RarePairs Letter 2016
Jun. 21st, 2016 11:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tailcoatOKAY LET'S DO THIS THING.
General things! This is just broad-view stuff; I'll note where applicable in specific sections if canons/ships can ignore something.
In General: I’m really happy with anything! And by anything, I really do mean just about anything; it’s hard to find something that I absolutely don’t like hard stop. I’m good with all ratings, from G to NC-17, and while I do consider this a shippy exchange, I'm okay with anything from pining and getting together to established relationships taking the backseat to a larger plot event. I also love all genres: fluff, action/adventure, hurt/comfort, canon, AU, pre/post-series, crossovers; if you have something in mind already, I’ll probably love it! I do prefer things to end on a happy or hopeful note, but I would never pass on or ask against angst and drama or even character injury (though for the purposes of this exchange, please not permanent).
I really like:
- AUs; if you’re having trouble thinking of something in the canon universe, please feel free to switch things up! Space opera, coffee shop, buddycop, Hogwarts, college, urban magic/fantasy, historical, band, Pokemon, the sky’s the limit! I enjoy seeing how characterization and relationships do and don’t stay the same with a setting, so I don’t mind whichever scenario you pick!
- I’m a huge sucker for domesticity/established relationship as well as found family (though the friends to lovers trope is well-loved for a reason!)
- A few tropes/tags I really like, in no particular order: accidental confessions, magical girls (yes, even with male characters), fake dating leading to real dating, “we’ve totally been dating for years and didn’t realize it until now”, road trips/general traveling together, reincarnation,
Things I’d really rather not see for this exchange: Serious issues not already present in canon (suicidal thoughts, abusive family/relationships, homophobia/transphobia, self-harm, political stands, etc.), characters using non-canonical pronouns, pregnancy/kids, miscommunication/misunderstanding as the major source of tension,
Really Optional Details That Are Entirely Optional (okay let’s just call them kinks): If you wanted to go a M/E route, and are comfortable writing any of the following, I really enjoy size difference, blindfolds, orgasm denial, messy/sloppy sex, intercrual, oral, semi-public sex (like in a closet or alley), sensory deprivation, breathplay, toys (especially hidden vibes with the other party keeping the remote in public), marking/possessiveness, body worship, slow, drawn-out sex that can really tie in with the aforementioned body worship. Though I do love some tooth-rottingly sweet loving sex, especially for established relationships or goofy first times that don’t go quite as planned! I also like a lot of things that generally have to be requested and that most people aren’t comfortable with so they are Really Optional and listed more here on the off chance that somehow they pick your fancy too and you’ve been waiting for someone to give the okay on them: vore/gore, especially if the recipient can heal quickly, dubcon, tentacles, a/b/o more in the sense of social structure and desperation for sex than the mpreg and anal slick - unexpected omegas who are trying to hide it is really fun!, bloodplay, threesomes/moresomes, double penetration, and collars.
Requested:
Haikyuu!: Asahi/Daichi/Suga, Iwaizumi/Oikawa/Ushijima, Oikawa/Suga, Oikawa/Ushijima, Kiyoko/Yachi, Takeda/Ukai
General: Haikyuu! especially is one of my fandoms where I am 1000% okay with AUs; I'm particularly fond of mafia or company AUs that keep the focus of the family-esque composition of the teams. Canon AUs where you take them to college-age or further down the road are also a-okay!
Asa/Dai/Suga: The steady core of the team, the third-years! They've been through so much together, watching and taking the team from listless fallen champions to no longer flightless crows! They've fought for every step, and as such they're all really dedicated to each other and the team and know each other so well. They all contribute so differently to said "core" of the team: Suga as the setter who while not a genius, has trained each spiker's preferred toss into his muscle memory and isn't afraid to be a little adventurous or mischievous; Daichi, the reliable, solid captain who will be there standing at the end and fiercely loyal to his team; Asahi, who lacks confidence most of the time, but get him in the right situation and he blazes with fire. I feel like they lend themselves really well to the "basically together but don't realize it" trope and have a good relationship that translates well to a variety of scenarios if you go an AU route!
Ushi/Oi: I have a deep soft spot for characters who mean well, but just absolutely miss the fact that they are vastly misstepping all their social cues. So Ushijima. I don't see him as malicious at all, just very clueless to why anyone wouldn't see his side of things and as such kind of like a bulldog with things that are important to him. Like winning at volleyball. I don't see him and Oikawa having a healthy relationship in high school or immediately afterward without a large amount of talking, which doesn't come easily to either of them, so feel free to set things in the future or an AU if you want to do something fluffy! Both of them are incredibly proud and come at it in different ways; this is one of the pairings where misunderstanding each other's meanings is okay! While I do prefer happier tones, this is also one where I wouldn't mind dubcon or hatesex; regretful mornings after after tensions get a little too high or the like is entirely welcome!
Iwa/Ushi/Oi: So take all the friction and tension from Ushijima and Oikawa and add in the one thing that could make Oikawa dig his heels in even further! I'll be honest, mostly I like this for Ushijima and Iwaizumi making Oikawa shut up through sex and basically competing with each other (so I mentioned liking double penetration above...) but I'd also be okay again with an AU or a future-fic where they've settled down a lot! Iwaizumi and Ushijima balance Oikawa out in very different ways and have very different approaches to volleyball and teamwork and that's interesting to play with, especially from Oikawa's position as a setter.
Oi/Suga: Hardworking setters who have to share the court with genius setters and take that in very different ways. I love them so much as a pair because they're so similar in their roles and they both have a sense of humor that can tilt to the acerbic side, but also both so clearly love their team. They have such good potential for keeping each other on their toes in conversations and being surprisingly insightful about each other's position and what they're implying between the lines of their words. This is another pairing where a setting outside of high school to throw them in each others' paths is nice, especially since they're graduating!
Kiyo/Yachi: I am absolutely in love with Yachi being head-over-heels for Kiyoko and the way she's always so composed and on top of things. And then falling even harder when she sees that crack and sees Kiyoko get passionate about something, like cheering for the team. And then it turns out that Kiyoko is just as endeared and charmed by Yachi's enthusiasm and drive to do her best.
Take/Ukai: Okay I'll admit this is another I really like for the smut, but let me tell you about experienced Takeda absolutely dominating Ukai and blowing his mind because Takeda is so soft-spoken and unsure most of the time, but get him into an element he's confident in and it's like a switch is flipped. Because Takeda is totally the adult in this relationship. I'm not fond of really bumbling, naive Takeda; it's really hard to remain innocent when you're a high school teacher.
Fate: Arjuna/Karna, Cu/Medb, Hakuno/Nero
Arjuna/Karna: CRIES OKAY I'LL BE HAPPY WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. An AU based on the white day card? DEAL. Glaring at each other across the Chaldea cafeteria? DEAL. Angst when only one is summoned and unsure whether they do or don't want the other to show up in Chaldea? I'M SO HERE FOR THIS. The constantly rivalry and inability to separate completely from each other's shadow or legend is something I am all-in for. Hatesex or angry bantering
Cu/Medb: MEDB PLEASE, FERGUS WAS RIGHT THERE, WHY DID YOU NEED TO MAKE CU DRINK GRAIL MUD. Medb calling Berserker!Cu "Cu-chan" was kind of my everything, especially once it was revealed she forced him to drink the grail mud to make him Alter. If you want to play with the original myths, that's fine, just in Chaldea, just in the Seat of Heroes, just in America, that's totally fine! Medb knows what she wants and goes for it and so what if that involves making someone go crazy. Medb is basically made of dubcon.
Nozaki: Ken/Maeno, Mikorin/Mayu
Ken/Maeno: The fact that Maeno has basically been following Ken since high school is really endearing: what do each of them think about their gaps apart as time progresses? Does Maeno ever convince Ken to go out drinking and then does Ken have to house a too-drunk-to-make-it-back Maeno at his house? Awkward mornings-after? Maeno really likes tanuki - is he maybe slipping snacks to Maeno when he first encounters him again to get him back to that tanuki-esque state? Maeno is exasperating, but Ken mostly puts up with him and it's really charming.
Mikorin/Mayu: SO THEY'RE BASICALLY DATING CANONICALLY OKAY. What happens when they find out who their texting partner is? How does Mikorin get Mayu to be active in their relationship? I'm super lax about this because I think that they're adorable.
Original: LAUGH TRACK (Female Bodyguard/Princess, Female Knight/Prince, Female Monster/Female Human, Human Guy/Tentacled Life Form, Symbiotic Shape-Shifting Alien Lifeform/Soldier, Male Fairy/Male Human, Mermaid/Queen, Person With Sexually-Transmitted Monsterism/Guy, Prince/Male Commoner, Human/Slime Monster)
These dynamics are really appealing to me just on their own, so any tone from a snapshot of a life in-progress to how their relationship started to a roadblock neither of them ever expected is welcome!
For pairings where gender is ambiguous, femslash or slash preferred, but agender aliens/lifeforms and het are absolutely fine too!
Some kinks that I like that are a little more relevant here: I mentioned tentacles above, but noncon/dubcon tentacles are fantastic, as well as oviposition and stuffing, slime or other xenofluid as aphrodisiac. I love creative xeno and all the mischief or startling moments when biology doesn't match up or go as expected. Not realizing what's going on until it's too late to stop it is delightful, especially when the result ends up being even more of a turn-on for the parties involved.
Some vague question-prompts (please don't feel you have to stick to these if they don't spark anything! or to pick and choose bits of each if part appeals and part doesn't!) to get started:
Female Bodyguard/Princess: Did the bodyguard always want this position, or was the assignment an accident she had to grow into liking? Is the princess always running off or sneaking out of the castle, causing exasperation? Do they have to hide their relationship, or is the public generally accepting of it? Is it an actual relationship to both of them, or more one-sided feelings-wise?
Female Knight/Prince: Does the prince truly have her fealty or is her love for her country stronger/does he have to win her over with some surprising act (of diplomacy or on the battlefield)? Do they train together?
Female Monster/Female Human: Are monsters and humans happily occupying the same world, or is their relationship/general existence a secret? How did they meet?
Human Guy/Tentacled Lifeform: Does the tentacled lifeform have a higher consciousness or is it just acting on instinct? Did the guy intend to run across it or was he tricked/was it accidental? (If he was tricked and the lifeform has a higher consciousness, was the lifeform complicit in it, or startled at suddenly having a human in its domain - do they team up to extract revenge and now I'm getting sidetracked)
Symbiotic Shape-Shifting Alien Lifeform/Soldier: Is their interaction intentional/does the solider know the alien is symbiotic/is the lifeform trying to seduce the solider into being its host (and along those lines, realize how much the soldier knows and adjust its attempt accordingly)? Is the symbiosis physical or mental/does the symbiosis require internal or simply skin contact? What are the benefits the soldier gets out of it/how is the solider changed by it?
Male Fairy/Male Human: How closely do these worlds interact - does the human already know about fairies as a matter of course or merely from stories? What does the fairy want from him - do either of them have ulterior motives?
Mermaid/Queen: How do these two meet - does the undersea kingdom have diplomats, or has the mermaid always been a royal secret the queen only learns about after her coronation? Is there conflict about how their relationship can proceed? Is the queen a pirate queen and the mermaid her siren, calling her to give up a life aboard ship?
Person with Sexually-Transmitted Monsterism/Guy: I think this has the potential to be really charming - did the person with monsterism get it by accident (one mistakenly-chosen one-night stand later, and BOOM, now you have horns), or was it planned? Does the guy want the monsterism too (think vampire groupies), or is the person with the monsterism trying to pass it on so that they aren't so lonely (potential for dubcon if you're comfortable with it)? I'm flexible on what the monsterism details - just aesthetics (horns, tail, claws, multiple eyes, etc), or coming with new powers (and if it does, how do those come into play?) which could be a draw to the guy (to that end, are the changes really cool or kind of lame/the person with monsterism already doesn't see the appeal of getting it?). Are they really far into their so-far-chaste (or can it be prevented with a condom?) relationship and negotiating the next step, or was this a one-night stand and a really awkward surprise come morning?
Prince/Male Commoner: What's the kingdom like/what's life for the commoners like - is it comfortable and modern or is it more like serfdom? To that end, how do they meet and what is the opposition to their relationship? Does the prince have a flashman who acquires willing commoners to sleep with and something about this one catches his attention after/during their time together?
Human/Slime Monster: Really similar to the tentacled life-form prompts, but with added possibility for ingesting slime and breathplay.
Shades of Magic: ALSO LAUGH TRACK Alucard/Rhy/Kell, Alucard/Rhy, Holland/Rhy, Kell/Rhy, Kell/Holland
RHY I PROMISE I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU FANDOM BICYCLE.
But also this is a fandom with canonical soulbonds that involve reflections of pain and pleasure but also blood-based magic and all the beautiful bloodplay and coerced bonds that could come with it. I love the potentials of the magic system, especially the potential set up by the rarity of the Antari.
Alucard/Rhy: It's clear from Gathering that neither of them are over the other; I'd love to see either their original affair or their coming together now, especially with Rhy and Kell's soulbond in play.
Alucard/Rhy/Kell: This can either be Kell being vouyeristic physically or through the soulbond or him actually participating with them. We know he's super protective of Rhy and is unhappy about Alucard's reappearance: something playing with Rhy's feelings about it or trying to act as a bridge would be neat! Or just all the tension comes to a boil and they all just tumble into bed together.
Holland/Rhy: Yeah so I'm taking that one scene and running with it, so what. There's a lot implied in it, and there's a possibility it had been a longer-running affair - how did this come about? How did Rhy manage to keep it secret from Kell? Does Holland have to hide anything from the Danes due to his brand?
Kell/Rhy: Gestures wildly to the soulbond. I'd actually be just fine if you wanted to do something from when they were growing up or before the whole saga started - how did Kell break the news about Alucard to Rhy? What exactly happened there? But of course there's a lot to be done with the soulbond and their connection - their lives are tied together! How did they figure out that the soulbond transfers not only pain, but pleasure?
Kell/Holland: The two last of their kind, the only two able to truly understand each other in terms of their abilities and their freedome to travel, but also their ties to their Londons. Basically two sides of a coin.
Watchmaker of Filigree Street: Thaniel/Keita, Grace/Akira
I'm so utterly charmed by this book, gosh! I love Thaniel being drawn out of his shell and finding his place and ultimately trusting in Keita's humanity and compassion. Anything domestic with them would be really cute - playing the piano or working in the shop or dealing with Six and the neighbor boys. Keita's creations are so intricate and complex and beautiful, and I'm sure the loss of Katsu left a hole, so a new invention could be just the thing.
I also love Grace; it's hard to dislike her when she's just sticking to her principles as a scientist investigating free will and as a woman who has been shown that no one's really looking out for her, so why should she trust that anyone has anything but their own best interests at heart? We didn't get to see too much of her and Akira together, so that would be really nice to explore, especially if she does go out to Matsumoto!
Whyborne and Griffin: Whyborne/Griffin, Persephone/Maggie, Christine/Iskander
I keep saying series are charming, and that seems like a bit of an odd choice to describe a series with necromancy, alien creatures that could kill you as soon as look at you, and secret societies out to control the world, but it really, really is. I love just how good both Whyborne and Griffin are and how while the cases are all rooted in eldritch horrors, they've also got a deep, human element that connects with both them and the reader. There's just so many great elements for found family (and even family reconciliation!) which I find especially great for how isolated and secretive Whyborn and Griffin have to be with their relationship.
Casefic involving any of the pairs (or all of them) would be so great - Widdershins is such a strange town and the inhabitants think absolutely nothing of it, which is definitely part of the charm, but it seems like there's always something to investigate! Or just something dealing with any of them coming to terms with any of the weird traditions of Widdershins (holidays, customs, etc - I have to admit the joke about the church and the tiaras stuck with me and I have a desperate desire for more of that).
Whyborn/Griffin: Arcane investigator husbands with a fluffy ginger cat, what is there not to love?? They're so supportive of each other and it's really sweet to see just how much joy they find in each other, even the new aspects that keep getting revealed. After the maelstrom, I think that Whyborne knows that the town basically drew him and Griffin together, so that adds another layer to the revelation (the second one, even!) that he's not entirely human. I'm also stupidly charmed by the fact that Griffin has an army of umbrae and Whyborne has an army of librarians at their disposal.
Christine/Iskander: I love Christine SO MUCH; I'd definitely want her on my side for any case or anything in general. She's been antsy after losing the firman, especially since her last excavations definitely haven't gone as planned! The comment about it what a romantic gesture it was for Kander to offer excavate part of his estate together was so cute; I'd love to see them working together or Christine explaining all their arcane adventures.
Persephone/Maggie: So Miss Parkhurst was utterly adorable before and I've loved Persephone from her introduction. I think Persephone's perspective on anything in Widdershins would be neat to see, since Widdershins is werid and the ketoi culture is so different, that anything from Maggie being her guide around Widdershins to completely not understanding courtship rituals (on either end) would be really sweet. I'm also pictures how red-faced and stammering both Maggie and Whyborne would be trying to navigate a conversation with each other about Maggie asking advice on how to impress Persephone or trying to understand what's been going on.
I'd be okay with any of the pairs on their own, but equally so with something involving everyone!
X-Men (ATM): Darwin/Alex, Apocalypse/Charles, Charles/Jean
Darwin/Alex: Either pre-death or came-back fix-it for Darwin, please! Darwin and Alex play off of each other really nicely, and I think Alex would be really impressed with how together Darwin always has it, especially early on, when Alex is just trying to figure things out.
Apocalypse/Charles: Charles being seduced (either by promises of power or physically) to Apocalypse's side would be fantastic. All the uncomfortable thoughts about what he could do with all that power, creepy advances from Apocalypse slowly wearing him down, especially if paired with images of all that could go wrong and how of course Apocalypse could help him avoid it, if only he'd give in, balanced with Charles trying his best to stay strong, but unable to stop thinking about it.
Jean/Charles: Mentorship, the vast amounts of power each of them have, and the inability to truly shield their minds from one another if the other is really trying. I would like it to be mutual, but feel free to play with either or both of them waffling about it (either for psychic or mentorship reasons).
Wynonna Earp: Constance/Bobo, Waverly/Nicole, Wynonna/Doc, Wynonna/Doc/Dolls
Constance/Bobo: Okay I will admit that I am thoroughly shallow and really just picked up on this after she stepped on him and made him lick the blood off her heel. I was thoroughly curious as to why Bobo would let her have that power over him and what brought them together, and now I would love to see them just sniping at each other and taking what opportunities they can to get underneath each other's skin - they're not who the other wants, but they're there and will go along with some weird shit, so that's enough. There's definitely no love there, but I think there's fascination, which is just enough. They each have something on the other that they're passionate about getting back. Obviously hatesex, bloodplay, and a lot of taunting are at play here.
Waverly/Nicole: THEY'RE SO CUTE. I'd love to see something mundane, them just going on a date away from all the revanant weirdness, especially now that it's all been explained to Nicole. Or Waverly just dumping it all out on the table and walking Nicole through the whole Earp mess, half afraid she's going to find it too much trouble, but unafraid to stop talking. Nicole guiding Waverly in their encounters, since this is clearly Waverly's first f/f relationship, and while she's eager, the learning curve or her learning Nicole's body would be really cute.
Wynonna/Doc: All the weird feelings about each other and the curse(s)! Especially if it involves thoughts about Wyatt - Doc thinking back on their relationship and loyalty changing from being because she's an Earp to because she's Wynonna, Wynonna thinking (or adamantly not thinking) about how he's the Doc Holliday. Gun-slinging lessons, questions about the past/revanants, getting Doc up to speed on the 21st century, strip poker, anything!
Wynonna/Doc/Dolls: I feel that especially after that finale, Doc and Dolls have a good deal of respect for each other that's lost a lot of the "grudging" part. Both of them think that Wynonna really likes the other, so clearly the answer is for all three of them to be together! Unconsciously making everything a competition, from courting Wynonna to planning defenses or offenses to being supportive of Waverly and Nicole!
Love Live!: Hanayo/Rin, Hanayo/Rin/Maki
I really like how both Hanayo and Rin support and push each other to go past their roadblocks and have a long history of understanding and supporting each other. I love Hanayo’s more outgoing side, especially in direct juxtaposition to her shier, quieter side, and especially in how it’s almost a direct contrast to Rin’s more outgoing personality and quiet moments with her. Childhood friends are a trope I really enjoy for its sweetness and how it can develop into characters understanding each other without words, and I think Hanayo and Rin are a great example of how the trope can skirt the line between friends and romance really easily. They also have an astounding amount of matching cards in LLSIF - if you wanted to do an AU based on any of these or a story based around the performance they'd need the costumes for, I'd love that!
I love the first years as a trio because they all bring out hidden sides - drawing Hanayo and Maki out of their shells and getting Rin to be more confident in herself. I'd love to see sweet, domestic moments or preparing for performances - Maki going through a new piece with them or building up each other's confidence about an outfit or choreography.
General things! This is just broad-view stuff; I'll note where applicable in specific sections if canons/ships can ignore something.
In General: I’m really happy with anything! And by anything, I really do mean just about anything; it’s hard to find something that I absolutely don’t like hard stop. I’m good with all ratings, from G to NC-17, and while I do consider this a shippy exchange, I'm okay with anything from pining and getting together to established relationships taking the backseat to a larger plot event. I also love all genres: fluff, action/adventure, hurt/comfort, canon, AU, pre/post-series, crossovers; if you have something in mind already, I’ll probably love it! I do prefer things to end on a happy or hopeful note, but I would never pass on or ask against angst and drama or even character injury (though for the purposes of this exchange, please not permanent).
I really like:
- AUs; if you’re having trouble thinking of something in the canon universe, please feel free to switch things up! Space opera, coffee shop, buddycop, Hogwarts, college, urban magic/fantasy, historical, band, Pokemon, the sky’s the limit! I enjoy seeing how characterization and relationships do and don’t stay the same with a setting, so I don’t mind whichever scenario you pick!
- I’m a huge sucker for domesticity/established relationship as well as found family (though the friends to lovers trope is well-loved for a reason!)
- A few tropes/tags I really like, in no particular order: accidental confessions, magical girls (yes, even with male characters), fake dating leading to real dating, “we’ve totally been dating for years and didn’t realize it until now”, road trips/general traveling together, reincarnation,
Things I’d really rather not see for this exchange: Serious issues not already present in canon (suicidal thoughts, abusive family/relationships, homophobia/transphobia, self-harm, political stands, etc.), characters using non-canonical pronouns, pregnancy/kids, miscommunication/misunderstanding as the major source of tension,
Really Optional Details That Are Entirely Optional (okay let’s just call them kinks): If you wanted to go a M/E route, and are comfortable writing any of the following, I really enjoy size difference, blindfolds, orgasm denial, messy/sloppy sex, intercrual, oral, semi-public sex (like in a closet or alley), sensory deprivation, breathplay, toys (especially hidden vibes with the other party keeping the remote in public), marking/possessiveness, body worship, slow, drawn-out sex that can really tie in with the aforementioned body worship. Though I do love some tooth-rottingly sweet loving sex, especially for established relationships or goofy first times that don’t go quite as planned! I also like a lot of things that generally have to be requested and that most people aren’t comfortable with so they are Really Optional and listed more here on the off chance that somehow they pick your fancy too and you’ve been waiting for someone to give the okay on them: vore/gore, especially if the recipient can heal quickly, dubcon, tentacles, a/b/o more in the sense of social structure and desperation for sex than the mpreg and anal slick - unexpected omegas who are trying to hide it is really fun!, bloodplay, threesomes/moresomes, double penetration, and collars.
Requested:
Haikyuu!: Asahi/Daichi/Suga, Iwaizumi/Oikawa/Ushijima, Oikawa/Suga, Oikawa/Ushijima, Kiyoko/Yachi, Takeda/Ukai
General: Haikyuu! especially is one of my fandoms where I am 1000% okay with AUs; I'm particularly fond of mafia or company AUs that keep the focus of the family-esque composition of the teams. Canon AUs where you take them to college-age or further down the road are also a-okay!
Asa/Dai/Suga: The steady core of the team, the third-years! They've been through so much together, watching and taking the team from listless fallen champions to no longer flightless crows! They've fought for every step, and as such they're all really dedicated to each other and the team and know each other so well. They all contribute so differently to said "core" of the team: Suga as the setter who while not a genius, has trained each spiker's preferred toss into his muscle memory and isn't afraid to be a little adventurous or mischievous; Daichi, the reliable, solid captain who will be there standing at the end and fiercely loyal to his team; Asahi, who lacks confidence most of the time, but get him in the right situation and he blazes with fire. I feel like they lend themselves really well to the "basically together but don't realize it" trope and have a good relationship that translates well to a variety of scenarios if you go an AU route!
Ushi/Oi: I have a deep soft spot for characters who mean well, but just absolutely miss the fact that they are vastly misstepping all their social cues. So Ushijima. I don't see him as malicious at all, just very clueless to why anyone wouldn't see his side of things and as such kind of like a bulldog with things that are important to him. Like winning at volleyball. I don't see him and Oikawa having a healthy relationship in high school or immediately afterward without a large amount of talking, which doesn't come easily to either of them, so feel free to set things in the future or an AU if you want to do something fluffy! Both of them are incredibly proud and come at it in different ways; this is one of the pairings where misunderstanding each other's meanings is okay! While I do prefer happier tones, this is also one where I wouldn't mind dubcon or hatesex; regretful mornings after after tensions get a little too high or the like is entirely welcome!
Iwa/Ushi/Oi: So take all the friction and tension from Ushijima and Oikawa and add in the one thing that could make Oikawa dig his heels in even further! I'll be honest, mostly I like this for Ushijima and Iwaizumi making Oikawa shut up through sex and basically competing with each other (so I mentioned liking double penetration above...) but I'd also be okay again with an AU or a future-fic where they've settled down a lot! Iwaizumi and Ushijima balance Oikawa out in very different ways and have very different approaches to volleyball and teamwork and that's interesting to play with, especially from Oikawa's position as a setter.
Oi/Suga: Hardworking setters who have to share the court with genius setters and take that in very different ways. I love them so much as a pair because they're so similar in their roles and they both have a sense of humor that can tilt to the acerbic side, but also both so clearly love their team. They have such good potential for keeping each other on their toes in conversations and being surprisingly insightful about each other's position and what they're implying between the lines of their words. This is another pairing where a setting outside of high school to throw them in each others' paths is nice, especially since they're graduating!
Kiyo/Yachi: I am absolutely in love with Yachi being head-over-heels for Kiyoko and the way she's always so composed and on top of things. And then falling even harder when she sees that crack and sees Kiyoko get passionate about something, like cheering for the team. And then it turns out that Kiyoko is just as endeared and charmed by Yachi's enthusiasm and drive to do her best.
Take/Ukai: Okay I'll admit this is another I really like for the smut, but let me tell you about experienced Takeda absolutely dominating Ukai and blowing his mind because Takeda is so soft-spoken and unsure most of the time, but get him into an element he's confident in and it's like a switch is flipped. Because Takeda is totally the adult in this relationship. I'm not fond of really bumbling, naive Takeda; it's really hard to remain innocent when you're a high school teacher.
Fate: Arjuna/Karna, Cu/Medb, Hakuno/Nero
Arjuna/Karna: CRIES OKAY I'LL BE HAPPY WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. An AU based on the white day card? DEAL. Glaring at each other across the Chaldea cafeteria? DEAL. Angst when only one is summoned and unsure whether they do or don't want the other to show up in Chaldea? I'M SO HERE FOR THIS. The constantly rivalry and inability to separate completely from each other's shadow or legend is something I am all-in for. Hatesex or angry bantering
Cu/Medb: MEDB PLEASE, FERGUS WAS RIGHT THERE, WHY DID YOU NEED TO MAKE CU DRINK GRAIL MUD. Medb calling Berserker!Cu "Cu-chan" was kind of my everything, especially once it was revealed she forced him to drink the grail mud to make him Alter. If you want to play with the original myths, that's fine, just in Chaldea, just in the Seat of Heroes, just in America, that's totally fine! Medb knows what she wants and goes for it and so what if that involves making someone go crazy. Medb is basically made of dubcon.
Nozaki: Ken/Maeno, Mikorin/Mayu
Ken/Maeno: The fact that Maeno has basically been following Ken since high school is really endearing: what do each of them think about their gaps apart as time progresses? Does Maeno ever convince Ken to go out drinking and then does Ken have to house a too-drunk-to-make-it-back Maeno at his house? Awkward mornings-after? Maeno really likes tanuki - is he maybe slipping snacks to Maeno when he first encounters him again to get him back to that tanuki-esque state? Maeno is exasperating, but Ken mostly puts up with him and it's really charming.
Mikorin/Mayu: SO THEY'RE BASICALLY DATING CANONICALLY OKAY. What happens when they find out who their texting partner is? How does Mikorin get Mayu to be active in their relationship? I'm super lax about this because I think that they're adorable.
Original: LAUGH TRACK (Female Bodyguard/Princess, Female Knight/Prince, Female Monster/Female Human, Human Guy/Tentacled Life Form, Symbiotic Shape-Shifting Alien Lifeform/Soldier, Male Fairy/Male Human, Mermaid/Queen, Person With Sexually-Transmitted Monsterism/Guy, Prince/Male Commoner, Human/Slime Monster)
These dynamics are really appealing to me just on their own, so any tone from a snapshot of a life in-progress to how their relationship started to a roadblock neither of them ever expected is welcome!
For pairings where gender is ambiguous, femslash or slash preferred, but agender aliens/lifeforms and het are absolutely fine too!
Some kinks that I like that are a little more relevant here: I mentioned tentacles above, but noncon/dubcon tentacles are fantastic, as well as oviposition and stuffing, slime or other xenofluid as aphrodisiac. I love creative xeno and all the mischief or startling moments when biology doesn't match up or go as expected. Not realizing what's going on until it's too late to stop it is delightful, especially when the result ends up being even more of a turn-on for the parties involved.
Some vague question-prompts (please don't feel you have to stick to these if they don't spark anything! or to pick and choose bits of each if part appeals and part doesn't!) to get started:
Female Bodyguard/Princess: Did the bodyguard always want this position, or was the assignment an accident she had to grow into liking? Is the princess always running off or sneaking out of the castle, causing exasperation? Do they have to hide their relationship, or is the public generally accepting of it? Is it an actual relationship to both of them, or more one-sided feelings-wise?
Female Knight/Prince: Does the prince truly have her fealty or is her love for her country stronger/does he have to win her over with some surprising act (of diplomacy or on the battlefield)? Do they train together?
Female Monster/Female Human: Are monsters and humans happily occupying the same world, or is their relationship/general existence a secret? How did they meet?
Human Guy/Tentacled Lifeform: Does the tentacled lifeform have a higher consciousness or is it just acting on instinct? Did the guy intend to run across it or was he tricked/was it accidental? (If he was tricked and the lifeform has a higher consciousness, was the lifeform complicit in it, or startled at suddenly having a human in its domain - do they team up to extract revenge and now I'm getting sidetracked)
Symbiotic Shape-Shifting Alien Lifeform/Soldier: Is their interaction intentional/does the solider know the alien is symbiotic/is the lifeform trying to seduce the solider into being its host (and along those lines, realize how much the soldier knows and adjust its attempt accordingly)? Is the symbiosis physical or mental/does the symbiosis require internal or simply skin contact? What are the benefits the soldier gets out of it/how is the solider changed by it?
Male Fairy/Male Human: How closely do these worlds interact - does the human already know about fairies as a matter of course or merely from stories? What does the fairy want from him - do either of them have ulterior motives?
Mermaid/Queen: How do these two meet - does the undersea kingdom have diplomats, or has the mermaid always been a royal secret the queen only learns about after her coronation? Is there conflict about how their relationship can proceed? Is the queen a pirate queen and the mermaid her siren, calling her to give up a life aboard ship?
Person with Sexually-Transmitted Monsterism/Guy: I think this has the potential to be really charming - did the person with monsterism get it by accident (one mistakenly-chosen one-night stand later, and BOOM, now you have horns), or was it planned? Does the guy want the monsterism too (think vampire groupies), or is the person with the monsterism trying to pass it on so that they aren't so lonely (potential for dubcon if you're comfortable with it)? I'm flexible on what the monsterism details - just aesthetics (horns, tail, claws, multiple eyes, etc), or coming with new powers (and if it does, how do those come into play?) which could be a draw to the guy (to that end, are the changes really cool or kind of lame/the person with monsterism already doesn't see the appeal of getting it?). Are they really far into their so-far-chaste (or can it be prevented with a condom?) relationship and negotiating the next step, or was this a one-night stand and a really awkward surprise come morning?
Prince/Male Commoner: What's the kingdom like/what's life for the commoners like - is it comfortable and modern or is it more like serfdom? To that end, how do they meet and what is the opposition to their relationship? Does the prince have a flashman who acquires willing commoners to sleep with and something about this one catches his attention after/during their time together?
Human/Slime Monster: Really similar to the tentacled life-form prompts, but with added possibility for ingesting slime and breathplay.
Shades of Magic: ALSO LAUGH TRACK Alucard/Rhy/Kell, Alucard/Rhy, Holland/Rhy, Kell/Rhy, Kell/Holland
RHY I PROMISE I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU FANDOM BICYCLE.
But also this is a fandom with canonical soulbonds that involve reflections of pain and pleasure but also blood-based magic and all the beautiful bloodplay and coerced bonds that could come with it. I love the potentials of the magic system, especially the potential set up by the rarity of the Antari.
Alucard/Rhy: It's clear from Gathering that neither of them are over the other; I'd love to see either their original affair or their coming together now, especially with Rhy and Kell's soulbond in play.
Alucard/Rhy/Kell: This can either be Kell being vouyeristic physically or through the soulbond or him actually participating with them. We know he's super protective of Rhy and is unhappy about Alucard's reappearance: something playing with Rhy's feelings about it or trying to act as a bridge would be neat! Or just all the tension comes to a boil and they all just tumble into bed together.
Holland/Rhy: Yeah so I'm taking that one scene and running with it, so what. There's a lot implied in it, and there's a possibility it had been a longer-running affair - how did this come about? How did Rhy manage to keep it secret from Kell? Does Holland have to hide anything from the Danes due to his brand?
Kell/Rhy: Gestures wildly to the soulbond. I'd actually be just fine if you wanted to do something from when they were growing up or before the whole saga started - how did Kell break the news about Alucard to Rhy? What exactly happened there? But of course there's a lot to be done with the soulbond and their connection - their lives are tied together! How did they figure out that the soulbond transfers not only pain, but pleasure?
Kell/Holland: The two last of their kind, the only two able to truly understand each other in terms of their abilities and their freedome to travel, but also their ties to their Londons. Basically two sides of a coin.
Watchmaker of Filigree Street: Thaniel/Keita, Grace/Akira
I'm so utterly charmed by this book, gosh! I love Thaniel being drawn out of his shell and finding his place and ultimately trusting in Keita's humanity and compassion. Anything domestic with them would be really cute - playing the piano or working in the shop or dealing with Six and the neighbor boys. Keita's creations are so intricate and complex and beautiful, and I'm sure the loss of Katsu left a hole, so a new invention could be just the thing.
I also love Grace; it's hard to dislike her when she's just sticking to her principles as a scientist investigating free will and as a woman who has been shown that no one's really looking out for her, so why should she trust that anyone has anything but their own best interests at heart? We didn't get to see too much of her and Akira together, so that would be really nice to explore, especially if she does go out to Matsumoto!
Whyborne and Griffin: Whyborne/Griffin, Persephone/Maggie, Christine/Iskander
I keep saying series are charming, and that seems like a bit of an odd choice to describe a series with necromancy, alien creatures that could kill you as soon as look at you, and secret societies out to control the world, but it really, really is. I love just how good both Whyborne and Griffin are and how while the cases are all rooted in eldritch horrors, they've also got a deep, human element that connects with both them and the reader. There's just so many great elements for found family (and even family reconciliation!) which I find especially great for how isolated and secretive Whyborn and Griffin have to be with their relationship.
Casefic involving any of the pairs (or all of them) would be so great - Widdershins is such a strange town and the inhabitants think absolutely nothing of it, which is definitely part of the charm, but it seems like there's always something to investigate! Or just something dealing with any of them coming to terms with any of the weird traditions of Widdershins (holidays, customs, etc - I have to admit the joke about the church and the tiaras stuck with me and I have a desperate desire for more of that).
Whyborn/Griffin: Arcane investigator husbands with a fluffy ginger cat, what is there not to love?? They're so supportive of each other and it's really sweet to see just how much joy they find in each other, even the new aspects that keep getting revealed. After the maelstrom, I think that Whyborne knows that the town basically drew him and Griffin together, so that adds another layer to the revelation (the second one, even!) that he's not entirely human. I'm also stupidly charmed by the fact that Griffin has an army of umbrae and Whyborne has an army of librarians at their disposal.
Christine/Iskander: I love Christine SO MUCH; I'd definitely want her on my side for any case or anything in general. She's been antsy after losing the firman, especially since her last excavations definitely haven't gone as planned! The comment about it what a romantic gesture it was for Kander to offer excavate part of his estate together was so cute; I'd love to see them working together or Christine explaining all their arcane adventures.
Persephone/Maggie: So Miss Parkhurst was utterly adorable before and I've loved Persephone from her introduction. I think Persephone's perspective on anything in Widdershins would be neat to see, since Widdershins is werid and the ketoi culture is so different, that anything from Maggie being her guide around Widdershins to completely not understanding courtship rituals (on either end) would be really sweet. I'm also pictures how red-faced and stammering both Maggie and Whyborne would be trying to navigate a conversation with each other about Maggie asking advice on how to impress Persephone or trying to understand what's been going on.
I'd be okay with any of the pairs on their own, but equally so with something involving everyone!
X-Men (ATM): Darwin/Alex, Apocalypse/Charles, Charles/Jean
Darwin/Alex: Either pre-death or came-back fix-it for Darwin, please! Darwin and Alex play off of each other really nicely, and I think Alex would be really impressed with how together Darwin always has it, especially early on, when Alex is just trying to figure things out.
Apocalypse/Charles: Charles being seduced (either by promises of power or physically) to Apocalypse's side would be fantastic. All the uncomfortable thoughts about what he could do with all that power, creepy advances from Apocalypse slowly wearing him down, especially if paired with images of all that could go wrong and how of course Apocalypse could help him avoid it, if only he'd give in, balanced with Charles trying his best to stay strong, but unable to stop thinking about it.
Jean/Charles: Mentorship, the vast amounts of power each of them have, and the inability to truly shield their minds from one another if the other is really trying. I would like it to be mutual, but feel free to play with either or both of them waffling about it (either for psychic or mentorship reasons).
Wynonna Earp: Constance/Bobo, Waverly/Nicole, Wynonna/Doc, Wynonna/Doc/Dolls
Constance/Bobo: Okay I will admit that I am thoroughly shallow and really just picked up on this after she stepped on him and made him lick the blood off her heel. I was thoroughly curious as to why Bobo would let her have that power over him and what brought them together, and now I would love to see them just sniping at each other and taking what opportunities they can to get underneath each other's skin - they're not who the other wants, but they're there and will go along with some weird shit, so that's enough. There's definitely no love there, but I think there's fascination, which is just enough. They each have something on the other that they're passionate about getting back. Obviously hatesex, bloodplay, and a lot of taunting are at play here.
Waverly/Nicole: THEY'RE SO CUTE. I'd love to see something mundane, them just going on a date away from all the revanant weirdness, especially now that it's all been explained to Nicole. Or Waverly just dumping it all out on the table and walking Nicole through the whole Earp mess, half afraid she's going to find it too much trouble, but unafraid to stop talking. Nicole guiding Waverly in their encounters, since this is clearly Waverly's first f/f relationship, and while she's eager, the learning curve or her learning Nicole's body would be really cute.
Wynonna/Doc: All the weird feelings about each other and the curse(s)! Especially if it involves thoughts about Wyatt - Doc thinking back on their relationship and loyalty changing from being because she's an Earp to because she's Wynonna, Wynonna thinking (or adamantly not thinking) about how he's the Doc Holliday. Gun-slinging lessons, questions about the past/revanants, getting Doc up to speed on the 21st century, strip poker, anything!
Wynonna/Doc/Dolls: I feel that especially after that finale, Doc and Dolls have a good deal of respect for each other that's lost a lot of the "grudging" part. Both of them think that Wynonna really likes the other, so clearly the answer is for all three of them to be together! Unconsciously making everything a competition, from courting Wynonna to planning defenses or offenses to being supportive of Waverly and Nicole!
Love Live!: Hanayo/Rin, Hanayo/Rin/Maki
I really like how both Hanayo and Rin support and push each other to go past their roadblocks and have a long history of understanding and supporting each other. I love Hanayo’s more outgoing side, especially in direct juxtaposition to her shier, quieter side, and especially in how it’s almost a direct contrast to Rin’s more outgoing personality and quiet moments with her. Childhood friends are a trope I really enjoy for its sweetness and how it can develop into characters understanding each other without words, and I think Hanayo and Rin are a great example of how the trope can skirt the line between friends and romance really easily. They also have an astounding amount of matching cards in LLSIF - if you wanted to do an AU based on any of these or a story based around the performance they'd need the costumes for, I'd love that!
I love the first years as a trio because they all bring out hidden sides - drawing Hanayo and Maki out of their shells and getting Rin to be more confident in herself. I'd love to see sweet, domestic moments or preparing for performances - Maki going through a new piece with them or building up each other's confidence about an outfit or choreography.