Yuletide 2020 Letter

[learnedfoot]

Dear Yuletide Creator,

Hello! You’ve matched (or, if you’re a pinch hitter, chosen) on one of these fandoms and characters/character combos, which already means you love something I love. Excellent! I am so excited about this exchange, and thrilled 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.

Here's what this letter includes:

General Likes
Art Likes [opting into the wrapping paper challenge]
DNWs
BoJack Horseman: BoJack Horseman & Mr. Peanutbutter
The Great: Catherine & Peter III
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Ford Prefect & Arthur Dent
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Shy Baldwin & Reggie
Pilgrimage: Brother Diarmuid & The Mute
You're the Worst: Sam Dresden

General Likes
Big Picture Points

My AO3 is LearnedFoot.

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.

I’m fairly open on tone and genre — comedy, angst, and basically everything in-between is good by me. Many of these canons have a combination of humor and pathos, and I’m happy to have fic that leans into either or both.

I want to be clear that I did not request any character/character combos unless I am happy to get gen for them. That said, if you do want to write ship fic for the ships I mention liking, 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. (Or, again: gen!)

Several of these requests are for historical fandoms. FWIW, I’m not a history buff. If you’re the kind of person who loves doing a ton of research and getting details right — great, have at it! But if you aren’t, I totally don’t mind (and probably won’t even notice). I care way more about the characterization, character dynamics, and general canon tone than total historical accuracy.

Likes
General Likes (can apply to ships or gen)

Banter

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

Bonding over shared or similar trauma

Characters having conversations we don’t get to see in canon

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 in fights/life

Complex, long lasting relationships with a rich sense of history

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

Hurt/comfort [if you want ridiculous amounts of specifics on my H/C likes, you can check out my H/C letter]

People who don’t like each other working together

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

Strong character voices

Tentative beginnings (romantic or otherwise)

Trapped in an isolated or otherwise dangerous location

Unlikely friendships

Whump

Wounded people slowly opening up

Ship/Romance Likes

Accidental or forced marriage, as long as it fits the world of the canon [for many more thoughts, check out my Just Married letter]

Dancing together

Fake dating/marraige, where the stakes are commensurate with medium-to-high stakes for the canon

Forced to share a bed, huddle for warmth, hide in a tight space, anything along those lines

Forced proximity of any sort, especially when the characters are trying very hard to ignore/deny/not act on their feelings (go on a trip together, stuck in a snowstorm together, etc.)

Getting high together, getting drunk together, high/drunk confessions of feelings

Jealousy or possessiveness before the characters get together as a sign of one wanting the other

One character wearing the other's clothing (before or after they have gotten together)

UST and mutual pining

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), 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

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

“Soft” dub-con likes (e.g., sex pollen and the like — though feel free to draw from the hard dubcon likes for that too, if you want):

• Mutual pining
  
• Guilt (because they think they are the only one who wants it)
  
• Feelings reveals (during or after)
  
• Oversensitivity, heightened pleasure
  
• Having to go for a long time, or come multiple times, or etc. And if only one side is pollened, that being hard for the non-pollened party
  
• Mix of pleasure and pain (pollen makes them go too hard/fast/long, etc.)
  
• Pollen makes them do it at an inconvenient time or in an inconvenient place (including public)

“Hard” dub-con and non-con likes (e.g., for villain doing them or bad guy made them do it):

• 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 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
  
• Public sex (esp. if unwanted by victim)

[back]

Art Likes
Opting into art for any of these for the wrapping paper challenge!

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’m less of a fan of the chibi style for ship art (but I like it for gen 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:
  
  • carrying
    
  • cuddling
    
  • hand-holding
    
  • hugging
    
  • 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 example:
  
  • The Great characters done up for a fancy event
    
  • Period costumes for Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Pilgrimage
    
  • I am always super amused by the Halloween costumes on BoJack
    
  • Sam's...everything he wears
    
  • Arthur and his bathrobe
    
  • For ships: one character wearing the other's clothing, esp. smaller character in bigger character's oversized t-shirt, hoodie, button up, etc.
• Funny/cute/fluffy reactions and scenes, casual domesticity
  
• H/C scenarios and/or characters be whumped
  
• Locations. Esp:
  
  • The beach or other nice landscapes for Pilgrimage
    
  • The palace or famous period locations for The Great
    
  • Any clever pun location thing for BoJack
    
  • New York for the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
    
  • Space and fun alien planets for Hitchhiker's Guide
• Smutty art welcome! Anything from my general smut likes list applies, but if you want specific ideas:
  
  • biting/marks
    
  • clothing being ripped off or pushed aside or general clothed sex/partially clothed/clothing in disarray
    
  • cocks being held
    
  • one hand around a neck (choking or simply resting there, depending on the vibe)
    
  • one character bent over and being fucked
    
  • semi-public sex (hiding in a coat closet? Under the table? Etc.)
    
  • tender touch
  
  Note: For Hitchhiker's Guide, I don't have strong images of the characters in my mind. However you envision them based of the books works for me!

[back]

DNWs
General DNWs

First or second person

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

Focus on unrequested ships (background mentions is fine unless specifically DNW’d in canon sections)

Hopelessly unhappy endings

• For non-con/dubcon scenarios, or darker situations, I just want there to be at least some sense the characters can get out of it

Kidfic involving non-canon children unless explicitly requested [defining kidfic to mean "fic where the characters get a kid"]

Permanent death of the requested characters

Poly or otherwise open relationships once a relationship is established (unless explicitly asked for in the prompts)

• It’s fine for characters to be dating/sleeping around, etc. if they're in a fuckbuddy relationship, or have otherwise started seeing each other but not defined the relationship. I just mean I don’t want the committed relationship, if it exists, to be defined as "poly" or “open” unless explicitly asked for or the DNW is waived.

Pregnancy of the main characters or as a major plot point (mentions of background characters being pregnant, characters gesturing at the possibility of kids in the future, etc. is fine)

2020. Just...2020. Politics, COVID, all of that--not interested in the real world in these fics, please.

Unrequested crossover

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

Sex Related DNWs

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

Formalized BDSM

Insertion of large objects, 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

Unrequested non-con

Unrequested dub-con

• 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 pass-out drunk. But, for example, I am totally fine with two characters getting high together and having sex.

If there is non-con or dub-con, unaroused victim. (Forced orgasm, being upset at or ashamed of arousal, etc. is all good.)

Smut when any character is under the age of 14

For my age-difference ships where one character is underaged or near it: the older character kinking on the younger one's youthful looks to the point where they are described as childlike. The older person can — and preferable should — find the younger person hot, and, IDK, marveling at their smooth skin or general young person energy is fine. I'm just looking to avoid emphasis on "they look childlike" or "it's hot that they're not fully matured physically" or the like.

AU DNWs
I like canon-divergent 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, but DNW other AU types. So please:

• No 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, different jobs, etc.), unless waived.
  
  
• No AUs that drastically change the structure of character relationships or fundamentals of their identity (making people related who are not, erasing characters from existence, making major friendships or relationships never have happened unless it’s a result of diverging canon before they get together, gender swap, etc.).

[back]

BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman & Mr. Peanutbutter



What is this canon and why is it awesome? Affectionately referred to as the “sad horse show,” BoJack Horseman is a six-season animated show set in a world where animals walk and talk like people, and despite bright animation and silly premise, everyone is just as fucked up and sad as they are in the real world. As far as I’m concerned, it is one of the single best TV shows of all time. I was constantly astonished by its ability to blend wacky humor with soul crushingly poignant character moments. It has amazingly creative world building and some of the most realistically crafted characters I’ve ever seen, under all the animal puns and slapstick adventures. It’s depressing as fuck, and yet the way the characters keep fumbling on, attempting to connect to each other and often support each other, even when maybe that’s ill advised, actually leaves me oddly hopeful and uplifted.

Where to watch: Netflix

What I’d like to see in fic: When I first started watching this show, I never would have predicted finding this dynamic as interesting as I do. I love that BoJack sees Mr. Peanutbutter as a rival and an annoyance, and meanwhile Mr. Peanutbutter is all “this is my good friend BoJack, I love him so much.” It would have been so easy to have them just be rivals — especially because of the Diane of it all — and yet, the show refused to make it that simple, and I love that by the end Mr. PB is one of the few people from BoJack's old life who still wholeheartedly supports him. The way he stuck by him in the final season was really sweet.

I like this pair as ship and gen equally, so whichever you prefer! Even with my "fake relationship" type prompts, I am totally down for that to be legit gen, and just them dealing with the situation and getting closer as friends.

Prompts

• Post-finale: After he gets out of prison, does BoJack crash with Mr. PB again for a while? Does Mr. PB help him get on his feet in other ways? Maybe they do a project together?
  
  
• In general, what does BoJack do with his life post-finale? Is he back in the biz? Does he volunteer with incarcerated people the way he said he would? Does he do something else? Does he stay sober, or fall off the wagon? Do other friends stick by him, or does he find himself isolated? How does Mr. PB play into or react to any of that?
  
  
• The way that Mr. Peanutbutter’s happy-go-lucky attitude is clearly covering for his own pain is what makes him so interesting to me, and it was nice to see him get some self-awareness at the end there. BoJack getting to see more of that side of him, them dealing with their pain together, and/or trying to grow toegether would be great.
  
  
• BoJack and Mr. Peanutbutter play characters who are dating or married in a movie or play.
  
  
• They go on a reality TV show (maybe a “celeb Big Brother” type thing?)
  
  
• They wake up together and aren't sure what happened.
  
  
• Accidental Baby Acquisition: they find a baby somewhere, what happens next?
  
  
• Anything with the media: media reacting to their relationship, whether that be a growing friendships or a romantic relationship (fake or otherwise); a relationship/marriage (or fake one) in reaction to something in the media or as a PR stunt, etc. Maybe a fake or accidental marriage leaks, and it turns out they are very popular with the fans, so they just keep going with it...
  
  
• Outsider POV (fans, co-stars, family, other characters, the media, etc.)
  
  
• Want to tell the story through an experimental format like social media posts, text chains, newspaper/gossip articles, etc? I’m all for it! I think this is a great canon for that.
  
  
• Totally optional crossover idea: I am always down for a Doctor Who crossover in this fandom.

Want to write about Sarah Lynn instead? I was really torn on whether to do this request or to request Sarah Lynn, who is my faaaaaaaave. If you like the idea of writing about Sarah Lynn (or Sarah Lynn &/ BoJack, minus Mr. PB, or hell, Sarah Lynn &/ Mr. PB minus BoJack), that is also fine by me! See me letter from last year for thoughts and prompts on her!

A note on timelines: Post-canon, or AU at any point are both good with me!

A note on other characters: Any and all other characters are welcome. I’m fine with infidelity, open relationships/poly (though, I suspect open would be a disaster for them, but that would be fun), etc. in this fandom. I also ship PC/BoJack, Diane/BoJack, BoJack/Sarah Lynn, and PC/Judah, and while I don’t exactly ship Diane/Mr. Peanutbutter, I find their relationship fascinating and like seeing it explored. And really, I’m good with backstory or background any character/any character, except for non-canon pairings with Todd or Hollyhock. This is Hollywoo(b), baby, I’d buy that they’ve all had sex.

Fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions: DNW detailed smut (don’t stress out about this, I basically just won’t get much out of smut-as-smut for these two, so I prefer the focus elsewhere, but I’m not going to freak out if you blur the line between T and M/E). My poly/open relationship DNWs are waived.

[back]

The Great
Catherine & Peter III

What is this canon and why is it awesome? One season (so far) TV show about Catherine the Great’s rise to power. It’s irreverent, comedic, and intentionally ahistoric in many ways. I expected to enjoy it, because that kind of thing appeals to me, but I was still surprised by HOW MUCH I love it. The humor really works for me, and the political intrigue keeps the plot going at a fun clip. And, most importantly for fannish purposes, there are a ton of great, well-acted characters with juicy, messy relationships. I think the trailer gives you a pretty good sense of its tone.

Where to watch: Hulu

What I’d like to see in fic: I am here for the ahistorical fun and the messy as hell characters and relationships. Feel free to lean into the show’s dark humor, the scheming, the politics, the skewed power dynamics, the discussions of religion and philosophy that double as veiled (and not so veiled) threats. I’m not looking for heavy angst, but this show is not afraid to show the seedy (and yet darkley hilarious) underbelly of Peter’s court, and you don’t have to be either. Feel free to play as fast and loose with history as you want, the show sure does.

I requested Peter & Catherine because their interactions fascinate me and I love them both so much (well, love to hate Peter, mostly, but he is such a fun character). That said, I also have some other beloved combos involving Peter + other character(s) or Catherine + other character(s). If you write one of the Peter + other character(s) prompts it’s okay if Catherine doesn’t appear in the fic, and vica-versa. Though of course, it’s also fun if they do!

Definitely feel free to combine these prompts/pairs, even where the ships might be in “conflict.” Infidelity is more than fine, and my open/poly DNW is waived. I love this entire mess of a cast and all the complicated ways they relate to each other.

Prompts, by pairs I like:

Catherine /& Peter: I don’t ship these two as in want them to have a happy ending or think they are actually good for each other (Catherine deserves so much better), but I do find them utterly fascinating and love every moment they are on screen together. I really love the moments where they actually manage to get along at least somewhat, and the small glimpses of humanity we (and Catherine) get in Peter, even as she continues to hate him. I love how she uses his growing feelings for her to manipulate him, and also those brief periods where she seems to have some hope that maybe he really can get better. I love his stuttering attempts to maybe actually improve, but also the sheer narcissism and childishness that will never let any improvement stick.

• Small moments of surprising shared intimacy, amusement, even sexual pleasure are great. Catherine using those moments to manipulate Peter is great. I’d love to see more missing scenes from those periods in canon.
  
  
• An AU where the smallpox thing doesn’t happen, and she spends longer trying to mold him into the man she wants him to be.
  
  
• Post-coup she forces him to resign and keeps him as a (well-kept) prisoner so he can’t cause trouble, or goes to visit him wherever he “retires” so as to check up on him…How their relationship changes when she’s in charge. Does he hate her forever, or kind of still love and admire her? Do they ever have hate!sex? Does he attempt to give her (probably terrible) political advice? Does she feel sorry for him?

Leo/Peter: I love the idea of this ship. I’m envisioning a whole range of things here, from complicated but basically consensual to full on non-con:

• Maybe Peter decides to take Leo for a test run before he gifts him to Catherine, just to be sure (other members of the court who were there for the dick reveal can come too if you want!).
  
  
• Peter and Leo were both jealous of each other at points; maybe they get drunk and decide they want to see what exactly Catherine might see in the other one.
  
  
• Maybe they hook up to see if they can force themselves to get along for her sake.
  
  
• Peter was really jealous, and maybe he takes that out on Leo in ways that are highly dub-con (including purposefully plying with drinks, implied death threats) or straight-up non-con. (My Consent Issues letter has a lot more thoughts on my non-con/dub-con smut likes if that's helpful.)

Catherine/Leo/Peter: Kind of take any of the above and smush them together. I’m thinking that this could work especially well as an AU where Peter, after he falls for Catherine and in an attempt to deal with his jealousy and win her heart, decides that obviously the answer is a threesome. Catherine and Leo agree either completely reluctantly due to pressure, or more actively because Catherine sees it as an opportunity to either shape Peter or lure him into a false sense of security. And maybe the sex is surprisingly good even as Leo and Catherine dislike Peter. Maybe Peter and Leo get all competitive about it?

Peter/Georgina /& Grigor: I just find this relationship in all its complexity glorious. George's love for Grigor and apparent lust for Peter. Grigor’s utter devotion to his wife, and his simultaneous love for and deep resentment of Peter. Peter’s obliviousness to the fact that this is anything other than straightforward fun. All the ways Peter being emperor skews the power dynamics.

• How did it begin? Who started it? Who made the first move between Peter and Georgina? How did Grigor and Georgina’s wedding go? Wedding NIGHT?
  
  
• Was Grigor always resentful, or did that grow over time? Is any of his jealousy because he also has feelings for Peter? Did they ever hook up pre-Georgina? Maybe teenage fling? Does Grigor ever get involved with the sex? How often? How does he feel about that?
  
  
• How do Georgina and Grigor navigate things after Peter is deposed? Do they stick with him? Drop him immediately?
  
  
• Catherine’s perspective on any of this is also fascinating to me, as suggested by some of my next prompts. Her getting involved in any way (giving genuine advice to one party, meddling to screw with Peter or Georgina or to gain political advantage, or even threesomes/moresomes) all welcome.

Catherine &/ Georgina: Their rivalry is great. Anything about it.

• Does it ever spill into hate!sex?
  
  
• How does Georgina try to carve out a place in Catherine’s court, after Peter? Is it by getting in Catherine’s bed? Being her friend? Proving herself indispensable in some other way?
  
  
• Maybe they have to team up for some reason, whether it be political scheming or like, surviving a night in the woods after a carriage ride gone wrong or something
  
  
• Catherine/Georgina/Peter and Catherine/Georgina/Grigor also welcome!
  
  
• Can they ever grow fond of each other (platonically or otherwise)?

Catherine &/ Grigor: These two don’t have a ton of scenes together, but the ones they have are really interesting. She sees right through him. Anything that plays with that is fun.

• Post-Leo, Catherine needs another lover. Maybe Grigor is resentful of exactly HOW upset Georgina is about Peter losing his place as emperor, and gets with Catherine as revenge.
  
  
• Grigor tries to get with Catherine in a desperate bid to win favor for himself and Georgina
  
  
• Grigor and Catherine team up for some reason. Maybe even an AU where he gets in on the plot against Peter.

Other Prompts:

• Peter & Catherine and their relationship to religion and/or the Church
  
  
• Totally optional crossover idea: I am always down for a Doctor Who crossover with this fandom. Maybe the Doctor comes to court? Or whisks them away on an adventure?

A note on other characters and ships: I really like the entire cast, so feel free to get anyone else involved. Other characters I really like include: Archie, Orlo, Elisabeth, Marial.

A note on timeline: Feel free to go AU at any point, or keep it canon.

Fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions: My poly/open relationship DNWs are waived.

My focus-on-pregnancy DNW is waived for Catherine’s canonical pregnancy. Obviously that could affect her a lot in any post-canon fic; feel free to deal with it, esp. re: the political consequences. However, I would prefer there not be a focus on the physicality of being pregnant (morning sickness, physical difficulty beyond the extent to which being less mobile could affect her plotting, etc.).

[back]

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Adams)
Ford Prefect & Arthur Dent



What is this canon and why is it awesome? This classic series of sci-fi humor novels really are as great as everyone says. Douglas Adams has a way with words that is completely unique, and his universe is delightfully zany and bursting with wonderful characters and locations and comedy. No matter how many times I re-read them, I’m always finding new things to love.

Where to Get It: Wherever you get books!

What I’d like to see in fic: My favorite thing about Ford and Arthur is that even though, objectively, there is no reason they should get along at all, they just seem drawn to each other. From the very start, Arthur is the one human Ford choses to save; that means something. I ship the hell out of them and would love ship fic, but I also enjoy gen friendship fic with them, especially if it involves one or both having to admit (or show through action) that yes, god damn it, they do care about the other.

I love the tone of the canon, and encourage you to lean into that. Feel free to make this as fun, wacky, bizarre as you want.

Some prompts (a mix of gen, ship, or both):

• Backstory: Why was Arthur friends with Ford when he thought he was just some out of work actor? He doesn’t exactly seem like the kind of person Arthur would normally be friends with? Why did Ford pick Arthur, of all the humans he’d met, to save when Earth was being destroyed?
  
  
• They go on an alien reality TV show of some sort. A dating show? A Survivor type show? Amazing Race across the universe? A quiz show?
  
  
• Action/adventure, isolated on a planet together, trying to survive, wild alien flora and fauna, or surviving in some crazy alien city where they don’t understand the culture at all—anything in that mode.
  
  
• Somehow they get embroiled with a high-stakes political situation they are not prepared for.
  
  
• Time loops! Especially if they get stuck in one together.
  
  
• Truth serum. What does one or the other reveal?
  
  
• Accidental marriage! Maybe a cultural misunderstanding on an alien planet? If you like this idea, I have lots of prompts for it here.
  
  
• Sex pollen! I’d especially be happy to see this lean into the awkward/funny, given the canon. Or feel free to go with something more off beat. Cuddle pollen! Hugging pollen!
  
  
• Fake dating/marriage! Maybe they find themselves at a party where you’re kicked out if you don’t have an SO? Or they need to pretend to be together so Ford can profile the universe’s most exclusive couple’s retreat?
  
  
• Forced to choose between truth serum and sex pollen (IDK why. As always, weird aliens can be the answer). Which do either/both pick? Why?
  
  
• A game of fuck, marry, kill becomes legally (or, for this canon, very-advanced-technology-seems-like-magic-ally) binding.

Totally optional crossover ideas:

• They meet the Doctor and/or the Master (I esp. love Dhawan!Master, but any is good!)
  
• They meet Baby Yoda. The Mandalorian can come too.
  
• They meet Kylo Ren and/or Rey
  
• They meet BB-8.
  
• They meet any of the MCU characters who have been in space/might go to space again in the future. I esp. love Nebula, Rocket, Tony Stark, and Peter Parker.

A note on timeline: Feel free to go AU at any point. The books only have a loose sense of timeline as it is.

A note on other characters: Feel free to include whatever other characters, and whatever other ships between the other characters you prefer. I love everyone! I only ship Arthur and Ford with each other, however. So even if you go with gen between them, please don’t ship them with other characters.

Fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions: DNW Arthur or Ford shipped with anyone other than each other (mentions of past relationships is fine if its relevant). DNW Arthur or Ford cheating on each other.

[back]

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Shy Baldwin & Reggie



What is this canon and why is it awesome? The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a three season (so far) dramedy set in the 1950s and early 60s about a housewife turned standup comedian. In general, I love the snappy dialogue and period aesthetic. For this request, I am asking for Shy Baldwin and Reggie, who appear in the third season (and one episode in Season 2 for Shy). Shy is a (canonically) closeted gay musical superstar; Reggie is his childhood best friend turned intensely protective manager (played by Sterling K. Brown!). Even though they only appear in one season, their relationship is rich, layered, and perfect to explore further.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

What I’d like to see in fic: I ship it like burning, but I am also down for anything that explores their canon relationship. The loyalty between them is so strong, and they obviously understand each other so well, and they’ve been through so much that we only get glimpses of in canon.

If you do want to write ship, I am an absolute sucker for the denying-themselves angst potential. I don’t want it to be completely unrequited on either side, but other than that I am open to anything. Longtime pining that finally gets resolved happily? Fumbling teenaged hookups they never talk about again? Repressed feelings that come to a boiling point every now and then, only to get repressed again? Reggie spends so much time in denial or refusing to act on his feelings that by the time he’s willing to go for it, Shy, who was desperately in love with him for the longest time, has moved on? Intense UST, acknowledged or not, that never gets resolved? It all works!

Prompts (some ship, some gen, some either):

• The fallout of Midge’s set
  
  
• Reggie dealing with any other sort of fallout around Shy’s sexuality going public. Or any sort of scandal!
  
  
• Their teenaged years or early years trying to make it before Shy gets his break
  
  
• Shy coming out to Reggie (or Reggie finding out for the first time if it wasn’t voluntary)
  
  
• Does Shy ever come out to the world?
  
  
• H/C after Shy has been attacked
  
  
• One getting jealous of the other’s dating life
  
  
• Drunk confessions and/or drunk sex
  
  
• Their older years, after Shy’s star has faded
  
  
• Does Reggie ever get his shot at stardom?
  
  
• Late 60s/early 70s, meeting various rockstars who are more open about their sexuality. How does that influence them? (Feel free to use real people or made up ones)
  
  
• For ship: Outside POV (especially from the band)
  
  
• For ship: Epistolary stuff. Like, tabloid articles, or maybe a posthumous speculative biography, or like, one of their children or other younger family talking about their open-secret relationship in a documentary years down the line.

A note on timeline: I am happy to have the fic set anywhere from their childhood through the future.

A note on other characters: Feel free to bring in whoever, and whatever other ships you want. I really liked Midge and Shy’s friendship, Reggie and Susie’s relationship, and I ship Midge/Lenny like burning if that becomes relevant.

Fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions: DNW Shy and Reggie cheating on each other if they are in a committed relationship. However, undefined fuckbuddies is fine, and if they are having a secret relationship where they both fully understand that they see other people to keep up appearances, or if they cheat on other people with each other, that’s all good!

My character death DNW is waived for the posthumous media coverage prompt (obviously), though I would prefer if they live to a nice old age in that case.

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Pilgrimage (2017)
Brother Diarmuid & The Mute



What is this canon and why is it awesome? The story of a small band of monks trying to take a sacred relic to Rome, the thing that makes this movie really worth watching (IMO) is the intense relationship between the two main characters: Diarmuid, a young novice monk who has never seen the world (played by Tom Holland) and the Mute, a hardened warrior with a mysterious backstory who does not talk (played by Jon Bernthal). All the Mute wants to do is keep Diarmuid safe, and it is awesome.

Where to watch: Amazon

What I’d like to see in fic: I just love, love, love how devoted to each other these two are. The protectiveness! The Mute’s gentleness with Diarmuid! The way Diarmuid immediately forgives him when the Mute attacks him! I definitely ship it like crazy, but I would also be more than content with fic that explores their canon dynamic. Exploration of religious themes is totally A+ if you’re into that, but not focusing on it is also totally okay!

Some prompts:

Pre-canon:

• What were their first impressions of each other?
  
  
• Why and how did they become so devoted to each other?
  
  
• How do they communicate? Does it take time to learn how?
  
  
• Happy for this to be gen or pre-ship, or maybe to involve a bunch of fantasizing. Or…maybe they have already explored the physical side of things or expressed love in some way?

Mid- or post-canon fix-it! How? I don’t care. Some ideas, but also totally open to whatever you come up with:

• The Mute survives because Reasons. Where do they go from there? Does Diarmuid nurse him back to health? Do they return to the monastery? Go off on some new adventure?
  
  
• AU where they get away on the boat before the Mute gets off, and they continue their pilgrimage.
  
  
• AU where they decide to ditch the pilgrimage sometime before the boat incident. Why and how would that end up happening? Maybe one or both are more injured in the initial attack and the other stays behind to help…?
  
  
• At some point down the line the Mute and Diarmuid end up co-parenting a kid (maybe they pick up an orphan or something? No Mpreg, please!).

Bring on the magic: Totally optional, but for this fandom, I’m open to the idea of weaving in bit more myth, magic, religion-being-real than the canon itself confirms. Some ideas:

• The Mute is a fallen angel in a literal sense
  
  
• Faerie magic is real. Do they find themselves in a faerie realm? Sex-pollened by magic? Maybe Diarmuid makes a bargain to save the Mute’s life?
  
  
• Magic or whatever causes them to form a soulbond
  
  
• Diarmuid travels to the afterlife/underworld to save the Mute

Smut: Smut totally not required (I looove me some UST with these two, and sweet soft romance and fade to black), but if you want to write, I’m totally down. Some thoughts:

• I am super into either the Mute as a worshipful dom who gives Diarmuid the fucking of his life, or the worshipful sub who…also gives Diarmuid the fucking of his life. Or just plain vanilla worshipful fucking. As long as he is worshipful, is the point.
  
  
• Super into Diarmuid being very eager but inexperienced, and the Mute teaching him.
  
  
• Intimate, tender sex and rough “holy shit I want you so bad I can’t believe it wow” sex both great
  
  
• Diarmuid worshiping the Mute’s scars=yes, good. They are just both so into each other, okay?

Dub-con/non-con: Also totally optional, but if you want to go this route, I’m into either being assaulted by a bad guy, or the two of them being forced to do sexual acts with each other by an outside force. I'm into this the porn, the aftermath, or both!

• That scene in the woods with Raymond takes a darker turn, and he assaults Diarmuid. Maybe he wants to prove exactly how unpure Diarmuid is? Or that God won’t save him? Or maybe he’s just an asshole who gets off on the power, it all works.
  
  
• Raymond or some other bad guy(s) threatens to kill Diarmuid if the Mute doesn’t fuck him (or some other sex act, doesn’t have to be fucking). Maybe it’s because Raymond has it out for the Mute in particular, or it’s for sheer amusement...
  
  
• Bad guys doing Diarmuid in front of the Mute and/or Mute rescuing Diarmuid from rapey bad guys.
  
  
• Post-assault, Diarmuid is devastated and guilty and the Mute comforts him.
  
  
• For aftermath, basically, all the thoughts here are A+.
  
  
• My Consent Issues letter has a lot more thoughts on my non-con/dub-con smut likes if that's helpful

Some tropes I particularly love for them, which can be combined with any of the above:

• Sharing a bed/sleeping space while traveling
  
• Huddling for warmth
  
• Hurt/comfort, in either direction
  
• Protectiveness

A note on the Mute's name: Call him the Mute, or give him a name, whatever works for you. If you want a name and don't have one in mind, the fanon-adopted David is what I've gotten used to.

A note on other characters: Bring in whoever, or have them only interact with each other or OCs, it’s all good.

A note on timeline: This can go AU at any point, including an AU where they never even go on the pilgrimage.

Fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions: DNW the Mute or Diarmuid shipped with anyone else (other than in the non-con way), though mention of past relationships for the Mute is fine.

I waive my “no magic in a non-magical world” DNW for faerie magic, general religious miracles, the Mute as a fallen angel, anything along the lines of what I prompted in the magic section.

A clarification on my character death DNW: I definitely do not want the Mute dead at the end of the fic. AU before the end of the film happens, handwaving that he survives the end of the film, or some sort of actual magic-related resurrection are all fine. For pre- or mid-canon fics, as long as it is not written to heavily suggest he definitely dies at the end, that is fine (as long as the narrative is not like "so sad they only have a few more days together" or whatever, I can imagine that he survives :D ).

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You’re the Worst
Sam Dresden



What is this canon and why is it awesome? A biting, dark, but ultimately hopeful five season romantic sitcom about two people who are the worst, but maybe the best for each other, and their awesome (if also awful) friends. I recently re-watched it, and was reminded how much I love the show in general, and Sam in particular.

Where to watch: Hulu or wherever else you watch FX/FXX content.

What I’d like to see in fic: Sam is my fave. I love how he’s smart and keenly observant, but sometimes ridicules and unable to let his ego get out of his own way. I love his relationship with Shitstain and Honey Nutz (the ups and the downs), and the variety of places we get to see his career go over the course of the show. For a secondary character he has a lot going on, and I really just want more of him.

Some prompts:

• His music career. The early years, pre-Gretchen. Their rise to fame. How did Gretchen transform from total party girl to competent PR person? How did his relationship with her change because of that? Or what happens post-canon? The group seemed to be struggling a bit right at the end there (their tracks kept being not good, out-shown by Nock Nock, etc.). Do they get it together? Does Sam go out on his own again? How is Lindsay as their new PR point-person?
  
  
• How long has he been friends with Shitstain and Honey Nutz? How did they get started?
  
  
• He was already freaking out about getting left behind because Shitstain got married. What if he has a kid? Or anything else about Sam trying to figure out how to deal with the people around him growing up—and maybe even growing up himself.
  
  
• Does he ever settle down, find love? What kind of girl (or heck, guy…) would he go for, long-term? OCs welcome.
  
  
• I’d love Sam having a wacky adventure with any combo of the other characters. Maybe they go to some big party through him? Maybe something drug related? Love me some crazy drug stories. A road trip? He’s always fun when paired with Gretchen, Jimmy, or Lindsay on the show, and I’d also love to see him interact more with other cast members. What do he and Edgar make of each other? Becca? Paul. VERNON?
  
  
• He’s hilariously good about interpersonal advice, most of the time. Anything with him weighing in on any of the main character and their romantic shenanigans, either during canon, during the Season 5 time skip, or post-canon.

A note on timeline: I prefer that this stick with canon events, but feel free to throw in missing scenes set during canon, as well as pre- and post-canon stuff.

A note on other characters and ships: Feel free to include whoever! I OTP Jimmy/Gretchen hard, so I do ask that they not be permanently broken up in your fic (setting it during a canon period where they are not together, or post-canon with them having troubles is fine, as long as there is some suggestion they will get back together). I ship Lindsay/Edgar but also enjoy them as friends. I have zero faith Lindsay and Paul will work out long-term, but I’m open to being persuaded otherwise, and love their disaster of a relationship as spectacle (same with Becca and Vernon).

Fandom specific DNWs and DNW exceptions: DNW permanent breakup of Jimmy and Gretchen (them having post-canon problems is fine, as long as there is some suggestion they will work it out in the end).

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