elegantstupidity | Five Figure Fanwork Exchange 2023 (Reply)

Hello!

I can't even believe it's time for FFFX again! As much as I look forward to the challenge every year, I can't say I'm not just as excited to see what gets cooked up for me!

I have requested most of these canons before, so feel free to use a prompt from an old letter (including prompts that may have been filled before: I will happily consume as many takes on the same premise as get put into the world), but I'm hoping everything you need to create a gift for me can be found right here. I would love to see each and every one of these prompts in either fic or comic form! If anything’s confusing, or you'd like even more thoughts/ideas/prompts, I’m more than happy to answer any questions sent through the mod.

Can't wait to see what you create!

elegantstupidity

Navigation
Yes, Please! and No, Thanks!
Requests

Crossover - Knives Out & Poker Face

A League of Their Own

Naruto

Pitch

Ted Lasso

Tortall - Tamora Pierce

Uprooted - Naomi Novik

Yes, Please!
genres and styles

adventure (from the everyday to the epic), angst (though preferably with a bittersweet or happy ending), canon-typical plots, character studies, fantasy and sci-fi, fluff, humor/comedy, hurt/comfort, mysteries and casefic, romance, slice of life
AUs
- especially canon-divergences, canon+ (basically, the canon setting + some fantastical/magical element, ie: body swaps, unexpected telepathic connections, time loops, etc.), or fusions and genre shifts (ie: daemon AUs, Pacific Rim, Hogwarts, in space!, epic fantasy, etc.)
- exceptions I'm not particularly into: A/B/O, de-aging, soulmate/soulmark AUs, or making the setting more ordinary/mundane than canon
character- and relationship-driven plots
crack relationships or premises treated even halfway seriously
epistolary elements
- both letters and texts/emails/digital communication as well as in-universe texts/published materials
missing scenes
parallels and canon callbacks
x + 1 times

details

competence/characters in their element
- alternatively, I do love a good fish out of water scenario
competitions of pretty much any kind; I love a good competitive streak
food, baking and/or cooking porn
worldbuilding
- Even for canons that ostensibly take place in the real world, I love getting a taste of all the little details that add color and texture to these character’s lives.
  - Stuff like: politics/local government, what's on their TBR list, what's in their fridge/closet/bag/car, what kind of celebrity gossip exists in their world, etc.
Honestly, you can't go overboard on the descriptions and detail, no matter how minute or possibly off-topic. Tell me all about the setting or circumstances, the characters' emotions/sensations, bits of backstory, anything!

gen relationships

loyalty and ride or die friendships
complex friendship dynamics
- I prefer when conflicts are resolved at least semi-happily, but angst on the way is excellent!
found families and/or family feels and/or complex family situations
team bonding/group dynamics
- eg: road trips, pranks, inside jokes, friendship building, nights out, games/game nights, betting pools, roughhousing/physical affection, celebrations/parties, etc.
mutual admiration societies/positive partnerships
- I love snark and teasing and even outright antagonism, too, they just have to end up liking each other—even grudgingly.

romantic relationships

anything from above
- I really love romances that are built on friendships/trust/loyalty or at the very least some kind of shared history
pre-relationship and/or getting together plots
- slow burns, UST, mutual pining, denial, flirting, lingering touches, veiled confessions
- [enemies/rivals to] friends to lovers
  - I'm all about snarky antagonism/belligerence/teasing as flirting
- FWBs catching feelings
- breaking the seal
  - i.e. “We just kissed/slept together/did something unmistakably romantic, but we’re definitely not gonna do it again for reasons,” and then they absolutely do it again.
- basically, any kind of romcom trope that you can imagine
enforced proximity
- bed sharing, handcuffed together, locked in a closet, deserted together, curses/spells tethering them, sharing body heat, etc.
secret and/or "forbidden" relationships
HEAs or HFNs

smut/porn

feelings

basically anything that shows how into each other the characters are
romance, trust, enthusiasm, intensity, tenderness, vulnerability, desperation, neediness [to please], intimacy, hand holding, eye contact, laughing/having fun with it
Alternatively, I can definitely get behind some hate/grudge sex.

firsts

first time together or the first time trying something new or sexual awakenings/kink discovery, shy or desperate or a little awkward, etc. etc. and on and on and on
resolving UST to "get it out of their systems" or other transparently thin reasons to bang it out
sex pollen/curses/those kinds of generally dubcon-ish scenarios are also great for characters who are already into each other but haven't, for whatever reason, pulled the trigger on their attraction.

physicality

rough sex, hair pulling, holding each other down, losing control, marking, not making it to the bed, etc.
use of athleticism/strength/endurance/stamina/flexibility/focus on physique
general handsiness
cuddling/close contact, DP, from behind/bent over something, lap sex, riding, three-/moresomes, wall sex

teasing
- banter/dirty talk, body worship, grinding/frottage, hand/mouth stuff, phone/cyber/video/etc. sex, solo action, lots of foreplay, etc.

art/visual likes

For book/nonvisual canons, I tend not to have strong opinions on the characters' appearances beyond what's established in the text. Feel free to draw them however you like!
Meta art, if that makes sense?
- eg: The design of a character's work ID or baseball/trading card, snapshots they might've taken, or a peek inside someone's bedroom/bag/social media accounts/whatever.
I'm always down for portraits, especially with fun, graphic backgrounds or textures
costume porn, canon-inspired or not
natural elements like floral prints/flowers, wood patterns, clouds and skies, water, etc. are always a plus
domestic scenes or characters at rest/relaxing
sense of movement/action
unusual angles and perspectives
any of my narrative likes are also fair game for depiction
Go as wild stylistically as you like!
Color-wise, I like lots of different things!
- pastels, rich tones, grayscale, minimal palettes, sepia, monochromatic are all great (probably not all together, but I’m not an artist, so it’s not like my opinion on this, or any, front is particularly well informed).

No, Thanks!

established relationship for non-canon ships (unless prompted)
explicit and/or extreme (14 or younger) underage
graphic violence or gore
- canon-typical violence and any injuries, physical fights/battles, etc. that have happened in canon are fine to include
humiliation

embarrassment is fine to include, but I'd prefer no lingering/extended focus on it

infidelity
non-canonical character death (unless prompted)

killing off OCs is fine

parent/child incest
pregnancy and/or parenting non-canonical children for requested characters/ships or as the focus of a work
- babysitting, temporary accidental baby acquisition, or kids who exist in canon are fine
rape or noncon

Requests

Crossover - Knives Out & Poker Face
characters/relationships: Benoit & Charlie, Marta/Charlie
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

Both of these series are such a good time! I tore through Poker Face—the zaniness of the mysteries being laid out and then having to go back to see how Charlie puzzled it all together was addictive!—and Knives Out and Glass Onion were all kinds of twisty-turny fun. I feel like these two could be flipsides of the same universe. Benoit Blanc as the celebrated detective, investigating the cases he finds compelling—but mostly among the upper reaches of society. And then there's Charlie, coasting along the seedy-ish underbelly, working for cash and stumbling upon more than her fair share of mysteries. And then I feel like Marta slots in somewhere between those two poles, knowing what Charlie's existence is like but vaulted into Blanc's world without much notice. I love the variety of characters that exist in these worlds—all the foibles and quirks and eccentricities on display in such fun combinations—and that pretty much everyone's solution to their problems is murder. Well, until Charlie or Blanc arrive on the scene. Then, murder is just the beginning of their problems.

I am so, so intrigued by how these characters would interact with one another. Or just react to each other, honestly. Blanc's eccentricities feel almost diametrically opposed to Charlie's, but in a way where their meeting would be so, so much fun. He's intellectual and dramatic and lofty whereas she's much folksier, salt of the earth and approachable. But they both care so much, about justice and the people they decide are their friends. Their inability to stay away from even the hint of a puzzle doesn't hurt! And for Charlie and Marta, I'm so intrigued by the potential interplay between their relationship to the truth: Marta's inability to lie and Charlie's internal lie detector. Plus, they're two smart and capable women who've seen the worst in people and can still make friends in the unlikeliest places. I'd be delighted with a gift featuring one or both of these relationships!

prompts
Benoit & Charlie

I'd love to see any and every kind of casefic involving these two! The two of them falling into some impromptu partnership, inadvertently working the same case but from opposite sides, investigating two theoretically distinct cases that wind up being inextricably tied together.
Blanc somehow picking up Charlie's trail—this string of practically incomprehensible murders (well, not to Blanc, but he can't quite fathom how all these small town police departments and sheriff's offices put the scant clues together) all tied up along with the perpetrators in a pretty bow—and becoming her #1 fan, all without learning her real identity. Yet.
What would Blanc make of Charlie as a witness (or potential suspect) in one of his investigations? Everyone else keeps mentioning the housekeeper/cashier/delivery woman/waitress/whatever under-the-table job Charlie's picked up who blew into (and maybe out of) town right around the time the crime was committed, and Blanc just can't pin her down. Or Charlie keeps poking her nose where it doesn't quite belong, and Blanc can't determine whether to be suspicious or entirely charmed.

Alternatively, I'd love to see Charlie investigating something around the edges of Benoit's life. Maybe he and Phillip are on vacation—no mysteries allowed—but he can't help but sense a stir in the ether. Of course, the odd woman asking too many questions might have something to do with it.

Murder and mayhem are not at all required! Lower-stakes mysteries, or no mysteries at all, would be so much fun! But what, aside from unnecessarily convoluted crimes, could bring these two together?

Blanc being mistaken for a world-renowned superspy and strongarmed into a poker tournament that Charlie's working? Phillip's entry in the local fair's baking contest is sabotaged, and Charlie—who's trying her luck on the carnival circuit—might have the inside scoop. Or what kind of dinner party has these two as guests—or one as a guest and one as a slightly haphazard cater waiter?

Maybe once Charlie's life is a little less in constant danger, she's set up shop as a PI, and she and Blanc get hired by the same client. Someone convinced their case can't possibly be solved by one detective on their own. Do they butt heads or is it smooth sailing from day one? Do they even see the same mystery at the heart of the case?

Marta/Charlie

I'm so into the combination of Marta's inability to lie and Charlie's bullshit detector. How disconcerting would it be for Charlie to realize that Marta never, not once, lies. About anything? How strange is it for Marta to realize Charlie never wants even the whitest of lies from her? And how does that surprise turn into curiosity into interest into something more?
What if Charlie was around for the events of Knives Out? Maybe she'd been hired as part of the grounds crew or as catering staff for Harlan's birthday party or as Fran's fill in when she goes on vacation. And it doesn't take her long to realize that Marta needs someone who is sincerely on her side in the resulting investigation.

Does Charlie warn her away from Ransom—and subvert most of the plot at the root? Does she try to investigate herself—and run a little roughshod over the official investigation? Does Charlie manage to head off the murder altogether? If so, where does the fallout land in the morning when Harlan is most definitely not dead?

In Charlie's year on the run, does she end up working for a bit at the weird murder mystery house for a spell? Maybe making friends (or something more) with the guarded young woman who so unexpectedly inherited the place.
Or perhaps Marta comes to Charlie? She takes her first vacation since inheriting Harlan's estate, and treats herself to something a little grander than she ever got as a kid. A trip to Vegas while Charlie is still in residence? A beautiful beach resort where Charlie picked up a gig at the swim up bar or beach attendant?

Or does Marta go on the extended road trip she never experienced growing up, all roadside attractions and rest stop diners and cheap motels? And, as it just so happens, everywhere she stops, there's the same bright blue car and its eccentric, intriguing driver.

I could see Marta continue nursing after inheriting Harlan's money, fully expecting any new clients to be walks in the park after her experience with the Thrombeys. And maybe it would be, except the Meals on Wheels driver (or grocery delivery woman or handyperson—who doesn't seem all that handy, to be honest) seems convinced that something suspicious is in the air. Before she knows it, Marta's smack dab in the middle of another mystery.

A League of Their Own
characters/relationships: Jimmy/Dottie
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

This is, hands down, one of my favorite movies of all time. When another movie weaves together history and baseball and gender politics into something that’s actually a joy to watch, I’ll consider letting it take over the top spot. Until then, I will happily rewatch this one for about the thousandth time. Even though I've seen it more times than I can count, there’s always some new detail or moment to appreciate and contemplate. There isn’t a plot beat or minor character that I wouldn’t be thrilled to have an extended backstory for. Above all else, though, comes my yearning for more for Jimmy and Dottie. Both individually and together. To me, they feel like equals and opposites. Equal in their talent and love for the game, even if they’re not equally honest about it. Opposite places in their careers and approaches, even if every moment they spend together brings them closer to equilibrium. However messy it could be, they just fit together. And with Jimmy involved, there is so much potential for messiness. Both because he’s a disaster and he’s more willing to wear his heart on his sleeve. The entire trajectory of their relationship—snarky antagonism evolving into grudging respect to actual friendship to love—is just catnip to me.

Re: Bob, as long as Dottie doesn’t physically—I’m very here for the emotional mess that results from possibly falling for her drunk of a coach while her picture perfect husband is off at war, though Dottie strikes me as the type who does her best not to think about it—cheat on him while they’re still married, I’m fine. You can kill him off, they could split up, never have gotten married or even together in the first place, or he could just not exist at all. As far as background ships go, I’m open to anything: Marla/Nelson, any of the Peaches or AAGPBL players together, Ira Lowenstein’s one-sided crush on Dottie. Any and all platonic friendships/rivalries/whatever including as many of the Peaches, as well as Dottie and Kit’s relationship, are more than welcome, too!

prompts

What does the season look like after Dottie makes an abrupt—and impromptu, judging by the complete lack of fanfare organized by Ira Lowenstein—return to the league? Is it really abrupt, or does it just feel that way to Jimmy?

Having to rebuild trust and camaraderie with the memory of what their relationship used to be. Jimmy trying to stay angry after she left the game (and him, not that it matters) while Dottie pretends it doesn't bother her. Or the fact that they're not bickering, are painfully polite, is just proof that things aren't as good as they say.

Any missing scene, especially one that expands on the progression from Jimmy's utter apathy and Dottie's general disdain for him to their mutual respect and admiration, would be greatly appreciated! Some possibilities:

Aside from sneaking out to roadhouses and breaking into local ballparks, what did Dottie and the Peaches do in their downtime? How hard and how long did Jimmy hold out on joining them?
At some point, Jimmy must’ve accepted, or even actively sought out, Dottie’s opinions on new plays and strategies. Except, I feel like it might be closer to him needling her, on the bus or at team dinners or on the rare afternoons they had off and he just so happened to stop by the boarding house, in the hopes she’d lose her temper and tell him exactly how she would do his job given the chance. Did Dottie ever actually fall for it?
Evidently, there’s an actual deleted scene in which “Dottie isn’t sure if going ‘all the way’ is something married women ‘get to’ or ‘have to’ do.” (Which, c’mon, Bob.) Anyway, please expand on how Jimmy Dugan convinces her otherwise, either during the events of the movie or after.

I feel like the Suds Bucket was not the only time the girls snuck out for a little dancing and fun, and at some point, Dottie must join them. Maybe the first time they run into Jimmy, it's an accident—he's just trying to get a drink that didn't come out of a warm flask and did not count on this gaggle of ballplayers—but all the times after are a little harder to justify.
I’m all about one or both of them sublimating all of their confusing feelings for the other into the game. So: Jimmy doing his damnedest to get Dottie through her first major injury intact because the Peaches can’t afford to lose their star. Emotional dishonesty manifesting as a truly embarrassing case of the yips. More and more late night batting practices where not many words are said, but the game’s always spoken loud enough, anyway.
Maybe Jimmy and Dottie stick around Rockford over the offseason. Does he stay too long at her boarding house, though her landlady keeps turning a blind eye? Are they fixtures at the ballpark, even as fall comes and they have to bundle up to take batting practice? Do they somehow end up getting snowed in somewhere, either because they’re coincidentally together or one of them braves the storm to make sure the other’s okay?

Naruto
characters/relationships: Tenten
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

Does it make logical sense to have landed on a minor female character from a shounen anime/manga as my Absolute Favorite Forever™? No. And yet, here I am however many years later still 100% craving more Tenten content at any and all times. I just think she’s neat! Honestly, I’m all about the potential when it comes to this request, both when it comes to the world of Naruto and Tenten herself. The parts of it that we see—Ninja! with magic! and demon monsters! an incredibly messy political infrastructure!—are all so intriguing, but it is all built to bolster an epic shounen battle saga happening. Which is fair, considering that’s exactly what it is. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine wants backstory and character development and worldbuilding for my fave. I mean, what's not to love about a walking arsenal who can hold her own with the weirdos (which I mean wholly affectionately) on Team Gai? I love the glimpses that we got of her in Naruto, her compassion and grit and big dreams, but I am so, so intrigued by what we don't get. So many possible takes on Tenten’s core personality are equally plausible within canon. (And I’d be happy to hear about any of them!)

As far as the graphic violence DNW goes, use your best judgment. I’d prefer no lingering focus on anything particularly gory, but don’t feel like you have to shy away from fight scenes or action sequences. Hazard of shinobi life, right? Feel free to play around with canon as much as you want, too! Break up endgame ships (I don’t have strong opinions on any of them one way or another), resurrect the dead, mess around with the timeline, whatever. Or hew close to canon! Really delve into the ramifications of a vengeful moon goddess and the many reincarnations of her feuding grandsons! Last, any other Naruto characters or ships (including Tenten or not; I’m very, very open to all Tenten-ships, no matter how cracky) you want to include are totally welcome. As long as Tenten’s front and center, I will be thrilled!

prompts

I would never turn down a juicy mission fic/comic. One where Tenten is really in her element and kicking ass or where she’s got her work cut out for her, the struggle to complete the objective honing her into an even better ninja. Is it deep cover intelligence gathering—investigating weird, new weapons popping up all over—or sowing large-scale mayhem and sabotage, maybe? A post with a diplomatic contingent or as a glorified bodyguard for a VIP client? Flying solo or as one of a team? Familiar faces or everyone’s wearing ANBU masks, so it’s hard to say?
I really do like character studies, especially ones where any action is in service of excavating and examining the character in question. And I feel like Naruto, where there’s always time for illuminating monologues and flashbacks in the middle of an action sequence, is the perfect canon for that. Maybe something re: Tenten’s own nindo; how much she learned from Gai or her teammates and friends vs how much of it is all her own. Or how the development/deployment of her offensive style reflects (or doesn’t at all) her personality.
Due to enemy action or her own sealing experiments or a jutsu gone wrong, Tenten—on her own? with a team? with enemies?—somehow ends up back in time. Or in a familiar, but still unsettlingly different, world. A few possibilities:

Time travel: Warring States/Foundation period—she can meet Mito, and it turns out they have more than a shared hairstyle to bond over; the Third War, or basically any time that would put her in Gai and the other senseis’ age group; pre- or during the Second War, letting Tenten meet the Tsunade she admired as a genin.
Ending up in a world that is too much like her memory of the Infinite Tsukuyomi to trust anyone she meets.
A Peggy Sue situation where Tenten ends up in her younger body; how much can she actually affect things, and where do the gaps in her own knowledge of motivations and insider politics trip her up?

Would Tenten ever want to become a sensei herself? I mean, I could see other shinobi coming to her for help with weapons, even the most obscure, and she clearly makes an excellent training partner. But would she formally take on a team of genin? Maybe she’s been given temporary command to help with advanced target practice and finds she actually likes it. Is she as intense as Gai in her own way?

If you don’t want to make up a whole team of OCs, I’m fine if you use Boruto characters, though I'm not really familiar with them.

If you’re feeling angsty or want a darker turn, I’m very intrigued by the possibility of Tenten as a missing nin or Root agent, whatever that would look like. What led to her severing all allegiance to Konoha and/or catching Danzo’s attention and being inducted into the program.

Pitch
characters/relationships: Ginny/Mike, Ginny/Livan/Mike
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

Oh, Pitch. Gone too soon from my airwaves. In some alternate universe, it’s still on TV, and I hope that me is enjoying the hell out of herself. Since technology hasn’t magically advanced enough to send me into that universe, I rely on fanworks for my fix of baseball drama/romance with a compelling, flawed, beautiful female lead. In just ten episodes, Ginny really did manage to become one of my favorite characters of all time. Between her grit and her goofiness, her innate talent and the tension between what she’s doing and who she actually is, there’s so much to love. Like, sure, she’s an overnight sensation struggling but determined to live up to the expectations laid on her, but she’s also a 23-year-old fully capable of acting out and making terrible decisions. And where would Ginny be without her catchers? (I mean, probably exactly where she already is, and arguably less distracted, but.) Mike and Livan are such delights, particularly when they’re trying to one up one another; their cockiness and self-assurance manifests in such different ways, but for fairly similar reasons, resulting in two hotshot catchers with angsty pasts. However little they enjoy each other, they’re in total agreement about Ginny: that she’s great!

Pretty much anything that delves into these characters’ dynamics on or off the field is going to be such a joy. Part of why I like them so much as romances is because of their connections as teammates (and/or rivals) and friends. So, I’m totally happy to see both pre-ship and getting together works. (For Ginny/Livan/Mike, it’s fine for two of the three to already be dating/together as the third gets added in.) If you’d like to go heavy on the baseball—the heroics and the injuries and the gossip and the daily grind of 162 games—I am 100% here for that. If you want to focus more on their downtime or offseasons, that’d be very welcome, too! Same goes for any background ships or characters—don’t limit yourself to just these, but I’ve got huge soft spots for Blip/Ev, Oscar, Eliot, and Cara—you’d like to include.

prompts
Ginny/Mike

As it turns out, Mike and Ginny get very good about not talking about it. Maybe too good. After years of putting the game, their relationship as teammates, athletes, pitcher and catcher first, it’s easier to let their bodies do the talking for them. Which, honestly, isn’t too bad, but it does mean neither of them are quite sure where they stand with the other.
I love how close Ginny and Mike got in the three (three! that’s it!) months that they knew each other. They must’ve put in a lot of time building that trust and rapport, and I’d love to see some of how they managed it.

Does Mike take his rookie out to all his favorite spots in San Diego, trying to get her acclimatized to the city as well as his personal baseball philosophy? How about the cities they play in? Does this tradition persist even after Ginny’s more than found her footing? (How long does it take them to realize they’ve essentially been going on dates for years?)

These two, but especially Ginny, are huge celebrities, basically hypervisible. Having all these random people must feel like they know them, based on what they can read online or watch on TV, has got to be exhausting. That there’s someone who really does understand them—not just as an athlete or spokesperson or media image—it’s no wonder Ginny and Mike gravitate towards one another.

Anything involving their interviews or gossip or Twitter hot takes or actual press coverage and how they deal with it (or don’t; avoidance all the way, baby!) would be super interesting!

So, that almost kiss was the first time they came close to crossing the line, but I doubt it was the last. I don't doubt, however, that each time it happens, it's harder and harder to convince themselves to actually stop. (Alternatively, the first time they kiss is not the explosion to the dam holding them back they both expected. How do they deal with knowing what it’s like to kiss, to hold, to touch the other but not be at liberty to do it again?)
After the Body Issue shoot, I don't think they'd make a point of trying to catch the other undressed, but they definitely think about the possibility a lot. A lot. Do they ever let it slip, maybe on one of their regular, totally normal, nighttime phone calls between teammates? (Or perhaps when one of them has had a little too much to drink? Two AM is well past their normal calls, and a message is for the best.) Does it ever actually happen?

Ginny/Livan/Mike

I am fully dying for a body swap situation. Why does it happen? Who knows! How does it go away? Unclear! But it sure as hell is going to make for a weird game against the Giants!

Would be thrilled by either a Freaky Friday setup (probably between Mike and Livan? but more than happy to see Ginny in on the weirdness rather than the outside perspective trying to figure out what has gotten into both of them at the same time) or a round robin where they all wake up in the wrong body. Just all the ridiculous revelations—“You have a tattoo where?!” or “How do you play on these knees?”—and other nonsense, please!

There may have been an inadvisable victory hookup that definitely isn’t going to happen again because Ginny has her code, and intra-team relationships are always more mess than they’re worth. Except now, they're on a serious losing streak and have been since it was decided there would be no repeat performances, and maybe that’s a sign?
For whatever reason, Ginny or Livan need a place to stay, and like so many rookies before them, find refuge in Mike’s pool house. (Maybe not this exact pool house, since I feel like he bought his fish tank after Rachel left him, but you get the idea.) Unlike so many rookies before them, the week they were supposed to stay turns into a few into months, until they hardly spend time in the pool house at all.
Mike and Ginny's workout scene in LA was, uh, incredible? (Those leggings! Powering through that exhaustion!) Could it be even better with Livan thrown into the mix? Livan and Mike egging each other on, determined not to wimp out. Ginny holding her own or sitting back to enjoy the view. At least until her catchers wise up and make sure she pulls her weight.
Somehow, and getting anyone to agree on the exact sequence of events is a lost cause from the get go, they get left behind somewhere and have to either wait for someone to come back for them or make their way on their own.

Did they get stranded when the team left for the next stop on a road trip? Are they stuck in a small town following some offseason fan outreach and/or Stubbs’ most recent wedding? Did they miss the bus after a spring training game?

Ted Lasso
characters/relationships: Roy/Keeley/Jamie
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

This show is almost entirely a joy to watch. (I have a few quibbles about the third season, but overall, Ted Lasso gives me all the warm fuzzies!) The football and the intrigue and the absurd sense of humor, but most of all, the earnest kindness that underpins everything! But I also appreciate that every interaction isn't just toothlessly sweet, either. There’s real conflict and struggle and missteps to be made. It’s just that taking the high road is generally presented as the best, and often only, path. The world of Ted Lasso just seems a touch gentler and warmer than reality, and I’m not going to turn down a slice of that. Especially considering that the characters who inhabit that world are so wonderful on their own merit. Keeley is absolute sunshine. Her cheekiness and love of glitter make it easy to underestimate her, and I love that she just doesn’t care; Keeley knows exactly who she is, and she's not going to change for anything. Roy is… basically the opposite, except he manages to turn that into a good thing. For all he’s a walking growl, likelier to curse than say anything fit for young ears (Hi, Phoebe!), I love how emotionally intelligent he is. Well, when it comes to other people, at least. He's got a lot of growing of his own to do. Whereas Jamie's journey is all about becoming completely at ease with himself—letting go of the cocky assholery he played up to mask his insecurities and becoming a genuinely good and kind person.

One of my favorite parts of the last season—even when the characters *cough*Roy*cough* are putting their foot in it—was the dynamic between these three. Each side of this relationship is so great in its own way—Keeley and Roy’s mutual respect, honesty, and attraction is so swoon-worthy, while Jamie’s trust in and care for Keeley was an early sign of his vulnerable side, and the way his and Roy's antagonism shifted and changed to real enjoyment in one another made for such wonderful character and relationship development—and only bolsters how great they are all together. I'd just anything that builds on or explores them, past, present, or future! The ups and downs and ins and outs of their weird, compelling relationships with one another. And that chemistry! I love each leg of the tripod, but all together, it really is something else. As far as background/side ships go, pretty much anything you’d like to include goes, but I particularly like Ted/Rebecca and Sam/Dani. Any and all friendships—within and without AFC Richmond—are also more than welcome!

prompts

The fact that Jamie responds to blow jobs and positive reinforcement is such a funny, beautiful detail. And agreeing with whatever bluster Roy comes up with takes the wind right out of his brat sails! Keeley truly is full of wisdom. Do Roy or Jamie ever come to an agreement about the best methods for managing her when she's being difficult?
What if Jamie isn’t recalled to Man City, but Roy and Keeley still get together in season 1? Maybe in a different way, or maybe it’s just different because Jamie’s there, always in the background.

For Jamie’s part, being jealous of Roy isn’t exactly a new thing, but he’d never expected to be jealous of Keeley, too.

Roy is not sure when it happened, and he knows he definitely did not agree to it, but at some point, he’s pretty sure that knob Jamie Tartt moved into Keeley’s house. How else would he explain why he’s just there—after training, in the morning when Keeley’s still asleep, showing up with take away—all the time?

The worst part is, after a certain point, he’s stopped even minding that he’s there. The house feels too empty without the fucking muppet.

Jamie stalking Keeley in order to get her help was excellent—I love how much he continues to value her input, even if it’s mostly because he doesn’t have anyone else—but I feel like it could have been truly hilarious if, rather than acting on her advice right away, he’d picked another, growlier target.
I'd love to see where they go from the end of season 3, how they get to how cozy they were at the Higgins' party and how that intimacy evolves even further. Roy and Jamie navigating their new relationship as head coach and player, not to mention the ways Keeley's involvement with the women's side and the club itself changes things, too.

Tortall - Tamora Pierce
characters/relationships: Kel
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

These books occupy an enduring soft spot in my heart. I mean, I really enjoy all of the Tortall series and heroines—fantasy land with women warriors and magic and fraught politics has been and will be my jam forever—but Kel is in a class all her own. Every time I reread her quartet, I get such a nostalgia hit and come away adoring her even more. I love her understated tenacity, that determination to rise to meet every challenge that comes her way, and unswerving sense of justice, both of which make her such an incredible knight. But I also love that she is just a girl. One who develops inconvenient crushes and likes math and is nice to pretty much every small (and not-so-small) animal that crosses her path. All while turning the expectations for young ladies in her society on their heads because she's excellent at multitasking even if she'd never ask for the responsibility on her own. And would, in fact, rather not have it at all. For all she just wants to be a knight of the realm, one of many, she is too talented and exceptional to ever just blend in with her peers. Which is yet another reason why she’s a cut above the rest; she might not seek out glory, but when it comes to find her (with a heavy dose of duty on its heels), she never thinks about turning it away.

I will be over the moon with anything that expands on or explores Kel as a character, on her own and in company. I am not particularly attached to her being ace, as per word of god; I always liked her crushes in the books and have enjoyed lots of different Kel-ships over the years. But I’d be totally happy with something without any romance in it, too, either focusing on her friendships/camaraderie with other characters (from Tortall and its neighbors or beyond; very much opting into any Emelan characters showing up if you’re interested in a crossover) or something totally character-driven.

prompts

I'm sure there are more than a few embellished versions of Kel and company's foray into Scanra, but has she heard them? What does she think/do upon hearing the first? Second? Fourth? Tenth, etc. etc.?
It probably wouldn’t happen until the border was significantly calmer, but I’d love to see Kel hosting the Palace pages at New Hope for their summer camp. It’s probably considered something of an honor, but less politically fraught than being summoned to Corus or having a party of courtiers within the walls. Plus, while she’s a very good instructor for the common folk, it’d be interesting to see her find her footing with nobles, even just pages.
This one is probably better suited to a comic or shorter fic, but Kel’s dedication to her training—her work with the glaive and lance particularly, but all her weapons—is something I’d love to see detailed and/or expanded on. The meditative ritual of her pattern dances and caring for Peachblossom, donning her armor and riding into the lanes. How does her routine change as she gets older and needs to take better care of herself? Is there one discipline she prefers over others for blowing off steam?
I know there are a lot of great ones out there, but I am always here for more canon divergences!

Like, what if Kel had been forced to repeat the four years of her page training after Lalasa was kidnapped? How does her delay to knighthood affect the situation with Scanra and Blayce?
What if Kel had to go on the run, with or without any of her accomplices, after rescuing the residents of Haven? How does she adapt to life as an outlaw? What injustices can she take on as a knight-errant?
What if Kel decided to turn down the probationary year and waited to become a Queen’s Rider instead?

I'm not sure there's anything that would get her to hold with such foolishness for her own sake, but for a friend's? I could definitely see Kel stooping to a fake courtship, and I'd love to see it!

She's not a bad liar, though she doesn't have a Player's flair for the dramatic, and she's steady as can be. Any one of her friends would be crazy to think she wouldn't play her part well, even if she’s rolling her eyes internally. (Just as they'd be crazy not to fall for her once they've spent so much time together.)

Uprooted - Naomi Novik
characters/relationships: Agnieszka, Agnieszka/Sarkan, Agnieszka/Kasia/Sarkan
format: art (one or two comics), fic (one or two fics)

I am always, always here for fairytale retellings and tropes, and this book knocked it out of the park on those fronts. Largely, that’s based on the world that these characters inhabit, whimsical and sinister all at once. Everything about the snippets of worldbuilding—the history and the institutions and the society—is so tantalizing, especially because it’s just glimpses that make it through. That the rest of the world can’t quite penetrate the insulating bubble of the Valley just adds to the unsettling influence of the Wood. But much as I am intrigued and delighted by this world, it would be nothing without compelling characters. And these three absolutely deliver. I love that even though Agnieszka is a complete hayseed, even stubbornly clings to her provincial sensibility, it’s that perspective that leaves her triumphant in the end. She knows who she is, and even unexpected magical talent can’t change that. Much as Sarkan probably wishes that it would. Of course, his prickly superiority and oceans of talent aren’t enough to shake Agnieszka’s idiosyncrasies, which maybe stops bothering him about a century in. And I can’t leave out Kasia. The fury simmering beneath her lovely exterior adds a vital depth and strength to her character, making her so much more than a victim, of expectations and the Wood. Individually, I adore each of them, but the sheer potential they represent—all that power contained within three fiercely righteous people, is incredible.

Anything illuminating and further fleshing out any of these three characters/relationships would be such a dream. Agnieszka on her own or in concert with either partner(s) presents so much possibility, especially in this world! Feel free to mix and match between tags and prompts, too. For Agnieszka/Kasia/Sarkan, I generally see it as more of a V-formation, with Agnieszka as the hinge, but I’d be very happy to see a throuple, or whatever passes for a quasi-medieval fantasy version of a throuple. Alongside any of these requests, I’m also fine with Kasia/Alosha as a side pairing. Also, if you want to include any other characters from the book, I’m more than happy to see them.

prompts
Agnieszka

For all Jaga has influenced Agnieszka’s magical style, I’d love to see the two of them meeting. Maybe Agnieszka channels her predecessor more than expected and falls back in time, or they both falls out of time to the same place, or Jaga appears to Agnieszka somewhere in the Wood.
How does the legend of Agnieszka of Dvernik (to say nothing of the Dragon and Kasia) grow and twist and warp almost beyond recognition throughout the centuries? Does she ever register an opinion herself, or has she learned, quite possibly the hard way, that trying to set the record straight only ever muddies the waters more?

I’d totally be here for either a more traditional fic/comic or an actual rendition of one of these stories. Possibly several renditions, showing the evolution from reality to myth.

What is Agnieszka like as a mentor? Does she develop a delayed but intense sympathy for Sarkan as she muddles through? Or is she sought after as a tutor—apprentices making the pilgrimage from the capital to the heart of the Wood practically becoming a rite of passage before their examination for the List—much to her chagrin? At some point, does she look up and find that she’s founded a school of her own?
Could Agnieszka ever top her first, greatest accomplishment? Does it depend on who’s asked? While saving the country and its next ruler from an enraged, malignant forest is deeply impressive, her magic is clearly an academic oddity, and I’d love to see her fielding increasingly nosy inquiries from magical scholars. Getting quickly sick of it, and attempting to codify something as meandering and inconsistent as her sense of magic.

Alternatively, the frequency with which she upends the entire paradigm of magical possibility, doing something long considered impossible, is utterly alarming. Which every wizard in the country (and some from without) is sure to let her know.

I’d love to see—literally and figuratively, though I think this could be really interesting and beautiful as a comic, with all the forest-y visuals—Agnieszka gleaning through the Wood. After the centuries of magic feeding it, there must be some truly unique finds as well as fantastical creatures to keep her company.

Are the potions and spells she creates with her gleanings particularly powerful or do they mess with the magic in unexpected ways?

Agnieszka/Sarkan

Agnieszka’s magic—for whatever reason; maybe the Valley had another hedgewitch to take her in hand or the king was more proactive in seeking out magical talent—was discovered when she was younger. By the time of the choosing, to Sarkan’s consternation considering she still seems incapable of the simplest cantrip for all her power, she’s already been established as a hedgewitch, though not consequential enough for the List.
Even with the Wood Queen’s influence put to rest, there’s plenty of danger still at large in the Wood, to say nothing of the rest of Polnya. I’d love to see Agnieszka and Sarkan team up to take on another magical threat.

Has some new monster emerged from the shadows? Or is it something more botanical (hello there, magical sex pollen, effortlessly tearing down all sense of decorum 👀) in nature?

I love the idea of the two of them finding themselves in something of a standoff re: living situations. They both agree that they’re happier together, and don’t mind some time apart, but can’t decide where to settle.

Sarkan refuses to move into Agnieszka’s tree hut, no matter how close to civilized it’s proven to be the times she gets him to visit, and if Agnieszka is less opposed to the tower, she’s not going to just give this to him. Not when he’s so entertaining to provoke.

The intimacy that comes from the intertwining of their magic probably doesn’t get any less heady the more they do it. Is it a struggle when they have to combine forces with an audience around? Does one of them find it more difficult than the other?
What do these two think of the world as it moves on around them? As Polnya progresses and the memory of the Wood’s corruption fades, do wizards and witches occupy the same role? Are there some changes they embrace wholeheartedly?

Agnieszka/Kasia/Sarkan

It will take years, decades, longer even, for anyone other than Agnieszka to feel truly at ease in the Wood, but that doesn’t mean she’s not eager for company beneath its canopy.

Agnieszka merrily dragging a reluctant/wary Sarkan and Kasia off for adventures in the Wood, please! Her promise that it’s only sometimes something might come along and try to kill them, rather than a certainty, is not the comfort she thinks it is.

I’m very intrigued by the possibility of an AU where Kasia is chosen, but Agnieszka still comes to apprentice with him later. Perhaps when Sarkan has to come to Dvernik to clean up the corrupted cattle? How does he deal with two girls of the Valley overrunning his sanctuary? Is Agnieszka any less intimidated by him with Kasia so near? Does Kasia show some of her nerve in standing up for her friend, demanding an explanation for what's happening?
For whatever reason, Agnieszka and Sarkan are required back in the capital, except the summons to court rarely make it over the mountains. Those that do are returned most unceremoniously. Finally, Kasia is dispatched to retrieve the pair.

Once she arrives, has spent some time away from court, she finds their reluctance to leave the Valley all too understandable. Though, maybe it’s not the Valley itself, and more the company she finds there.

Agnieszka’s relationship with Kasia and Sarkan has pretty good foundations in the book, but I’m very interested in your take on Kasia and Sarkan. Especially since they start out so uncomfortable with each other, Sarkan for Kasia’s corruption and Kasia because he represents that feared, resented future that never became hers. How do they find more common ground than just Agnieszka?
I’m not sure what kind of mystery requires the talents of all three of them, but I’d still love to see it. Does the team up remind them a little too much of saving the prince and princess? Or is it all a little too silly, having been called upon to humor some noble who thinks too highly of themself, and they just enjoy having the chance to catch up?

Last updated on August 10, 2023

Five Figure Fanwork Exchange 2023

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