
• What is Jack/Quentin’s relationship? Is this a pure gay for pay thing, or is Jack at least somewhat into guys? If he is into guys, is that something he’s accepted about himself? Regardless, is he/was he ever into Quentin or not? Did it start out as something Jack thought might be ~real~ only for him to discover Quentin thought of it as more transactional, or did Jack know the deal the whole time? What positive things does Quentin give him to balance out the negatives?
  
  
• Very open to dubcon or non-con porn. Jack turns his first trick. Quentin shares Jack like a party favor at one of his parties. Jack is loaned out to one of Quentin’s guests. Etc. etc. Feel free to go any range of dub to non-con here. Jack is nominally consenting, but he doesn’t really like it, he’s just here for the money. Or Jack DOES like it, but all those feelings are complicated by also being in it for the money. Or Jack starts off liking it but finds he’s in over his head. Or Jack is just in the wrong place and the wrong time and gets completely non-conned. For more freeforms along these lines, check out my id pro quo letter.
  
  
• How does he react when he finds out Quentin is dead? Is he relieved, sad, stressed? Does he get caught up in the police investigation? Did Quentin leave him anything in his will, or is he on his own with nothing again? Does he run off with cash/expensive trinkets/etc. from the villa? What does he do, where does he go? Does he have anyone to turn to?
  
  
• On the flip of all of the above: Jack gets a real significant other! I’m thinking especially post canon for this. Like, to his surprise (or not), he finds a person he actually likes and wants to be with, whether that’s reconnecting with Portia or an OMC. How is that relationship complicated by his past? Do they help pull him out of a dark place? How/when/does he open up? If it's a guy, how does he feel about being in love with a man? How does he feel about sex now? Is he afraid he’s unlovable? Is this relationship actually healthy, or are they co-dependent in ways that are probably not good for them but at least bring some joy and comfot for Jack?
  
  
• For Jack &/Portia: Jack runs into Portia again one day. Do they find any kind of understanding? Does she find a way to forgive him, or at least come away with a better understanding of what they were both going through? Does she find him in a dark place and manage to provide some help/comfort, even if it’s very reluctantly? Do they possibly reconnect on a romantic level?
  
  
  • Portia has to return to Italy shortly after the show, maybe as part of the investigation into what happened. What happens if she sees Jack? Does she have the opportunity to either screw him over or save him with the cops? What does she do?
    
    
  • Portia comes back to Italy years later. Maybe she’s trying to reclaim the experience, maybe she has to go because of work, maybe she pretends like she’s never been there before so couldn’t find a good excuse to tell her new husband/friends/whatever that she didn’t want to go. They run into each other. Who have they both become? What do they talk about? Does Jack explain himself? Can she possibly forgive him? How does he feel if the answer is no? Does the spark somehow rekindle?
    
    
  • Jack makes it to America one day. Does he look Portia up? Randomly run into her? Get into trouble and need her help…?
  
  

  [back]