shipswap dear author letter - 2014
Well hello there writer friend! First and foremost I hope you have a good time writing for whatever we got matched on. I'm pretty easy going when it comes to fic, so I know I'll love whatever you write. Below I've put a general likes and squicks section as well as individual sections for each pairing request. I talk a lot, so feel free to ignore what I've written and go wherever your muses take you.
General Likes: I love pretty much everything; I love gen, het, femmeslash, slash, multi, etc. Whatever floats your boat. And any rating is good (PG to the pornyist of porn) I love AU/AR stories, canon-gap fillers, actionadventure, comedy, etc . I love love character study pieces - it doesn't have to have plot, just subtle ruminations of characters. I love female characters socializing together, enjoying their off hours together, having fun. I like when people enjoy their work. I like female characters with power and ones who quest for power. Badass ladies who kick ass and take names. I'm not a huge fan of straight-up fluff, I find it not realistic and a tad boring - but I love a happy ending. I love romantic relationships based on friendship and equality, people actually enjoying each other's company and getting to know each other.
Squicks: selfharm/suicide, noncon, bodily fluid kink, babyfic, anal in het pairings, incest, infidelity, character bashing, breathplay, bdsm, animal and child abuse, fat/body shaming. Please do not put any of these in my story. Thanks :)
Kinks: Oh gosh, I'm pretty diverse here too - whatever floats your boat that isn't a squick of mine I'm sure to love. I love women being dominant/confident and I love men being dominant/confident (but all in a mutually respective way of course), knotkink, roughplay, tenderness, ABO in werewolf fic, aliens-made-them-do-it, stuck-in-a-place-together, friends-to-lovers and hell, as long as its not a squick, I'll read anything.
PAIRINGS
Crossovers
Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)/Ronon Dex (Stargate Atlantis)
I like these two because they are both very broken, but are also incredible warriors. Both of them would describe themselves as soldiers first before anything else. The idea of duty, reluctance, loss, etc. I think they'd be able to find kinship in their similarities. They'd be mutually supportive of each other in a way that I don't think either of them has ever had. They'd understand that things need to be done for the greater good even if it means sacrificing themselves/their relationship and sometimes there isn't time for emotions or selfishness. Plus they'd be freakin awesome in battle together; and they each have a great sense of humour, so some lightness amongst the darkness. I'm currently working on two large stories for this pairing so I'm pretty invested in them. lol. I'm up for pretty much anything of these two, want to AU it where they are cops, I'm down with that; you can set it in either show universe if you'd like, they both transition really well. Buffy could be a Runner and her and Ronon meet up, or Ronon is a Rogue Demon Hunter (:P). Or a werewolf AU (I love knotkink! lol).
Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)/Thor (MCU)
what I like about this pairing is the possibility for 'goodness'. Buffy tends to prefer men who have quite a bit of darkness in them (much like herself), but Thor is very 'good', even when he was a spoiled prince, so I think that dynamic would play out in an interesting way. Plus I love the idea of Buffy being stronger than Thor; he's this big ol' powerful god and here's this sassy woman thats stronger than him. I think they'd spar really well, physically and verbally. You could take her to Aasgard or have Thor come across her on a mission for SHIELD and then bring her into the Avengers (bonus points if you get Buffy and Natasha to bond and be awesome together). And she was able to easily pick up Thor's hammer that one time; so take that where it inspires you.
Charles Gunn (Angel the Series)/Jenny Mills (Sleepy Hollow)
This was nominated and I thought 'oooo why not!', so I requested it. Maybe Jenny comes to LA on a mission for Corbin pre-series and runs into the Angel crew. Or W&H send a representative to Sleepy Hollow to help out with upcoming apocalypse. Maybe its set in a Sleepy Hollow future where everything has gone to shit or maybe the apocalypse at the end of Angel is the same one thats coming on SH. Or Jenny is a demon hunter or a slayer or a witch. Or set it in space, or a western. Whatever. If you're comfortable with it, playing with the themes of race and salvation are really appealing to me; how its people of colour saving the world and the biblical/historical contexts of americana. If that's not something you're comfortable, avoid it thats cool. I love all the characters in Sleepy Hollow so feel free to involve any of them (I love Jenny&Abbie loving sister relationship, so maybe Abbie gives Gunn a hard time lol). As for Angel characters, Spike, Illyria, Fred, and Wesley are my favourites.
Helen Magnus (Sanctuary)/Jack Harkness (Doctor Who)
Helen Magnus and Jack Harkness are two of the characters I ship with every character ever written. I love them SO much its crazy - so naturally they'd be awesome together. One of the coolest things is how these two could meet at so many different times in history - so pick one if that's something that interests you. Or maybe they clash over a 'site' and they have to work together to solve it. Or maybe Jack works with the Sanctuary London. Or maybe Helen discovers Torchwood Cardiff. Or maybe she *ran* Torchwood in the past. Or maybe he picks Helen up when he steals the TARDIS. Let them have fun. Or let them get drunk and complain about the suckage of living forever. Flirt flirt flirt. I don't do an OTP thing with them, I think they're both too pragmatic and practical to have that - and they are both essentially immortal. So, I'm open/totally-loving any sort of polyamoury between Helen, Jack, Druitt, Ianto, John Hart, John Druitt, James, and Declan. So hell, play with that as you want. I would not like it if Jack cheated on Ianto - I have a special special place in my heart for those two; but they have a polyamourous understanding at least before CoE, so that would be fine in that case.
Helen Magnus (Sanctuary)/River Song (Doctor Who)
I ship these two ladies with everyone - so they should be paired together. Maybe River steals her away on the TARDIS to explore the galaxy, what adventures and madness they'd get up to! Or maybe she comes across River at different points in history. Or maybe River is connected to the source blood somehow. Or set it way in the future. Or I dunno! Go crazy! Give me a fast insane love affair. Or a slow burn. Hell, throw in either Jack in there if you want (Harkness and/or Druitt) and give me some poly love. Let them have fun! Hunting monsters or stealing artefacts from around the universe. Or maybe Ashley becomes a companion of the Doctor and Helen has to investigate what the heck is going on and falls madly in love with the Doctor's Wife.
Richard B. Riddick (Pitch Black/Chronicles of Riddick)/River Tam (Firefly)
I saw this on the nominations discussion post and fell right for it! What a pairing! And their worlds would mix really well. Maybe Serenity is the ship that comes across Riddick and Jack at the end of Pitch Black (and feel free to undead Carolyn). How would that work out? Or maybe Riddick is someone from Jayne's past that they come across during a job. Or he's a bounty hunter hunting the Tams. Or whatever else pops into your head! I'm also totally open to some River/Jayne/Riddick OT3ness if that's your flavour; men like Jayne and Riddick would be all over the place with their homoerotic posturing lol. For anything involving River, I don't like romantic fics that depict her as childlike and the man 'comforts' her in a childlike way - its creepy as fuck. She's a woman, let her be a woman...but still River.
Lost Girl
Bo/Tamsin
Tamsin is my favourite character on the show, which is funny because she came out so brash and harsh and we weren't supposed to love her. But I did. And then as we learned more about her and how deep and broken she is, I just fell more for her character. I want to know EVERYTHING about her. Her many pasts, her favourite things, her fears, etc. She's also totally in love with Bo (who can blame her) and I really think together they'd make an awesome couple - they're my Lost Girl OTP. Bo has the fire and confidence and take-no-shit-attitude that Tamsin would really benefit from as well as having someone there who loves her for who she is. And Tamsin would be able to love Bo completely as well as allow her to be monogamous (as she wants to be) because she can physically give Bo what she needs. And ug, they'd just be so powerful together. So give me something of them getting together, of them falling in love, or one of them just seducing the other - friends-with-benefits-who-become-more would be a great trope for these two; so would stuck-in-a-place-together. I'd also love anything about the actual magical powers they have, how together they are stronger. And ya, just whatever.
Switched at Birth
Travis/Mary Beth
They are *so* cute together. I love their just-discovering-each-other early love. Learning who the other is, getting to know each other. There's also the language barrier - how is Mary Beth adjusting to ASL? Be super cute to see them fall in love while he helps her learn/study and vice versa. MaryBeth is really smart so they could do homework together. Or do a double date with them and Bay&Emmett. You could also discuss the family situation, how Travis doesn't have a very great one and how MaryBeth does but hers is broken (though please don't write about her brother's death and all that. It can be mentioned, but selfharm topics are very upsetting for me. I'd appreciate it if you kept it fluffy and happy. Thanks). What would their first dates look like? Or how about when they first tell each other they love each other? Their first time together sexually? (lol another sidenote, please no fatshaming)
Bay/Emmett
THESE TWO AND MY FEELINGS. I've really appreciated the way the show handled these two - what Emmett did was so not okay and I would have really been disappointed in Bay if she just went back to him after that. But I do think they can and should get back together (when I wrote this I haven't seen anything of the new season lol). So I'd love something that got them back together - or skip that and set it in the future, with them back together and happy, then you don't have to worry about that. Or set it in the past. I love Bay's social activism and dedication to art and ASL and Emmett is also an artist with his photography. Its fabulous. I love fluff, angst, humour, etc anything for these two. Them talking about their future, their families, etc. Or follow the AU episode where the switch never happened. Whatever.
The West Wing
CJ/Simon
I fell in love with this pairing when it first aired and I've never gotten over it. Ever. OTP it to this day. So....ideally, Simon would live lol. I'd like it to stay in this universe (so no vampires or anything lol); I like the world of politics. I like the idea of little glimpses into their lives together, vignettes of different moments both big and small; sharing breakfast or CJ telling Simon she's the new Chief of Staff. The conflicts that might arise from her position and his job as Secret Service (like what duties he's assigned, conflicts of interest, or benefits of being on the Pres's detail when your wife is also travelling with him, etc) You can set it during the Bartlett administration or after it, I'm not picky. Like what would their life be like when she takes that badass job post series? Bonus points if you throw in any of the other women on this show, Abby, Donna, Kate, Amy, etc - I love the idea of CJ having galpals around her.
General Likes: I love pretty much everything; I love gen, het, femmeslash, slash, multi, etc. Whatever floats your boat. And any rating is good (PG to the pornyist of porn) I love AU/AR stories, canon-gap fillers, actionadventure, comedy, etc . I love love character study pieces - it doesn't have to have plot, just subtle ruminations of characters. I love female characters socializing together, enjoying their off hours together, having fun. I like when people enjoy their work. I like female characters with power and ones who quest for power. Badass ladies who kick ass and take names. I'm not a huge fan of straight-up fluff, I find it not realistic and a tad boring - but I love a happy ending. I love romantic relationships based on friendship and equality, people actually enjoying each other's company and getting to know each other.
Squicks: selfharm/suicide, noncon, bodily fluid kink, babyfic, anal in het pairings, incest, infidelity, character bashing, breathplay, bdsm, animal and child abuse, fat/body shaming. Please do not put any of these in my story. Thanks :)
Kinks: Oh gosh, I'm pretty diverse here too - whatever floats your boat that isn't a squick of mine I'm sure to love. I love women being dominant/confident and I love men being dominant/confident (but all in a mutually respective way of course), knotkink, roughplay, tenderness, ABO in werewolf fic, aliens-made-them-do-it, stuck-in-a-place-together, friends-to-lovers and hell, as long as its not a squick, I'll read anything.
PAIRINGS
Crossovers
Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)/Ronon Dex (Stargate Atlantis)
I like these two because they are both very broken, but are also incredible warriors. Both of them would describe themselves as soldiers first before anything else. The idea of duty, reluctance, loss, etc. I think they'd be able to find kinship in their similarities. They'd be mutually supportive of each other in a way that I don't think either of them has ever had. They'd understand that things need to be done for the greater good even if it means sacrificing themselves/their relationship and sometimes there isn't time for emotions or selfishness. Plus they'd be freakin awesome in battle together; and they each have a great sense of humour, so some lightness amongst the darkness. I'm currently working on two large stories for this pairing so I'm pretty invested in them. lol. I'm up for pretty much anything of these two, want to AU it where they are cops, I'm down with that; you can set it in either show universe if you'd like, they both transition really well. Buffy could be a Runner and her and Ronon meet up, or Ronon is a Rogue Demon Hunter (:P). Or a werewolf AU (I love knotkink! lol).
Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)/Thor (MCU)
what I like about this pairing is the possibility for 'goodness'. Buffy tends to prefer men who have quite a bit of darkness in them (much like herself), but Thor is very 'good', even when he was a spoiled prince, so I think that dynamic would play out in an interesting way. Plus I love the idea of Buffy being stronger than Thor; he's this big ol' powerful god and here's this sassy woman thats stronger than him. I think they'd spar really well, physically and verbally. You could take her to Aasgard or have Thor come across her on a mission for SHIELD and then bring her into the Avengers (bonus points if you get Buffy and Natasha to bond and be awesome together). And she was able to easily pick up Thor's hammer that one time; so take that where it inspires you.
Charles Gunn (Angel the Series)/Jenny Mills (Sleepy Hollow)
This was nominated and I thought 'oooo why not!', so I requested it. Maybe Jenny comes to LA on a mission for Corbin pre-series and runs into the Angel crew. Or W&H send a representative to Sleepy Hollow to help out with upcoming apocalypse. Maybe its set in a Sleepy Hollow future where everything has gone to shit or maybe the apocalypse at the end of Angel is the same one thats coming on SH. Or Jenny is a demon hunter or a slayer or a witch. Or set it in space, or a western. Whatever. If you're comfortable with it, playing with the themes of race and salvation are really appealing to me; how its people of colour saving the world and the biblical/historical contexts of americana. If that's not something you're comfortable, avoid it thats cool. I love all the characters in Sleepy Hollow so feel free to involve any of them (I love Jenny&Abbie loving sister relationship, so maybe Abbie gives Gunn a hard time lol). As for Angel characters, Spike, Illyria, Fred, and Wesley are my favourites.
Helen Magnus (Sanctuary)/Jack Harkness (Doctor Who)
Helen Magnus and Jack Harkness are two of the characters I ship with every character ever written. I love them SO much its crazy - so naturally they'd be awesome together. One of the coolest things is how these two could meet at so many different times in history - so pick one if that's something that interests you. Or maybe they clash over a 'site' and they have to work together to solve it. Or maybe Jack works with the Sanctuary London. Or maybe Helen discovers Torchwood Cardiff. Or maybe she *ran* Torchwood in the past. Or maybe he picks Helen up when he steals the TARDIS. Let them have fun. Or let them get drunk and complain about the suckage of living forever. Flirt flirt flirt. I don't do an OTP thing with them, I think they're both too pragmatic and practical to have that - and they are both essentially immortal. So, I'm open/totally-loving any sort of polyamoury between Helen, Jack, Druitt, Ianto, John Hart, John Druitt, James, and Declan. So hell, play with that as you want. I would not like it if Jack cheated on Ianto - I have a special special place in my heart for those two; but they have a polyamourous understanding at least before CoE, so that would be fine in that case.
Helen Magnus (Sanctuary)/River Song (Doctor Who)
I ship these two ladies with everyone - so they should be paired together. Maybe River steals her away on the TARDIS to explore the galaxy, what adventures and madness they'd get up to! Or maybe she comes across River at different points in history. Or maybe River is connected to the source blood somehow. Or set it way in the future. Or I dunno! Go crazy! Give me a fast insane love affair. Or a slow burn. Hell, throw in either Jack in there if you want (Harkness and/or Druitt) and give me some poly love. Let them have fun! Hunting monsters or stealing artefacts from around the universe. Or maybe Ashley becomes a companion of the Doctor and Helen has to investigate what the heck is going on and falls madly in love with the Doctor's Wife.
Richard B. Riddick (Pitch Black/Chronicles of Riddick)/River Tam (Firefly)
I saw this on the nominations discussion post and fell right for it! What a pairing! And their worlds would mix really well. Maybe Serenity is the ship that comes across Riddick and Jack at the end of Pitch Black (and feel free to undead Carolyn). How would that work out? Or maybe Riddick is someone from Jayne's past that they come across during a job. Or he's a bounty hunter hunting the Tams. Or whatever else pops into your head! I'm also totally open to some River/Jayne/Riddick OT3ness if that's your flavour; men like Jayne and Riddick would be all over the place with their homoerotic posturing lol. For anything involving River, I don't like romantic fics that depict her as childlike and the man 'comforts' her in a childlike way - its creepy as fuck. She's a woman, let her be a woman...but still River.
Lost Girl
Bo/Tamsin
Tamsin is my favourite character on the show, which is funny because she came out so brash and harsh and we weren't supposed to love her. But I did. And then as we learned more about her and how deep and broken she is, I just fell more for her character. I want to know EVERYTHING about her. Her many pasts, her favourite things, her fears, etc. She's also totally in love with Bo (who can blame her) and I really think together they'd make an awesome couple - they're my Lost Girl OTP. Bo has the fire and confidence and take-no-shit-attitude that Tamsin would really benefit from as well as having someone there who loves her for who she is. And Tamsin would be able to love Bo completely as well as allow her to be monogamous (as she wants to be) because she can physically give Bo what she needs. And ug, they'd just be so powerful together. So give me something of them getting together, of them falling in love, or one of them just seducing the other - friends-with-benefits-who-become-more would be a great trope for these two; so would stuck-in-a-place-together. I'd also love anything about the actual magical powers they have, how together they are stronger. And ya, just whatever.
Switched at Birth
Travis/Mary Beth
They are *so* cute together. I love their just-discovering-each-other early love. Learning who the other is, getting to know each other. There's also the language barrier - how is Mary Beth adjusting to ASL? Be super cute to see them fall in love while he helps her learn/study and vice versa. MaryBeth is really smart so they could do homework together. Or do a double date with them and Bay&Emmett. You could also discuss the family situation, how Travis doesn't have a very great one and how MaryBeth does but hers is broken (though please don't write about her brother's death and all that. It can be mentioned, but selfharm topics are very upsetting for me. I'd appreciate it if you kept it fluffy and happy. Thanks). What would their first dates look like? Or how about when they first tell each other they love each other? Their first time together sexually? (lol another sidenote, please no fatshaming)
Bay/Emmett
THESE TWO AND MY FEELINGS. I've really appreciated the way the show handled these two - what Emmett did was so not okay and I would have really been disappointed in Bay if she just went back to him after that. But I do think they can and should get back together (when I wrote this I haven't seen anything of the new season lol). So I'd love something that got them back together - or skip that and set it in the future, with them back together and happy, then you don't have to worry about that. Or set it in the past. I love Bay's social activism and dedication to art and ASL and Emmett is also an artist with his photography. Its fabulous. I love fluff, angst, humour, etc anything for these two. Them talking about their future, their families, etc. Or follow the AU episode where the switch never happened. Whatever.
The West Wing
CJ/Simon
I fell in love with this pairing when it first aired and I've never gotten over it. Ever. OTP it to this day. So....ideally, Simon would live lol. I'd like it to stay in this universe (so no vampires or anything lol); I like the world of politics. I like the idea of little glimpses into their lives together, vignettes of different moments both big and small; sharing breakfast or CJ telling Simon she's the new Chief of Staff. The conflicts that might arise from her position and his job as Secret Service (like what duties he's assigned, conflicts of interest, or benefits of being on the Pres's detail when your wife is also travelling with him, etc) You can set it during the Bartlett administration or after it, I'm not picky. Like what would their life be like when she takes that badass job post series? Bonus points if you throw in any of the other women on this show, Abby, Donna, Kate, Amy, etc - I love the idea of CJ having galpals around her.