Femslash Exchange dear Author Letter (2016)
Person of Interest (Shaw/Root)
I love Shaw. I love her dearly. I love that she's aggressive and violent and callous and course, I love her sense of humour, I love her approach to sex, and above all I love her interactions with Root - that is to say, those of the twisted, sexy, flirty variety. I do love Root as well, but mostly the way she was at the start: amoral, sadistic, ambiguous in a lot of ways. The sex scene in Shaw's simulation was everything I wanted of them: mutually wrestling for control, neither giving in, everything looking as much as a wrestling match as sex. And it's forever frustrating to me that we never really got to see any of their relationship after Shaw agreed to hop on board, so to speak. So that's what I'm requesting here: just give me anything with Shaw and Root being together. Whether it's an AU where Shaw doesn't get kidnapped in If Then Else and they've got to deal with the fallout of that kiss, or an AU where they start shagging while they're undercover at the start of S4, or during S3 (Root Path?) or even an after-the-end where Root didn't get killed... Established relationship, or the start of their relationship, whatever works. Even other AU's would work for me, as long as you keep that edge of danger and violence, so probably no coffee shop AU's or something (unless you have a very different experience with coffeeshops than I do). What I like above all in this relationship is how unsentimental it is, so anything too lovey-dovey would feel off. Also, this is a ship where explicit sex is very welcomed, especially if you can include any power dynamics (i.e. Root being smilingly bossy, Shaw being grumpily defensive and rebellious). But, like I said, only if you feel comfortable with that!
Ghostbusters (basically any pairing involving Jillian Holtzmann)
I watched Ghostbusters and I screamed when Holtzmann's fight scene happened, and then I watched it again and got actual physical goosebumps. And that's just that one scene - basically everything about her, from her wink and her flirting and her weirdness and her sense of fashion and her GODDAMN SPEECH AT THE END merits screaming, imo. And I want more of her, hence the request.
Honestly, I'm not very fussed who you pair her with. I liked Patty and Holtzmann, with Patty being unimpressed and pulling her back when she got too weird but also calling her "baby" and "Holtzy"; I like Holtzmann and Erin, with Holtzmann clearly being fascinated by Erin from the start and Erin being initially weirded out but also impressed; I like Holtzmann and Abby, bc TWO OUTCAST LADY SCIENTISTS STUCK IN A LAB TOGETHER DOING CRAZY SCIENCE is, well, a lot. And I like all of them together, obviously, because they're ladies having each others' backs and being delighted by science together.
It is important to me that the story captures the essence of Holtzmann, the gives-no-shit attitude and the enthusiasm and the flirtyness, but the rest is pretty much open for grabs. I'd love to see something post-movie, or (in case of Abby and Holtzmann) the origin story of how they met. Anything set during works as well - how did they react to Patty joining, for example? I'm also very open to aromantic or asexual characters here - explicit sex is absolutely not a must, but I'm open to it if you wanna go there. What I'm looking for mostly is that sense of support for each other.
Steven Universe (Lapis/Peridot, Pearl/Rose Quartz)
I awwed a lot during Peridot's "courtship" of Lapis and I was delighted by how they were in Beta, basically an old married couple. I'd love to see how they got there.
As for Pearl, I had shipping feels right from the start but It's Over Isn't It really kicked them up a notch. I'd love to see anything, and I do mean anything, with them. How they first met, their first fusion, something during the time after the war but before Greg, or Pearl being jealous and bitter when Greg's around. Feel free to make it a bit non-fluffy; one of the things I really like about Rose is that she is kind, but she's also absolutely alien and doesn't have a clue about handling feelings.
By the way, this is a fandom where I'd prefer not to read explicit sex. Sorry, I just can't get over the idea of gem anatomy.
Scott & Bailey (Rachel/Gill)
I love Rachel Bailey because she's such a mess. A realstic, talented, intelligent, abrasive mess who knows it and tries to do something about it but not too much. I love her relationship with Janet (which is as complex and interesting as she is) but it's Rachel and Gill that I'm most fascinated by. There's just something about the way Rachel obviously looks up to Gill, and the way Gill obviously thinks highly of Rachel but is also demanding and harsh when needed, that really really gets to me. And I'd love to see that more explored. The thing that immediately jumps to my mind is having Rachel meet up with Gill after she's gone to London and Gill has retired - I like the idea of them meeting when they're a bit more on equal ground. But something earlier would work too, if that's where the story takes you.
This is one where explicit sex is definitely okay, but not necessary.