Candyhearts Exchange Letter
Jan. 5th, 2025 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakDear Writer,
this exchange will be a highlight in my Februar, and I'm very grateful to you for creating something for me in a fandom we share. My prompts are just that, prompts, not absolutes; if you have an idea that doesn't fit with any of them, but features (some of) the characters I asked for, I'll love it with added joyful surprise.
General DNWs:
A/B/O - if you want to write a werewolf AU for any of the canons I nominated, be my guest, but I'm really not into this particular type of story -, infantilisation, golden showers. Character bashing. If the characters in question canonically loathe someone, you can of course include this, but I think you know the difference between that and having all characters agree about how terrible X is. Rape, unless it's canon and you want to explore how Character Y deals with the aftermath, or something like that.
General likes:
Character exploration, characters helping each other recover from trauma, messed up and/or co-dependent family relationships, witty banter, friendship against the odds, the occasional light moment in a darker story or conversely some serious character stuff thrown into a comedy fic.
Treats: are very welcome.
18th Century RPF
Franz Stephan/Maria Theresia: one of the few royal marriages which worked, and where their different temperaments were part of what made it work. Here I'd like to read a scene of mutual support at any point - when he's looked down on as a foreigner by the Viennese nobility, when their first few children are girls, seemingly continuing the Habsburg succession problem, when Friedrich invading Silesia is just the start for lots of other European powers trying to get a slice of Austrian territory and MT still refuses to cave, when Joseph starts to grow up and clearly has his own ideas of what kind of a monarch he wants to be, when Isabella of Parma dies (especially if MT and FS, as opposed to Joseph, do have a clue about Isabella's love for Mimi).
Joseph and Marie Antoinette: anything from his famous visit. Yes, he had a big case of know-it-all-ness and lecturing, but he wanted and did help her after seven not so great years for her in France, and while he clearly saw (some) of the problems of the French monarchy, he also returned impressed by his little sister and lauded her to his friends at home. Sibling scenes, both teasing and supporting each other, would be great!
Friedrich II/Fredersdorf: perhaps the one post-Küstrin relationship where Frederick the Great allowed himself to still be truly vulnerable: Five times they kissed, whether during the early getting to know you phase or through their two plus decades together. Or five ways in which one of them told the other "I love you" without using these actual words.
Prince Heinrich & Lehndorff: on Lehndorff's side, unrequited love through four decades, but not unrequited friendship (with benefits). So show me some of the stages: the early crush, the first fallout, the getting together again as friends once Lehndorff has accepted he will never me Heinrich's great passion, the way the world changes around them and Heinrich realises Lehndorff is one of the few people from his youth still with him and whom he can't bear to lose. Or if you don't want to do something spanning decades: their friendship got intimate just when Heinrich had to submit to his brother and marry, while Lehndorff figured out that being the Queen's Chamberlain was actually a dead-end job and not the start to a great carrer, which strikes me as an ideal h/c scenario for them both.
Highlander: The Series
One of my oldest fandoms! The friendships (with and without benefits, with and without fallouts) were what I loved best in HL, any of the nominated relationships focused on will make me happy. A few ideas:
Amanda & Methos: we never were told when and how Amanda learned about his true identity. Now I don't think she knew pre Duncan, but given her age, she undoubtedly ran into him a couple of times under a number of aliases. What did did they make of each other? Did it surprise her that he was the Methos when she did find out? Or: some H/C after Alexa's death. Or: a shared heist.
Amanda & Joe: Amanda's thoughts about Joe's aging (and, if you feel up for it, dying). I see Amanda as usually keeping away from closer long term relations to mortals, beyond light hearted friendships, precisely because she's experienced loss through death so often, but there are a few exceptions, and Joe is definitely one.
Conversely: post-Ahriman disaster, Joe is the one to tell Amanda about what happened with Duncan and Richie when she makes one of her casual visits and/or when Joe tries to find Duncan pre s6.
Rebecca & Methos: I do subscribe to the fanon that they knew each other pretty well, and she might even have known about his true identity (though I'm also cool with her not knowing). My own headcanon is that he pretended to be a young immortal when they first met and she did figure out it was a con, but wasn't sure whether it was because he wanted to avoid headhunters or because he was headhunting himself, but I'm up for any alternate first encounter.
Amanda, Joe, Duncan & Methos: back in the day, there were some delightfully silly fics when these four were just hanging out or playing Truth or Dare. I'm feeling nostalgic for something like this....
Agatha All Along
My newest fannish love! While I'm fond of all the characters, the mentor/protegé relationship between Agatha and Billy is what grabbed me most, with all the emotional baggage that comes from her lost son and him already having a plethora of mother figures added to it. He's known her a relatively short time, but he's already seen her at her best and worst. She's tried to sell him out and she's repeatedly saved his life. And they actually have a similar sense of humor (and fondness for bad puns). Anything focused on the two of them, whether during the show or post show would be delightful and make me happy!
Black Sails
All the relationships I listed intrigue me, and whichever one you pick to write will make me happy. Possible ideas:
- Eleanor and Madi: early childhood, were they truly friends, or was the knowledge of their difference present for Madi at least? Missing scene in which adult Eleanor and Madi during their brief time together talk about Mr. Scott, Madi's father and Eleanor's mentor? Eleanor pov as she realises why he kept his family hidden (and only thus free) - did she really know him?
- I don't think it's impossible for Madi to live with Silver again after the finale, but there's certainly some work to be done; if she does make that decision, give me her pov? Or, years later, when they're in England - what is their relationship like then?
Miranda was my favourite character in the first two seasons. Anything from her pov during either the time the three of them - Thomas, her and James - were together or from that painful decade later as James became Flint and she became Mrs. Barlow and they formed their own relationship would be great. How did Miranda adjust to not being Lady Hamilton anymore? And while they were all still in London, did she ever consider leaving Thomas and James? Did she and Thomas talk about what was developing with James before James realised? What would have happened if all three of them had gone into exile - would their relationship have survived?
The way the show made the Flint and Silver relationship so emotionally intense and central was a powerful hook to me, especially as it kept changing, from Flint being annoyed at having to put up with this irritating newbie who'd been clever enough to ensure his survival to mutual respect growing to their co-dependent partnership while there were still massive differences which would cause its ending. Silver, much as he changes, is unlike either Thomas or Miranda, or for that matter Mr. Gates, the people Flint/James McGraw was otherwise close to; while it's probably not a coincidence Silver's closest relationships are with Madi and Flint, i.e. two people who would die for a cause, the very thing he wouldn't, though he's able to connect to and risk his life for individuals. Maybe four different takes on the relationship from each season of the show, and a fifth from Silver (or Flint), looking back years later?
Silver and Max without being romantically interested in each other seem to "get" each other as survivor types who are very good at adapting (but also able to deeply connect to individuals). If you prefer a post show future/ Treasure Island era where Madi isn't the woman living with older Silver managing an inn together, Max is (presumably in a future where Anne and Jack have met their historical ends): I can see them ending up up as partners and friends, and anything from a scene showing them making the decision to team up and semi retire to a Max pov once Silver breaks the news he's off to one last quest for gold with the Hispianola would be great.
Star Wars: Ahsoka
Huyang & Ahsoka: I had some problems with the show, but one thing which absolutely delighted me was the relationship between Ahsoka and the David-Tennant-voiced Huyang. Huyang must be the oldest droid we've seen in any SW medium, and he's consistently presented as kind and wise. He's seen so many Jedi through the centuries, and he's seen Ahsoka grow from youngling to padawan to traumatized exile to resistance fighter to now trying to figure herself out in a new role as mentor in a post Empire universe. And conversely, because of whose padawan she was, Ahsoka early on learned to see droids as individuals and not exchangable in a way few other people did; she's refused to call herself a Jedi since leaving the Order but at the same time lives according to the Code. Is Huyang on one level the embodiment of Jedi history to her, or is he simply a good friend? How did he escape and remain hidden through the Empire years? Whether it's just a snapshot of the two of them at any given point or a story covering several stages of their relationship, I'd love to read it.
this exchange will be a highlight in my Februar, and I'm very grateful to you for creating something for me in a fandom we share. My prompts are just that, prompts, not absolutes; if you have an idea that doesn't fit with any of them, but features (some of) the characters I asked for, I'll love it with added joyful surprise.
General DNWs:
A/B/O - if you want to write a werewolf AU for any of the canons I nominated, be my guest, but I'm really not into this particular type of story -, infantilisation, golden showers. Character bashing. If the characters in question canonically loathe someone, you can of course include this, but I think you know the difference between that and having all characters agree about how terrible X is. Rape, unless it's canon and you want to explore how Character Y deals with the aftermath, or something like that.
General likes:
Character exploration, characters helping each other recover from trauma, messed up and/or co-dependent family relationships, witty banter, friendship against the odds, the occasional light moment in a darker story or conversely some serious character stuff thrown into a comedy fic.
Treats: are very welcome.
18th Century RPF
Franz Stephan/Maria Theresia: one of the few royal marriages which worked, and where their different temperaments were part of what made it work. Here I'd like to read a scene of mutual support at any point - when he's looked down on as a foreigner by the Viennese nobility, when their first few children are girls, seemingly continuing the Habsburg succession problem, when Friedrich invading Silesia is just the start for lots of other European powers trying to get a slice of Austrian territory and MT still refuses to cave, when Joseph starts to grow up and clearly has his own ideas of what kind of a monarch he wants to be, when Isabella of Parma dies (especially if MT and FS, as opposed to Joseph, do have a clue about Isabella's love for Mimi).
Joseph and Marie Antoinette: anything from his famous visit. Yes, he had a big case of know-it-all-ness and lecturing, but he wanted and did help her after seven not so great years for her in France, and while he clearly saw (some) of the problems of the French monarchy, he also returned impressed by his little sister and lauded her to his friends at home. Sibling scenes, both teasing and supporting each other, would be great!
Friedrich II/Fredersdorf: perhaps the one post-Küstrin relationship where Frederick the Great allowed himself to still be truly vulnerable: Five times they kissed, whether during the early getting to know you phase or through their two plus decades together. Or five ways in which one of them told the other "I love you" without using these actual words.
Prince Heinrich & Lehndorff: on Lehndorff's side, unrequited love through four decades, but not unrequited friendship (with benefits). So show me some of the stages: the early crush, the first fallout, the getting together again as friends once Lehndorff has accepted he will never me Heinrich's great passion, the way the world changes around them and Heinrich realises Lehndorff is one of the few people from his youth still with him and whom he can't bear to lose. Or if you don't want to do something spanning decades: their friendship got intimate just when Heinrich had to submit to his brother and marry, while Lehndorff figured out that being the Queen's Chamberlain was actually a dead-end job and not the start to a great carrer, which strikes me as an ideal h/c scenario for them both.
Highlander: The Series
One of my oldest fandoms! The friendships (with and without benefits, with and without fallouts) were what I loved best in HL, any of the nominated relationships focused on will make me happy. A few ideas:
Amanda & Methos: we never were told when and how Amanda learned about his true identity. Now I don't think she knew pre Duncan, but given her age, she undoubtedly ran into him a couple of times under a number of aliases. What did did they make of each other? Did it surprise her that he was the Methos when she did find out? Or: some H/C after Alexa's death. Or: a shared heist.
Amanda & Joe: Amanda's thoughts about Joe's aging (and, if you feel up for it, dying). I see Amanda as usually keeping away from closer long term relations to mortals, beyond light hearted friendships, precisely because she's experienced loss through death so often, but there are a few exceptions, and Joe is definitely one.
Conversely: post-Ahriman disaster, Joe is the one to tell Amanda about what happened with Duncan and Richie when she makes one of her casual visits and/or when Joe tries to find Duncan pre s6.
Rebecca & Methos: I do subscribe to the fanon that they knew each other pretty well, and she might even have known about his true identity (though I'm also cool with her not knowing). My own headcanon is that he pretended to be a young immortal when they first met and she did figure out it was a con, but wasn't sure whether it was because he wanted to avoid headhunters or because he was headhunting himself, but I'm up for any alternate first encounter.
Amanda, Joe, Duncan & Methos: back in the day, there were some delightfully silly fics when these four were just hanging out or playing Truth or Dare. I'm feeling nostalgic for something like this....
Agatha All Along
My newest fannish love! While I'm fond of all the characters, the mentor/protegé relationship between Agatha and Billy is what grabbed me most, with all the emotional baggage that comes from her lost son and him already having a plethora of mother figures added to it. He's known her a relatively short time, but he's already seen her at her best and worst. She's tried to sell him out and she's repeatedly saved his life. And they actually have a similar sense of humor (and fondness for bad puns). Anything focused on the two of them, whether during the show or post show would be delightful and make me happy!
Black Sails
All the relationships I listed intrigue me, and whichever one you pick to write will make me happy. Possible ideas:
- Eleanor and Madi: early childhood, were they truly friends, or was the knowledge of their difference present for Madi at least? Missing scene in which adult Eleanor and Madi during their brief time together talk about Mr. Scott, Madi's father and Eleanor's mentor? Eleanor pov as she realises why he kept his family hidden (and only thus free) - did she really know him?
- I don't think it's impossible for Madi to live with Silver again after the finale, but there's certainly some work to be done; if she does make that decision, give me her pov? Or, years later, when they're in England - what is their relationship like then?
Miranda was my favourite character in the first two seasons. Anything from her pov during either the time the three of them - Thomas, her and James - were together or from that painful decade later as James became Flint and she became Mrs. Barlow and they formed their own relationship would be great. How did Miranda adjust to not being Lady Hamilton anymore? And while they were all still in London, did she ever consider leaving Thomas and James? Did she and Thomas talk about what was developing with James before James realised? What would have happened if all three of them had gone into exile - would their relationship have survived?
The way the show made the Flint and Silver relationship so emotionally intense and central was a powerful hook to me, especially as it kept changing, from Flint being annoyed at having to put up with this irritating newbie who'd been clever enough to ensure his survival to mutual respect growing to their co-dependent partnership while there were still massive differences which would cause its ending. Silver, much as he changes, is unlike either Thomas or Miranda, or for that matter Mr. Gates, the people Flint/James McGraw was otherwise close to; while it's probably not a coincidence Silver's closest relationships are with Madi and Flint, i.e. two people who would die for a cause, the very thing he wouldn't, though he's able to connect to and risk his life for individuals. Maybe four different takes on the relationship from each season of the show, and a fifth from Silver (or Flint), looking back years later?
Silver and Max without being romantically interested in each other seem to "get" each other as survivor types who are very good at adapting (but also able to deeply connect to individuals). If you prefer a post show future/ Treasure Island era where Madi isn't the woman living with older Silver managing an inn together, Max is (presumably in a future where Anne and Jack have met their historical ends): I can see them ending up up as partners and friends, and anything from a scene showing them making the decision to team up and semi retire to a Max pov once Silver breaks the news he's off to one last quest for gold with the Hispianola would be great.
Star Wars: Ahsoka
Huyang & Ahsoka: I had some problems with the show, but one thing which absolutely delighted me was the relationship between Ahsoka and the David-Tennant-voiced Huyang. Huyang must be the oldest droid we've seen in any SW medium, and he's consistently presented as kind and wise. He's seen so many Jedi through the centuries, and he's seen Ahsoka grow from youngling to padawan to traumatized exile to resistance fighter to now trying to figure herself out in a new role as mentor in a post Empire universe. And conversely, because of whose padawan she was, Ahsoka early on learned to see droids as individuals and not exchangable in a way few other people did; she's refused to call herself a Jedi since leaving the Order but at the same time lives according to the Code. Is Huyang on one level the embodiment of Jedi history to her, or is he simply a good friend? How did he escape and remain hidden through the Empire years? Whether it's just a snapshot of the two of them at any given point or a story covering several stages of their relationship, I'd love to read it.
