elegantstupidity | Heart Attack Exchange 2024 (Reply)

Hi! Hello! Let's get cracking, shall we?

Hopefully, this letter contains all and more than you could possibly need to create for me, but please feel free to ask for clarifications/more info! I'm generally very easy to please. Incorporating any of my prompts or likes would be a huge bonus, but pretty much anything about the characters/ships I've requested is going to be a winner in my book.

Thanks in advance and let's get through this together! See you on the other side!

elegantstupidity

Navigation
Yes, Please! and No, Thanks!
Requests:

The Bear

A League of Their Own

舞妓さんちのまかないさん | Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san (Manga)

Naruto

Pitch

Tortall - Tamora Pierce

Uprooted - Naomi Novik

Yes, Please!
genres and styles

adventure (from the everyday to the epic), angst (admittedly, I love a bittersweet or happy ending, though), 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/haters [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, spanking, etc.
use of athleticism/strength/endurance/stamina/flexibility/focus on character's 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.

No, Thanks!

explicit and/or extreme (14 or younger) underage

referenced or implied sex involving characters 15-18 is fine

graphic violence or gore

"Graphic" is a bit subjective, but generally, I'd prefer no extended or detailed descriptions of viscera and guts. In-canon or canon-typical battles/fights/injuries/whatever are fine.

humiliation

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

incest
infidelity

When a canon relationship interferes with a requested ship, I'd prefer an AU where the canon relationship isn't together (having never happened in the first place or having broken up) or isn't mentioned at all.

non-canon character death (unless prompted)
non-canon established relationships for requested characters/ships (unless prompted)

non-canon established friends with benefits is fine

non-canon pregnancy and/or parenting for requested characters or as the focus of a fic
- babysitting, temporary accidental baby acquisition, or kids who exist in canon are all fine
rape or noncon

Requests

The Bear
characters/ships: Sydney, Sydney/Carmy, Sydney & Natalie

thoughts and notes
I love that you can feel the tension and stress baked into pretty much every moment of this show. Everything matters so much all the time! Even if, in the grand scheme of things, it probably shouldn't.
Which is not to say that I'm only after a story that feels heavy and stressful; I'd be so, so here for something where Syd/Carmy or Syd & Nat get to enjoy an amazing day where only the nicest things happen to them. (Basically, anything along the spectrum from pure fluff to anxiety city would be *chef's kiss*)
I also really like how dialed in on the characters' mental states the show is, layering visuals with sound engineering and repetition to really crank up the stress or smoothing all the superfluity away for calm and purpose. It would be really cool to see how those effects could work out in a fic or comic!
All those loving shots of food—the pure attention to detail and technique!—went straight to my heart. (If only they went to my stomach, too.)
Sydney's work ethic is just incredible. She takes her work—both as a chef and as the co-owner of a new business—so seriously. She craves success, having tasted failure, and will put in whatever work is necessary to get it.
Syd's impatient desire to prove herself and the compromises she thinks she has to make to do so make her such a compelling, flawed mess of a human, but still she keeps striving for better.
The pure potential of Sydney/Carmy absolutely grabbed me from the very first episode. The lingering looks, the hero worship, (the bitter disappointment upon finding out your hero is an emotional dumpster fire), the unexpected synchronicity, the intimacy of creating something so personal—food and the restaurant—together! There's just so much fodder and so many ways for their relationship to develop and devolve and eventually come back together, and I am here for every one of them.
I loved where Nat and Syd's relationship ended up going in season 2. The real camaraderie, solidarity and partnership in the face of Carmy's bullshit, they developed was such a delight. I'd love to see how their friendship, now that Nat is all in on The Bear and Syd's been a little burned by Carmy and might look to someone else to lean on, can go!
Totally happy for any other characters and background relationships showing up, too!

prompts

I have been watching a ton of Food Network and food documentaries, and now I'm stuck imagining all the possible a crossover-ish situations. Both what would actually end up in the eventual final cut of an episode and all the behind-the-scenes chaos.

Like: The crew of The Bear on Iron Chef (or Legally-Distinct Culinary Battle if you want to make up your own show and/or not include real people). Or Syd as a fan-favorite contestant on Top Chef or Chopped because of her hilarious talking heads. Or the Chef's Table episode dedicated to Sydney once she has her own restaurant—how much does her food have to fight for screentime over discussion of the contentious (or not) split from her first restaurant and culinary partner? Or The Bear is getting featured on a food show, which, of course, is exactly when everything goes to hell.

Honestly, I'd love any kind of exploration of where Syd goes following the end of season 2.

Like, they did it. They opened the Bear on the ridiculous timeline Cicero required, but there's still such an uphill battle to making it a success, and I just know Sydney wouldn't settle for shitshow of that opening night.
Rebuilding her faith in Carmy (more like Carmy earning back her trust). Navigating this new facet to her working relationships with Marcus or Richie. Hiring new, non-meth-smoking, cooks. Commiserating with Sugar. Enjoying her dad's newfound belief in this choice she's made. Any or all of it, I'm dying to know!

How about Sydney moving into her own place, particularly now that she and her dad have resolved some of their issues. Does moving out reignite some of them? Does she flounder when it comes to picking out stuff for herself vs the restaurant? Who from The Bear finds out she's moving and insists on helping (or "helping" as the case may be)?
Trying out seasonal recipes, either for the restaurant or family meals or just for fun. Who refuses to put peppermint in anything and who would bathe in egg nog if they could? How does Syd deal with any remotely Christmas-y dishes getting unceremoniously shot down by Carmy?
I really loved when Syd was cooking for Marcus, just at home, not trying to prep enough for an entire restaurant, taking her time and making something beautiful because she wants to do something nice. So, basically, more of that? Food as a love language (for her coworkers or her dad or just every customer who walks through the door)?
- Family dinners of any stripe, please! Homey or fraught or just plain weird. More pre-shift meals at The Bear or getting a taste of a Berzatto get-together (though whether it's more or less stressful than that Christmas episode is up to you) or bringing food to Marcus and his mom/for her funeral or loading Sugar and Pete up with freezer meals once the baby's arrived.

A League of Their Own (Film)
characters: Jimmy/Dottie

thoughts and notes
I adore this movie with pretty much every fiber of my being. There is basically nothing you could give me about these characters from this movie that I won't eat up with a spoon! Not to quote a completely unrelated show, but, yes. It's about sisterhood and the war. It's about a baseball team grinding it up. And I love every single second of it.
The setting is a huge plus for me. The WWII home front is such an interesting period, and any historical details you want to include—from the lighter end like pop culture and fashion to period-typical issues topics with more weight–—would be great bonuses for background color.
Specifically, I find the history of the actual AAGPBL really fascinating! I mean, the meeting of gender politics and early feminism with baseball history with wartime Midwestern values? How could I resist?
Part and parcel of that really is the baseball of it all. Yes, it's a fun sports movie, but it's not all Peaches (hah) and cream. The grit of these characters, their talent and dedication and love of the game always, always gets me.
As much as I love everything above, I am just as much here for the sheer potential of Jimmy/Dottie. 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.
Dottie's sheer competence—her talent on the field and composure off it—is so intimidating. Whereas the only thing intimidating about Jimmy is his faded legacy. I love that he's such an out and out disaster, too quick with a joke at his own expense, but one who's not beyond piecing himself back together for something (or someone) he believes is worth the effort. That he ends up being one of the only people to crack Dottie's veneer, to draw out some vulnerability, proves that it is.
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!
Note: For this request, you can (but don't have to) ignore my character death DNW to kill off Bob. You can also ignore his existence entirely and/or go with an AU where he and Dottie aren't together.

prompts

What does the season look like when 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 kind of missing scene would be greatly appreciated. Here are some ideas:

What did Jimmy or Dottie think about the filming of that newsreel? Did they get to see a preview of it, or did they have to go to the theater to see it with the rest of the world?
Apparently there's a deleted scene (#5) in which, “Dottie isn’t sure if going ‘all the way’ is something married women ‘get to’ or ‘have to’ do.” (RIP Bob.) Um, please expand on how Jimmy Dugan convinces her otherwise, either during the movie or after.
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?

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 baseball’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?
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. Even if propping up the bar with his catcher (or maybe even taking her for a turn around the floor) doesn't feel like something he needs to justify.

舞妓さんちのまかないさん | Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san (Manga)
characters: Sumire & Kiyo, Sumire & Kenta & Kiyo

thoughts and notes
I find everything about this manga so sweet and cozy and heartwarming. All the loving attention and detail—to Kiyo's food and Sumire's performances and wardrobe and life in the yakata itself—creates such a wonderful homeyness within a completely unfamiliar (to me, at least) setting.
I also really enjoy the juxtaposition of modern-day Kyoto with the traditions and rituals that rule the Kagai. Kiyo goes from shopping in supermarkets and pining after bread makers to catering for these young women dedicating their lives to these old-fashioned art forms. Half an hour in the hairdresser's chair transforms Sumire into Momohana.
The slice-of-life pace is also really soothing. I am very here for generally low-stakes hijinks and domestic adventures that can never go to awry. Snapshots of Kiyo and Sumire's lives.
These characters are such joys! Kiyo's cheerful industry—she really just wants to feed good food to the people she loves, and that turns out to be pretty much everyone in her life—is so refreshing. She's completely guileless, as kind and caring as she appears. Sumire's dedication to her craft—all that practice and determination to improve—is so admirable, even when it's to the exclusion of pretty much everything else, like remembering to eat. Which is exactly where Kiyo comes in!
Kiyo and Sumire's friendship is absolutely the backbone of this story for me, (which isn't a dig on Kenta at all; he's pretty vital to their dynamic). They're so in tune with one another, all that history together making for an unbreakable bond and unshakeable faith. The way they look to one another to measure their own success and always root for their friends'.
I only requested & relationships, but I am fully open to Sumire/Kiyo and Sumire/Kenta/Kiyo as well if that's a direction you want to go in. Purely platonic friendship? Amazing! The unrequited love triangle as they currently stand? Super! Eventually realized romance, however messy that might be? Excellent!
Any other characters or background ships—I especially love Sumire's relationship with Momoko and Momoko and Azusa's dynamic as well as all the other maiko—you want to include are more than welcome, too!

prompts

I'd love to see what Kiyo and Sumire (and Kenta)'s friendship looks like a few years down the road!

How do they navigate Sumire's transition from maiko to geiko? Is it strange to go from living under the same roof to Sumire establishing her own place? Does she still eat most of her meals at the yakata? What about Kenta's progression from apprentice to chef? Does he consider opening his own restaurant or traveling to learn from other chefs? How does Kiyo feel to see her friends make such clear steps forward when she's still cooking in the same kitchen?

How about any of them unexpectedly working together? Somehow? Could disaster strike the food at an ozashiki where Sumire is performing, and Kiyo is brought in to feed the guests? Kiyo catches a cold or has to go home, so Kenta fills in as the makanai?
Is there ever a time when even Kiyo can't coax Sumire into remembering her appetite? What lengths do Kiyo or Kenta go to to find something her friend will eat? Is something actually wrong, or is Sumire just so focused on her training that not even Kiyo's food can compete?

Alternatively, what do Sumire and/or Kenta do for Kiyo up if she's ever in a slump? Does she try to cook something herself or does she ask for help (from back home or around the Kagai)? Is the art of cheering Kiyo up somehow not food-based?

For all the responsibility both Kiyo and Sumire have—the health and wellbeing as well as the expectations and hopes of their house—they are just teenagers. What gets them to actually cut loose and act like it?

Do maiko and makanai get to indulge in the age-old anime/manga tradition of a beach vacation? What if Kenta didn't get injured and they got to watch him play in the national tournament?
Or do they make do with their days off in Kyoto? I love how getting fast food or grocery shopping can be such a big deal for the maiko, so how do they top that?

What happens when Kiyo develops her first crush (or, for maximum miscommunication, when Sumire or the other maiko have decided Kiyo has fallen in love)? How well—in reality or just to keep up appearances—do Sumire (and Kenta) handle the revelation?

Naruto
characters: Tenten

thoughts and notes
Much as I love the pure ridiculousness that is the Naruto-universe—Ninja! With magic! Demon monsters! Princesses exiled to the moon! The worldbuilding possibilities alone are incredible!—it is secondary to my love of Tenten.
As long as she is front and center, I am happy for you to play as fast and loose with canon/the timeline/worldbuilding/whatever as you like. Bring back characters from the dead or completely diverge from the original storyline! Or go completely canon-compliant! Truly, just after something fun or compelling or heartbreaking or completely off the walls or basically anything about Tenten.
Because, for whatever reason, this walking arsenal with not enough screen-/pagetime is the character from this world who has stuck with me the longest. What can I say? Love me a girl with spirit, big dreams, and an entire armory at her disposal. I love that she can hold her own with, and maybe even outmatch, the bunch of weirdos (which I mean wholly affectionately) on Team Gai.
To be fair, I also like how much potential she's got because she's such a minor character; there’s a lot of filling in the gaps that could be done with her personality and motivations and relationships, all of which make as much sense as anything else in this world.
Essentially, there are about an infinite number of takes on Tenten that I will thoroughly enjoy. Does she have a tragic backstory that was never discussed? Is she entirely too well-adjusted for the Konoha 12? Does she have some secret talent or hobby? Who knows! Make it up and there's a 95% chance it will still fit in with canon!
Any and all Naruto characters you want to include in supporting roles would be more than welcome. I also love Tenten in all kinds of ships, romantic or platonic, if you want to go that route. There truly isn't a Tenten-involved ship that I can think of that I am not at least a little intrigued by. Some possibilities, though don't limit yourself to: Tenten+any of the Konoha 12 or their sensei, Tenten+other weapons users, Tenten+mentors or students of her own, Tenten+reluctant (or not) allies, etc. etc. Totally happy if these relationships are the focus or in the background, leaving most of the plot to Tenten herself.
Note: I don't consider killing off OCs and/or violence in mission fic to violate any of my DNWs; maybe don't lean really hard on particularly gory/bloody details, but don't feel like you have to shy away from the fact that she's an actual, battle-tested ninja.

prompts

I would never turn down a juicy mission fic/comic. One where Tenten is really in her element and kicking ass. Alternatively, I would not say no to one where she’s got her work cut out for her, the struggle to complete the objective honing her into a better ninja. Is it deep cover intelligence gathering or large-scale mayhem and sabotage? 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?.
Part of why I find Tenten so impressive is because she has such a novel skillset, especially compared to her teammates and Gai. I like to think of her as an accomplished self-directed learner—or one who is willing her own mentors and learning opportunities—and I'd love to see more of her taking up new skills, or just honing the ones she already has.

Possibly: Negotiating and signing a summoning contract. (With pandas? Or something more predatory? Or go ahead and tip her into Mary Sue status and have her summon dragons!) Developing jutsu on her own or with research partners from around Konoha or beyond. Studying non-projectile weapons (or designing a completely new one to really catch enemies off guard) with whoever will take her on.
On the complete flip side, I'd also be very into someone asking Tenten to share her expertise. Advanced kunai tricks with Professor Tenten! Or filling in as a jounin sensei for various teams (I haven't seen any of Boruto, but feel free to use Boruto characters for this and/or go with existing younger characters or make up OCs).

I don't know that I see Tenten actively searching out an eternal rival of her own, but I also can't see her turning one down if it falls in her lap, you know? Or it's entirely possible she runs hard in the opposite direction because one Gai Jr. is more than enough in the village, even if her potential rival doesn't agree.
Time travel nonsense, please!

Traveling physically back in time, to the Warring States Period or the Third War or just in time she'd be the right age to play sensei to the Rookie 9! Or Peggy Sue-style getting sent back to her younger self and trying to speed-run saving the world, or maybe just doing everything in her power to save a few, precious lives.

Honestly, I have simple needs. I want Tenten to have nice things (all the knives she can carry! delicious food! lots and lots of orgasms!) and for someone (or many someones) to think she's as neat as I do. Give her a secret admirer or the weapons cache of her dreams or the mission of a lifetime—leading to fame and glory or the ability to settle down and focus on a new passion, whatever it may be.
I am always a sucker for stories about my faves discovering some long-buried secret about themselves, and I feel like Tenten—with no established background to speak of—is the perfect person to discover she's secretly a princess. Or a dragon (or entitled to some kind of dragon friend). Or the inheritor of a ridiculous, overpowered kekkei genkai. Just girl power fantasies everywhere!

Pitch
characters/relationships: Ginny Baker, Ginny/Mike, Ginny/Livan/Mike, Ginny & Blip/Evelyn

thoughts and notes
This might just be my forever show? For something that only aired 10 episodes, I really do love it an awful lot. It's such a great drama, with room for humor and romance and all these wonderful character beats. It's earnest and optimistic without getting too pie-in-the-sky, remaining grounded. Just in a slightly kinder reality.
Baseball is one of the few sports I actively enjoy and care about, and I love all the inside, well, baseball that this show delivers. The action on the field is as fun as what goes on in the clubhouse and front office. A story that leans into the love of the game—tradition and pain and victory and pressure and competitiveness all wrapped up in a schoolyard game—would be much appreciated!
The character development in 10 episodes always astounds me. So many wonderful, flawed, complex characters with their own journeys and perspectives, crossing paths and butting heads and finding real understanding in one another.
I really think that Ginny Baker might be my platonic ideal of a fictional character. 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 I love that for all she is on a pedestal all her own, she's really not without a support system. There are so many people who care for her on a personal level, even if that care isn't perfect. Her relationships with her friends and family and teammates really highlight that she's just a human.
I adore Blip and Evelyn as a couple, from the well-worn arguments to the deep well of affection and love, their dynamic feels so real. And their status as Ginny's #1 fans and supporters, her truest friends, is a source of stability for someone who doesn't have much to speak of. Anything that delves into their relationship, how it started or where it's going, is going to be a delight!
And where would Ginny be without her catchers? (I mean, probably exactly where she already is, and arguably less distracted, but.) Both 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. They're such great foils for one another, the fading hero and the rising star. However little they enjoy each other, or are willing to cop to, they’re at least in total agreement about Ginny. The chemistry between any two of them, let alone all three together, is perfection.

prompts

I am always here for more postseason for the Padres!

Are they stuck watching from the sidelines yet again, or have they made it further than anyone thought they would? Champagne showers or drowning their sorrows with leftover Halloween candy? Inadvisable victory hookups or... inadvisable defeat hookups?

I am a true sucker for "Ginny moves out of the hotel" stories and would love another take on it! Does she stay with Blip and Evelyn for a while? Move into Mike's pool house? Go straight for buying a home or a condo of her own? How does the new place (and the budget bump thanks to that Major League minimum salary) compare to what she had in the minors? Does she want a roommate or somehow get stuck with one despite her protests?
A Major League season comes with so, so much travel, but since it's crammed in around 81 baseball games, I imagine it's not a ton of fun. Let's change that!

Where does Ginny go during the offseason? Go back to places she couldn't properly explore or head for a bit of wilderness? What bits of fun does she, maybe with the help of a teammate or two, carve out during whirlwind road trips? In real life, the Padres have played in Mexico twice and are set to play in Seoul next season, and in Pitch life, Ginny played winter ball in -probably Latin America, which could make for some fun adventures!

I totally love all the goofy and/or over the top serious (which is kind of goofy in its own right, considering they're adults playing a children's game) PR shoots professional athletes have to go through. For the team and endorsements and trading cards and broadcast partners and local media and everything else under the sun. I imagine Ginny is even more in demand than may of her teammates, and so spends a lot of time getting her picture taken. Or waiting for her picture to be taken.

How does she kill time waiting for the next set up? What's the silliest thing she's had to wear? In spite of all her media training, is she still stiff as a board if she ever has to read lines? Who puts forth no inconsiderable effort in getting her to break? Or do they take pity and conspire to break her out of the set when it's clear Ginny's one flashbulb away from snapping?

Of course, I am so here for any post-finale storylines you have up your sleeve! Where does Ginny go from that MRI? What's her road back to the mound look like? How does she juggle supporting Blip and Evelyn through their bumpy patch? Do she and Mike ever talk (or more) about it?? Just tell me she ends up happy, please!

Tortall - Tamora Pierce
characters/relationships: Kel

thoughts and notes
The Protector of the Small 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 absolutely in a class all her own. She is Forever Girl™ status to me.
I love her practicality and understated tenacity, that determination to rise to meet every challenge that comes her way, and unswerving sense of justice, without which she wouldn't be the incredible knight that she becomes. As much natural talent and capacity she has, she also works hard. Because she knows she has to prove herself, however unfair the double standard is, but also because she's not the kind of person who would let herself be anything less than her best.
But I also love that she is just a girl. One who develops inconvenient crushes and likes math and is kind to pretty much every small (and not-so-small) animal that crosses her path. All while turning the expectations of young ladies in her society on their heads. (Because she's excellent at multitasking more than she would dream of seeking out that kind of responsibility on purpose.)
Then, as if that's not enough, she has to go and be incredible at the whole chivalrous warrior thing. For all she might want to be one knight of the realm among many, she is too talented and exceptional to blend in with her peers. 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 also do love Tortall and its surroundings in and of itself. The sense of history and tradition, the folklore and culture and mythology—complete with deities who are maybe a little too invested in the goings ons of mere mortals—the magic and the mundane, all create a picture of this fully fleshed out world while still leaving so much to explore.
Familiar friends, unexpected allies, newfound enemies, potential lovers for Kel, however unlikely or expected, are more than welcome, too! Any and everyone from this universe (or another: I honestly wouldn't say no to a Circle of Magic crossover if you have any inspiration in that vein) would be so much fun to see!

prompts

I'm sure there are more than a few embellished versions of Kel and company's foray into Scanra that get passed around amongst the residents of New Hope or the men of the Own and even all along the northern border, but very rarely are they told within the Lady Knight's hearing. What does she think/do upon finally catching wind of the highly embellished tale the first time? The second? Fourth? Tenth, etc. etc.?
This one might be 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 or expanded on or spun as a character study.

The meditative ritual of her pattern dances or 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? Does she push herself to keep up with new weaponry and techniques?

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? Or would she choose to spare her parents the expense and go home? Would she continue training or help in the fief or assist her parents' diplomatic efforts?
What if Kel felt she had to go on the run, with or without any of her accomplices, after rescuing the residents of Haven? How would she adapt to life as an outlaw? What injustices can she take on as a knight-errant that were beyond her scope as a knight of the realm?
What if Kel decided to turn down the probationary year and waited to become a Queen’s Rider instead? Or did neither and went on to become one of Thayet's or even Shinko's ladies in waiting?

At some point, people must realize that Kel has both the regard and the trust of most of the royal family and must think that they can use her to gain that standing for themselves. Now, I don't think she would fall for any ingratiating or bowing and scraping, but I could see her being too busy or too polite to properly show someone the door when their biggest crime is just being annoying.

I can also see her friends being far less accommodating of these potential toadies. Maybe and especially when those overtures tip from the professional to opportunistic proposals of marriage? (And, of course, they're just upset because their friend Kel's feelings are being toyed with. Not because the thought of her marrying someone else is at all upsetting, obviously.)

Uprooted - Naomi Novik
characters: Agnieszka, Agnieszka/Kasia, Agnieszka/Sarkan, Agnieszka/Kasia/Sarkan

thoughts and notes
I love the overall tone of this book. The prose and the premise feel really cozy to me. I mean, I'm always, always here for fairytale retellings/reimaginings, and this is such an excellent example of what I love about them. Taking something nostalgic and familiar and skewing it enough to turn it into some recognizable but still refreshingly novel.
The worldbuilding is wonderful, too, whimsical and sinister all at once. Everything that's implied about this place—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.
I also particularly like the way magic works (or doesn't) in this world. Agnieszka's naturalistic instinct playing all loosey-goosey with standard practices vs Sarkan's academic adherence to the tried and true. Then, there's Wood Queen's people and her curse as a third magical approach. Makes me wonder what other kinds of variants are possible!
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 into their acquaintance. 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.
If you want to write something shippy, I like both Agnieszka/Sarkan—where I'm very into any and all facets of their relationship; from the early days to their magical partnership to plain old romance—and Agnieszka/Kasia/Sarkan—where I could see it as a conventional OT3 or a love angle with Agnieszka as the hinge. I enjoy the potential of Kasia/Alosha, a lot, too! But I'd also be very happy with a fic about their non-romantic relationship(s).
Any other characters or background relationships you want to include are more than welcome.

prompts

What if Agnieszka’s magic was discovered earlier? (Why? Who knows! Maybe the Valley had another hedgewitch to take her in hand or the king was more proactive in seeking out magical talent) Early enough that 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. Not one consequential enough for the List, but certainly not in need of a magical mentor.

Which doesn't irk him at all. Even if he finds himself interrogating his chosen tribute more about that odd friend of hers than enjoying Kasia's lovely company.
If Kasia's less than subtle angling for a visit from Agnieszka is not met with a stone wall of resistance, well, she's really not in a position to question it.

I’m very intrigued by the possibility of an AU where Kasia is chosen, but Agnieszka still comes to apprentice with Sarkan later. Perhaps he discovers her power when he 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 to make her brave? Does Kasia show some of her nerve in standing up for her friend, demanding an explanation for what's happening?
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 of any of them struggling with this revelation or an actual rendition of one of these stories. Possibly several renditions, or excerpts of them, showing the evolution from reality to myth?/li>

I find the canon existence of time travel so much fun and would love to read something that plays around with any one of the possibilities it opens up!

Does someone slip through time, leaving the other two to team up to go and retrieve them? Does Baba Jaga herself make an appearance to Kasia or Sarkan (which frustrates Agnieszka to no end)? Who receives the most visits from their future!selves, warning of great turmoil if they're not careful? Who inadvertently sets off a timeloop, leaving the three of them to figure a way out of it?

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 May 14, 2024

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