Pining Exchange 2019 letter

[crashofworlds]

AO3 profile - laetificat

Dear author,

Thank you so much for writing for me! I'm super excited to read your fic. <3 If you have any questions or concerns about my requests, please feel free to message me via the exchange mods.

The tags I've chosen should, in general, be considered more of a menu of options than a list of things that each request should contain. Pick the ones you like and include them as much as you want!

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General DNWs:

• rape/non-con (dub con is fine; I'd prefer it if both parties enjoyed what's going on to some degree)
  
• scat/dirty rimming or ass play
  
• vomit/emetophilia
  
• underage
  
• graphic choking/suffocation/gagging/breath play
  
• mpreg
  
• vore
  
• A/B/O worldbuilding (although the general concept of a character being in heat etc is fine, particularly for the fantasy/sci fi fandoms)
  
• trans/ace headcanons (except when supported by canon)
  
• non-canon AUs; modern/mundane AUs (coffee shop, school, etc)
  
• songfic
  
• first or second person POV
  
• monstering or fridging of female or other canon partners (cheating is OK, but I don't care for a narrative that disrespects the canon partner -- I love them too! -- they should either not be present for Reasons, be consenting to poly or have their feelings be part of the rich tapestry of heartbreak)

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General likes:
(or "do wants")

• desperate, hungry fucking -- the kind that happens when people can't keep their hands off each other and simply have to give in, no matter where they are or what else is going on
  
• hurt/comfort is a big thing for me, either emotional or physical, and all that entails: wounds taken in battle or through misadventure, fevers, illness (but not stomach-related; see DNWs), nightmares, PTSD flashbacks; and on the other side care-taking, bathing, dressing injures etc
  
• embracing the canon -- I like my sci fi weird and my historical fantasy canon-appropriate, so don't be afraid to add in those nerdy details!
  
• power play in many forms -- I love D/s; I don't mind if this is as casual as one party grabbing the other's hair to expose their throat, or as regimented as a 24/7 style arrangement where the sub spends most of their time naked and on their knees
  
• impact play: spanking, caning, whipping, slapping, etc
  
• subs enjoying themselves -- I'm not super into humiliation or shaming except when the sub requests it/enjoys it; I'd prefer everyone has fun (even if that fun isn't immediately obvious during the scene)!

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General pining likes:

• aaaall of the UST -- expressed physically or emotionally, I'm a sucker for those moments of "I can't, but I really want to". Plus the actual sexual tension, if/when it's resolved!
  
• stoic sadness and the pining person putting a brave face on their breaking heart
  
• little gestures that either go unnoticed or are acknowledged but can't be acted on -- oh no, my feelings

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FANDOMS

Temeraire - Naomi Novik

Tags:

Feelings eventually requited, Feelings never requited

Pining while in conflict, Pining while trapped together, Pining for commanding officer, Pining while being shaved, Hurt/Comfort, Pining character reveals their feelings while not quite lucid (hurt/drunk/etc.), Pining while imprisoned pining because character isn't sure if interspecies relationship would work out, A pining because they think B isn't attracted to their species, Period-Typical Homophobia, Undercover as Married While Pining, Undercover as a Couple While Pining, pining characters worries about hurting the character they love if they got together

#1 -

William Laurence/Tenzing Tharkay (Tharkay pining)
William Laurence/Tenzing Tharkay (Laurence pining)
William Laurence/Tenzing Tharkay (both pining)

Likes/prompts:

The Laurence/Tharkay relationship is so good for lots of fraught pining feelings.

Some prompts (feel free to use these or go with your own ideas):

• Laurence and Tharkay are trapped and have to huddle together for warmth or for Reasons. One or both of them have to deal with the close quarters and the fact that they absolutely can't do anything without compromising their professional relationship/Laurence's honor/Tharkay's pride etc.
  
• They had to work together for a long time during the war -- what must that have been like if you add pining? Did either of them linger over those terse messages? Did they look to the sky and wait for each other?
  
• Tharkay has a mission or lead he wants to investigate, which requires he and Laurence have to attend some kind of official function and are assumed to be a couple.

*

#2 -

William Laurence/Temeraire (Temeraire pining)
William Laurence/Temeraire (both pining)

Likes/prompts:

This pining relationship is somewhat obviously built on the fact that they're fundamentally incompatible in a lot of ways (:() despite being clearly In Love with each other.

I'd rather keep them their respective species for these prompts -- I'm not interested in seeing him humanised or Laurence turned into a dragon.

Some prompts (feel free to use these or go with your own ideas):

• Temeraire spent a long time picking out his gift for Laurence in China. What did he reject? What did he imagine would be the outcome of some of these gifts? Did he think about what might have been?
  
• I'd love to see this pining relationship filtered through some of the other friendships in the series -- does Temeraire discuss it with the other dragons? Does Laurence investigate whether other dragon handlers have ever fallen in love with their dragon?

*

#3 -

John Granby/William Laurence (Laurence pining)
John Granby/William Laurence (Granby pining)

Likes/prompts:

This is the classic Pining For Superior Officer relationship, given an extra edge thanks to Granby's canon homosexuality. I'm totally happy for you to lean into the historical homophobia and Laurence's suuuper confused feelings.

Some prompts (feel free to use these or go with your own ideas):

• Granby has loved Laurence for a long time. Laurence is oblivious. Granby has to continue to serve him in all the ways a first lieutenant serves his captain and all that entails.
  
• Granby and Laurence are trapped somewhere together and one of them has to deal with their feelings. Bonus points for a hurt/comfort scenario!

~~~~~

Red Dead Redemption (Video Games)

Tags:

Feelings eventually requited, Feelings never requited

Pining while sharing a bath, Pining while being shaved, Pining while stranded in the wilderness, Pining while trapped together, Pining for father figure

#1 -

Arthur Morgan/John Marston (John pining)
Arthur Morgan/John Marston (Arthur pining)

Likes/prompts:

I love the nuances that are possible with these two. Arthur's pride preventing him from admitting feelings for the young upstart that's taken his role in the gang. John's stubbornness making it impossible for him to admit he wants more from their relationship. So many ways to break each other's hearts!

See my DNWs for guidance about handling Abigail/Eliza.

Some prompts (feel free to use these or go with your own ideas):

• Either Arthur or John are hurt during a job and the other has to help them out (while pining).
  
• Arthur and John have both courted their share of other partners. How did they deal with that? Did either one of them act out because of their suppressed jealousy?

*

#2 -

Arthur Morgan/Dutch van der Linde (Arthur pining)

Likes/prompts:

This is a little more complex than Arthur/John, since I figure part of what Arthur wants and needs from Dutch is as much about having a figure of faith and fatherhood as someone to be with. I'd like to see that present in his pining!

Some prompts (feel free to use these or go with your own ideas):

• In the early days Arthur had Dutch (and Hosea) all to himself. Does he miss those days? What were they like and how did they shape their relationship in the future?
  
• Guarma was a hard time. Maybe Arthur ended up in a little worse shape than he was in the game and Dutch had to take care of him, out of guilt or legitimate compassion. How does a pining Arthur deal with that?

~~~~~

The West Wing

Sam Seaborn/Toby Ziegler (Sam pining)
Sam Seaborn/Toby Ziegler (Toby pining)

Tags:

Feelings eventually requited, Feelings never requited

Character pines for their boss, Trying to Ignore Feelings While Forced to Work in Close Quarters With Person of Their Affection, Pining while sharing a bed, Pining while trapped together

Likes/prompts:

This is an old OTP for me so I'd be delighted to see whatever you want to write for it! I love the sweetness of their friendship/professional relationship, Toby's mentor/father figure-ness and Sam's drive and optimism that counters Toby's realism.

Some prompts (feel free to use these or go with your own ideas):

• Toby and Sam have to go on a road trip together (for the holidays? For work?) and end up sharing a bed somehow.
  
• They're working late in the White House when it goes into lockdown and they end up stuck in a room together for a night, dealing with the tension of the incident and their pining.