RarePairFest 2013 Letter
Dear Author,
A thousand thanks for writing one of my pairings. I hope you have as much fun writing it as I will reading it. I like to think I am easy to please and remember optional details are optional. As always in these letters I try to give enough info so that you know what I want, but not so much detail, that you start wondering why I didn’t write the fic myself. Take what you want and ignore the rest. I have optional prompts for each pairing, highlight to reveal them, or ignore them if you already have an idea.
Some of this is from my yuletide letters but it's relevant. :)
Things I like in fanfic (general)
I love to know why, they do it. I live to peep inside the minds of my favorite characters, to dig deep into their fractured psyches. It's the why that makes it sexy. I will never turn down sex or sensuality in a story. I love dirty talk so if you can do it, yes please. I also love power dynamics sexual or otherwise so feel free to explore. My reading taste run to the mature aka explicit, dirty, wrong, but I can fall in love with a brilliant character study as well.
I like the edge of sanity, pleasure, madness, danger, pain. If most people would think you've gone too far with the dark, dirty, violence of something, I'll probably think you got it just right. If you've ever wanted to unleash your deepest, darkest versions of these characters, go for it. Trust me when I say there is very little danger of offending me. Bret Easton Ellis is my favorite writer and I have requested The Following fic. I think that tells you how far you can go right there :) Now having said all that if this isn't who you are as a writer, that's okay. Be you and give your vision of these beautiful broken people to me.
Things I don't like (general)
Mpreg, unless it's Alien Nation or Enemy Mine, then it doesn't work for me. Character bashing, just because you can. Nothing wrong with AU's but for me the world the characters exist in is an essential part of them, so no AU's please. Not particularly into future fics either. No woobies, characters can be vulnerable and strong. Watersports are on my no list. Non-con/rape is pretty much a no for me, but I am fine with dubious consent and grey area scenarios where they fit the context.
Ok the general business is done now onto the fun stuff. Pairings and fandom are listed in no particular order. I will be happy with ANY of these.
Fandoms
The Following
This show, it's not for everybody but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Yes there were things that they didn't do well, but they succeeded at creating a show that raised some interesting questions about sexuality and attraction and was sexy at the same time This show found the sex in violence, and the violence in sex. It ticked all the right boxes for me. Feel free to be as dark and violent as you like.
Ryan/Mike- Mike hero-worships Ryan, but it’s more than that. He wants to save Ryan from himself. Ryan doesn’t want to be saved and he doesn’t want to lose anybody else. They both have dark sides and I would welcome an exploration of that, especially since Mike is in an angrier place after the beating. Clearly they both can play mind games with the best of them, maybe they use that to get what they want? Hurt/comfort, pain kink, UST, power dynamics I don’t expect or need a happy ending. The fic can be set during the Carroll investigation or post-season depending on how you think that will play out.
Prompt: I'm the high you can't sustain
Joe/Ryan- Ryan and Joe are far too wrapped up in each other. I’m not even sure they hate each other. It’s clear that feelings are there, and they are dark, deep and twisted. How did it end? How did it begin? When did Ryan know?
Prompt: I wrote this novel just for you. That's why it's vulgar.
Joe/Charlie- Charlie's death scene, that is all. I think that scene sums everything about these two. Anything exploring the power dynamic between those two in bed or out, would make me smile. It you’re comfortable with kink D/s, Joe testing Charlie’s limits, denial, strict protocol, blood-play, sadism, knife-play, discipline.
Prompt: Strike me down. Give you everything you've got. Strike me down. Take it any way you want.
The Vampire Diaries
So with the exception of this past season (things got a bit convoluted), I really like this show. It's so much fun and usually better than people give it credit for. It doesn't hurt that everyone is beautiful in Mystic Falls. I think you could pair any two or more characters from this show and make it work. It's all about what lies beneath the surface, the secrets and longings and surprises. I like every single character on this show, even Katherine, especially Katherine. Bonus points for blood-play, kink and going full on vamp during sex. I'm current with the show so no worries about spoilers. You can feel free to ignore anything you want from the most recent season, because *shudders*
Jeremy/Tyler- So much tension between these two from day one, how they’ve managed not to hook up is beyond me. They react so strongly to each other, especially when hurt or angry. I would love to see something where they totally unleash both physically and emotionally. I'm happy to read scenarios set when they are both still human, or after Tyler has become a hybrid and Jeremy has become a hunter(I don’t know if back from the dead Jeremy would still be a hunter). Things I like for this pair rough sex, sadism, masochism, angst, first time, bittersweet, working out their issues through sex, hurt/comfort.
Prompt: This is the only time I really feel alive.
Elena/Jeremy- Don't look at me with your judgey eyes. :) While on the surface their relationship seems great I think a closer look would reveal that things aren't quite right at casa Gilbert. No family is as perfect as everyone is Mystic Falls thinks the Gilberts were. Show me that Elena and Jeremy were never okay. Alternately something dealing with the Jeremy is a hunter, Elena is a vampire problem if you’re interested in that.
Prompt: You’ll find the shame is like the pain, you only feel it once.
Jeremy/Katherine- Explore all the dirty, wrong implications of this pairing. Katherine can be vamp or human your choice. There is so much about twisted family connections, and repressed desire to be mined here. There can't be any secrets between these two or can there?
Prompt: You’re a little bit damaged. I’m a sucker for that.
Caroline/Stefan- Teacher and student, friends, could they be lovers? I say yes, these two have undeniable chemistry. Stefan is not a good boy and we all know what Caroline used to be like. Vanity and insecurity can make a girl do crazy things. Maybe there is just something between a vamp and the one who taught her how to live. Maybe they've always wanted each other a little bit. Maybe they just don’t want to think, maybe they are tired of always doing the right thing. Dark and dirty or bittersweet and angsty, they can regret it or flaunt it just make them do it. :)
Prompt: Fully fed, yet still I hunger.
Katherine/Elena- Mirror-images, doppelanger D/s,bitchiness, vulnerability this pairing has endless possibilities. I think we have seen glimpses of Katherine's better side, and Elena's dark potential, would love to see them explored. Anything can happen with these two and I bet it does.
Prompt: You can suck anything/ but you know you wanna be me
Teen Wolf
Werewolves and teenage drama, what's not to love? I'm current and will be happy with fic set during any season. I think most of these characters have really interesting inner lives. They’re still figuring out who and what they are and they’re all a tad self-obsessed which just makes things even more complicated. Unless I mentioned it in my general dislikes I’m fine with the werewolf related kinks.
Issac/Scott- Issac is so pretty I don't know how anyone resists him. I like the developing friendship between Issac and Scott. Issac trusts Scott and I think that means a lot to Scott and he wants to be worthy of that trust. I like Issac's occasional awkwardness and did I mention his pretty, pretty face. Scott's fun and charming sometimes despite himself. They can both be complete asses too. They both have to work on control. Angst or sweetness, kinky or vanilla, power dynamics, trust issues, pushing boundaries.
Prompt:Don't you know it's alright, you can love her and you can love me at the same time.
Scott/Stiles- These two, so much love. They are best friends, even when they aren't. Their bond is clearly deep and I'd like to see that friendship turn into something more. Can be UST or one sided or pre-slash or porn, let Scott be Scott and Stiles be Stiles. They are so far from flawless and I love it. I like that they can both be so smart and so clueless all at once. What's the tipping point, when one or both of them realizes they could be something more?
Prompt:I don't like ties. I like to win . . .by big margins.
Allison/Lydia- This is another case of friends seeing something more in each other. Both Allison and Lydia have been through so much and I think they rely on each other. Hurt/comfort, friends with benefits, or genuine love, maybe all three?
Prompt: I can’t make myself heard, no matter how hard I scream.
Derek/Erika- Derek was fifty-one shades of wrong, when he offered Erika the bite and he knows it. I kind of love that. Erika wants to be wanted, and she’s just starting to understand the power she can have. Whatever he may say, there is no way Derek doesn’t want her, and I think Erika knows that. Denial, shifting power dynamics, who has control isn’t so clear when you’re fucking.
Prompt: Show me all the things that I shouldn’t know
A thousand thanks for writing one of my pairings. I hope you have as much fun writing it as I will reading it. I like to think I am easy to please and remember optional details are optional. As always in these letters I try to give enough info so that you know what I want, but not so much detail, that you start wondering why I didn’t write the fic myself. Take what you want and ignore the rest. I have optional prompts for each pairing, highlight to reveal them, or ignore them if you already have an idea.
Some of this is from my yuletide letters but it's relevant. :)
Things I like in fanfic (general)
I love to know why, they do it. I live to peep inside the minds of my favorite characters, to dig deep into their fractured psyches. It's the why that makes it sexy. I will never turn down sex or sensuality in a story. I love dirty talk so if you can do it, yes please. I also love power dynamics sexual or otherwise so feel free to explore. My reading taste run to the mature aka explicit, dirty, wrong, but I can fall in love with a brilliant character study as well.
I like the edge of sanity, pleasure, madness, danger, pain. If most people would think you've gone too far with the dark, dirty, violence of something, I'll probably think you got it just right. If you've ever wanted to unleash your deepest, darkest versions of these characters, go for it. Trust me when I say there is very little danger of offending me. Bret Easton Ellis is my favorite writer and I have requested The Following fic. I think that tells you how far you can go right there :) Now having said all that if this isn't who you are as a writer, that's okay. Be you and give your vision of these beautiful broken people to me.
Things I don't like (general)
Mpreg, unless it's Alien Nation or Enemy Mine, then it doesn't work for me. Character bashing, just because you can. Nothing wrong with AU's but for me the world the characters exist in is an essential part of them, so no AU's please. Not particularly into future fics either. No woobies, characters can be vulnerable and strong. Watersports are on my no list. Non-con/rape is pretty much a no for me, but I am fine with dubious consent and grey area scenarios where they fit the context.
Ok the general business is done now onto the fun stuff. Pairings and fandom are listed in no particular order. I will be happy with ANY of these.
Fandoms
The Following
This show, it's not for everybody but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Yes there were things that they didn't do well, but they succeeded at creating a show that raised some interesting questions about sexuality and attraction and was sexy at the same time This show found the sex in violence, and the violence in sex. It ticked all the right boxes for me. Feel free to be as dark and violent as you like.
Ryan/Mike- Mike hero-worships Ryan, but it’s more than that. He wants to save Ryan from himself. Ryan doesn’t want to be saved and he doesn’t want to lose anybody else. They both have dark sides and I would welcome an exploration of that, especially since Mike is in an angrier place after the beating. Clearly they both can play mind games with the best of them, maybe they use that to get what they want? Hurt/comfort, pain kink, UST, power dynamics I don’t expect or need a happy ending. The fic can be set during the Carroll investigation or post-season depending on how you think that will play out.
Prompt: I'm the high you can't sustain
Joe/Ryan- Ryan and Joe are far too wrapped up in each other. I’m not even sure they hate each other. It’s clear that feelings are there, and they are dark, deep and twisted. How did it end? How did it begin? When did Ryan know?
Prompt: I wrote this novel just for you. That's why it's vulgar.
Joe/Charlie- Charlie's death scene, that is all. I think that scene sums everything about these two. Anything exploring the power dynamic between those two in bed or out, would make me smile. It you’re comfortable with kink D/s, Joe testing Charlie’s limits, denial, strict protocol, blood-play, sadism, knife-play, discipline.
Prompt: Strike me down. Give you everything you've got. Strike me down. Take it any way you want.
The Vampire Diaries
So with the exception of this past season (things got a bit convoluted), I really like this show. It's so much fun and usually better than people give it credit for. It doesn't hurt that everyone is beautiful in Mystic Falls. I think you could pair any two or more characters from this show and make it work. It's all about what lies beneath the surface, the secrets and longings and surprises. I like every single character on this show, even Katherine, especially Katherine. Bonus points for blood-play, kink and going full on vamp during sex. I'm current with the show so no worries about spoilers. You can feel free to ignore anything you want from the most recent season, because *shudders*
Jeremy/Tyler- So much tension between these two from day one, how they’ve managed not to hook up is beyond me. They react so strongly to each other, especially when hurt or angry. I would love to see something where they totally unleash both physically and emotionally. I'm happy to read scenarios set when they are both still human, or after Tyler has become a hybrid and Jeremy has become a hunter(I don’t know if back from the dead Jeremy would still be a hunter). Things I like for this pair rough sex, sadism, masochism, angst, first time, bittersweet, working out their issues through sex, hurt/comfort.
Prompt: This is the only time I really feel alive.
Elena/Jeremy- Don't look at me with your judgey eyes. :) While on the surface their relationship seems great I think a closer look would reveal that things aren't quite right at casa Gilbert. No family is as perfect as everyone is Mystic Falls thinks the Gilberts were. Show me that Elena and Jeremy were never okay. Alternately something dealing with the Jeremy is a hunter, Elena is a vampire problem if you’re interested in that.
Prompt: You’ll find the shame is like the pain, you only feel it once.
Jeremy/Katherine- Explore all the dirty, wrong implications of this pairing. Katherine can be vamp or human your choice. There is so much about twisted family connections, and repressed desire to be mined here. There can't be any secrets between these two or can there?
Prompt: You’re a little bit damaged. I’m a sucker for that.
Caroline/Stefan- Teacher and student, friends, could they be lovers? I say yes, these two have undeniable chemistry. Stefan is not a good boy and we all know what Caroline used to be like. Vanity and insecurity can make a girl do crazy things. Maybe there is just something between a vamp and the one who taught her how to live. Maybe they've always wanted each other a little bit. Maybe they just don’t want to think, maybe they are tired of always doing the right thing. Dark and dirty or bittersweet and angsty, they can regret it or flaunt it just make them do it. :)
Prompt: Fully fed, yet still I hunger.
Katherine/Elena- Mirror-images, doppelanger D/s,bitchiness, vulnerability this pairing has endless possibilities. I think we have seen glimpses of Katherine's better side, and Elena's dark potential, would love to see them explored. Anything can happen with these two and I bet it does.
Prompt: You can suck anything/ but you know you wanna be me
Teen Wolf
Werewolves and teenage drama, what's not to love? I'm current and will be happy with fic set during any season. I think most of these characters have really interesting inner lives. They’re still figuring out who and what they are and they’re all a tad self-obsessed which just makes things even more complicated. Unless I mentioned it in my general dislikes I’m fine with the werewolf related kinks.
Issac/Scott- Issac is so pretty I don't know how anyone resists him. I like the developing friendship between Issac and Scott. Issac trusts Scott and I think that means a lot to Scott and he wants to be worthy of that trust. I like Issac's occasional awkwardness and did I mention his pretty, pretty face. Scott's fun and charming sometimes despite himself. They can both be complete asses too. They both have to work on control. Angst or sweetness, kinky or vanilla, power dynamics, trust issues, pushing boundaries.
Prompt:Don't you know it's alright, you can love her and you can love me at the same time.
Scott/Stiles- These two, so much love. They are best friends, even when they aren't. Their bond is clearly deep and I'd like to see that friendship turn into something more. Can be UST or one sided or pre-slash or porn, let Scott be Scott and Stiles be Stiles. They are so far from flawless and I love it. I like that they can both be so smart and so clueless all at once. What's the tipping point, when one or both of them realizes they could be something more?
Prompt:I don't like ties. I like to win . . .by big margins.
Allison/Lydia- This is another case of friends seeing something more in each other. Both Allison and Lydia have been through so much and I think they rely on each other. Hurt/comfort, friends with benefits, or genuine love, maybe all three?
Prompt: I can’t make myself heard, no matter how hard I scream.
Derek/Erika- Derek was fifty-one shades of wrong, when he offered Erika the bite and he knows it. I kind of love that. Erika wants to be wanted, and she’s just starting to understand the power she can have. Whatever he may say, there is no way Derek doesn’t want her, and I think Erika knows that. Denial, shifting power dynamics, who has control isn’t so clear when you’re fucking.
Prompt: Show me all the things that I shouldn’t know