selenak

Dear Star Trek Holidays Writer,

thank you for enriching my year with a ST story. We evidently like some of the same corners in the Trekverse, and your time and trouble to write for me is much appreciated.

DNWs I have only a few. I don't like character bashing, by which I don't mean characters can't denigrate each other when it's ic and demanded by the plot that they do, I mean the type of narrative where every one and their tribble gangs up to tell the character the author dislikes the most how worthless they are.

This year, I've asked for ampersand rather than for romantic or sexual relationships. If you do want to turn one of the relationships romantic or sexual because they work better for that way, be my guest (unless it's family relationships on DS9 - there, please don't). But no PWPs, please.

Book canon: there are some novels I like, some I don't, and a lot more I haven't read. So I would prefer it if you used tv canon only as the basis for your story. Personal headcanon is of course welcome as long as the story itself explains it.

All the listed characters are on an "or" basis. You don't have to use them all at the same time, except in the Star Trek: Picard request.

On to my requested fandoms and characters.

Star Trek: Discovery

Osyraa's last two episodes in s3 made her from standard evil overlady to a very intriguing villain for me. Any character exploration would be welcome, both within canon and in an AU where she shows herself capable of giving up power and confronting the responsibility for her crimes. How would a trial go, especially in a volatile new Federation/Emerald Chain alliance? In such a scenario - where she does agree to a trial - I could see Vance helping her. (If the Federation still has that weird justice system where officers can be drafted as lawyers, a la Picard and Riker in "Measure of a Man" or Sisko in the Worf-on-trial ep, maybe he's her lawyer?) But also still clashing with her, since their attitudes, world view and experience still would be widely different. I really was fascinated by their scenes together, and would love more interaction between them.

Within canon, which I also love: at one point in her rise to the top did Osyraa decide she wanted to go legit instead of just continuing as she was? (Which surely would have been easier.) How did her relationship with Aurellio develop? The (short) existence of her wretched nephew in the episode that introduces them indicates she has family - how did that help or hinder her rise within the Emerald Chain? Did she have contacts to Federation personnel before Michael's arrival? Everyone in her current day still seems to feel strongly that time travel is terrible due to the Temporal Wars fall out - but was Oysraa ever tempted to use it anyway to reorder something to her liking? If not, why not?

These are just possible prompts, but if you come up with something completely different, I'll be delighted, too. Especially if you include a bit of Orion world building.

Adira Tal and Adira, Paul and Hugh: I liked their relationship(s) themselves but felt there were entire episodes missing in which we see the bond between these three (and Grey) develop. It feels like an ideal opportunity for fanfiction to fill in! Adira by themselves is also someone I'd love to see more explored. They're both a teenager and a centuries old being and now have access to all those memories. Part of them can actually remember the universe as it was in Discovery's time of origin. Otoh, they as Adira were born into a vastly different environment, and still very young. How do these identities conflict and resolve themselves? How does their memories color their interactions with the Discovery crew? Are they in contact with any of the Trills they met? Do they ever regret leaving Earth? A day in the life of Adira Tal: give it to me.

Star Trek: Picard

I loved the relationship between Picard and his two ex Tal Shiar housemates (and their interaction with each other) we see in the first two episodes and regretted so much they were left behind on Earth, so any exploration of their dynamic and backstory would be welcome. Did they meet Jean-Luc during the evacuation project for the first time, or did they come across him before, in ye olde Enterprise days? How did the mutual trust we see them display come into existence, especially given their Tal Shiar background? What's life like for two Romulans in France? Maybe they have their own reason for not wanting to return to space. Whether a slice of life for the three of them, or their backstory: anything you give me will be gratefully appreciated.

Star Trek: DS9

Pel, the first female Ferengi we meet, is only in one episode, but I'd love to find out more about her. When last we see her, she takes off to explore the Dominion - before we find out how dangerous a place this is. How did Pel fare with the Vorta and the Changelings. Was she still in the Gamma Quadrant during the Dominion War? Did she hear about the Ishka-instigated reforms on Ferenginar and return?

Conversely, I'd also enjoy stories set before or during her episode. How did she fabricate her male identity? What were her impressions of the station and its people? We see some examples of how she managed to impress Quark in her disguise, but how did he manage to make her care for him, given he's hardly your dream boss? More scenes with Jadzia would also be welcome, as her attitude towards the Ferengi -enjoying their comopany without being blind to their faults - is pretty unique on the station.

Quark & Nog: talk about tense family relationships. This one has justified resentment and loyalty at the same time; Quark may exploit Nog and Rom, but two of the three times in the entire show we see him kill someone are to save one of them. Nog resents the way Quark treats Rom (and himself), and doesn't want to live the Ferengi life, plus Quark manages to embarrass him a couple of times in Sisko's presence, but otoh, when there's no human around, as in "The Magnificent Ferengi", he's far more relaxed towards his uncle. So a story exploring their relationship - and how it changes through the years - would be very welcome.

Picard & Sisko: on screen, these two never meet again after the pilot. I always wonder how a later encounter would have gone. (Or an AU in which Sisko, not Worf, was on board the Defiant in Star Trek: First Contact.) Say, on Earth when Sisko visited Dad and uncovered a conspiracy. During the Dominion War. Again on Earth, when Sisko went there between seasons 6 and 7. Or on Bajor, which Picard's inner archaeologist would love. (Maybe there's a conference and Sisko has to play host on the station and while they try to stay out of each other's radius at first, that's just not doable?) and it's not like their mutual Borg angst is the only source of potential emotional conflict. Picard had been horrified when accidentally becoming a divine figure; he probably would be troubled by the entire Emissary business. And given his Q experience far more sceptical re: the Prophets and their nature. Conversely, Sisko understanding of all things Bajor is evidently much larger.

Again, these are just possibilities, and if you come up with something else entirely, as long as it revolves around Sisko and Picard, I'd love to read it.