FemslashEx 2021 Dear Author letter for Kithri
Dear Author,
Thank you for writing me a story as part of this year's Femslash Exchange. I look forward to reading it.
First, some general thoughts.
I'm uncomfortable with stories featuring dubcon/noncon, torture, or anything of that ilk. I’m also not fond of character bashing. Smut is fine, but I prefer it as a seasoning, rather than as the meat of the story. Which is to say, I'd rather it be in the service of the plot, rather than porn for porn's sake.
On the more positive side, I like character-driven stories, either ones where the relationships change and grow over time, or vignettes that offer a window into one particular point in a relationship. The stories that have stuck with me tend to be the ones that have engaged me emotionally. I'm fine with a gamut of emotional tones from humour to tragedy, happy endings or sad.
I’m fine with AUs and crossovers.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Katy Chen | Chen Ruiwen/Xu Xialing (Cinematic)
These two had chemistry from the moment they met. More than that, Xialing seemed to open up to Katy in a way she never really did with anyone else, not even Shiang-chi. It felt to me like there was so much of Xialing’s story that was barely sketched out, ignored or never resolved in the film, and I’d be interested to see some of those things addressed through the framing device of a relationship between Katy and Xialing.
It feels as though the tension between Xialing and Shang-chi wouldn’t be resolved with one grand gesture, so maybe Xialing sets about seducing Katy with a view to taking her brother’s best friend from him, and catches feelings along the way. Or perhaps dropping in on Katy is the nearest she can allow herself to get to spending time with the brother she still feels betrayed by, and ends up falling for Katy as the two of them spend time together. Maybe Katy, now a confident adventurer, interferes with a Ten Rings operation, discovering in the process that they’re not the villainous organisation they were and that Xialing is their new leader. If you want to go AU with this, perhaps Shiang-chi splits the rings with Xialing, and Katy helps her adjust to the idea of being a hero.
Yelena Belova/Xu Xialing (Cinematic)
Natasha Romanov/Xu Xialing (Cinematic)
I can see both of these pairings working well post Civil War, or during the Snap. Xialing is definitely someone who’d have the kind of connections Natasha would need when she’s travelling the world righting wrongs, and that Yelena would find helpful when rescuing former Widows. I can also see Xialing offering her help post-Snap, and she definitely has the skills to be useful to Natasha’s Avengers. Post-Endgame, if Yelena knows of Xialing’s connection to a village on a mystical threshold, she might seek her out to see if she can help retrieve Natasha. Whether or not the attempt is successful, Yelena and Xialing could end up bonding. Or, alternatively, perhaps Xialing’s mystical connections mean Natasha can somehow make contact, and what starts out as something neither of them asked for becomes an uneasy partnership and then something more. Finally, if Yelena and some of the former Widows form their own organisation trying to make the world a better place, they may well clash and/or ally with the new Ten Rings, especially if they end up going after some of the same targets, and that has a lot of potential for some flirty interactions between Yelena and Xialing.
Yelena Belova/Wanda Maximoff (Cinematic)
This is another pairing I think might work well post Civil War. Maybe after rescuing Natasha from the Raft, she drops her off to rest and recover at whatever safe house Yelena, Alexei and Melina have set up. I can see Yelena leaping at the chance to hang out with someone who wasn’t part of the Widow programme, and an Avenger at that.
Sylvie Laufeydottir/Peggy Carter (Cinematic)
I think Sylvie could bounce interestingly off either mainline Peggy Carter or Captain Carter from the What If…? series. Sylvie’s access to time travel means there’s no problem with causality. The two of them are so different in many ways - Sylvie’s first response to danger is to flee, while Peggy’s is to run headlong towards it; Sylvie is bitter and cynical while Peggy seems to retain her idealism and fervour - but if they’re stuck in a place where Sylvie can't flee and Peggy can't fight her way out of (maybe something, something, mumble tentacle verse with Captain Carter) they might have time to actually bond and form something halfway lasting.
Alternatively, if What If takes place as a result of the timeline splintering at the end of Loki, maybe Sylvie wants to find a place she can rest for once, to plan her next move, and happens to run into Peggy.
Peggy Carter/Natasha Romanov (Cinematic)
I could really see Natasha and Captain Carter having a rivals to lovers arc. Messing with the timeline a little, perhaps Dreykov gets inspired to experiments with combining super soldier serum with the Widow program, and Natasha becomes the Red Guardian, she and Peggy developing a grudging respect for each other during their clashes that turns into something more. Maybe Natasha, desperate to protect her sisters from Dreykov’s experiments, realises that the only person she can turn to is her enemy. There’s a lot of potential there.
Legacies (TV 2018)
Hope Mikaelson/Lizzie Saltzman
I love the way their relationship in the show develops from mutual dislike to close friendship, and it doesn’t seem like such a stretch for them to take another step into romance. I could see feelings developing during the period of time when Lizzie’s the only one who remembers Hope - it’s definitely an intense time for both of them. Early season three could also work, after Lizzie disguised as Hope gives her own eulogy, and maybe everyone gets the impression that the two of them were dating. Or post season three, when they’re in a good place and Hope has finally stopped obsessing over Landon. I’m not sure why, but I really like the idea of the gang all playing D&D together, if you’re interested in working that it. For all her protestations to the contrary, Lizzie definitely has a wide streak of nerdery running through her, and once Hope gets over her inhibitions enough to get caught up in the experience, I can see her really getting into it.
Motherland: Fort Salem (TV)
Sarah Alder/Tally Craven
This is a complicated pairing. There’s a significant power differential between the two, both in life experience and perspective, which definitely adds a problematic aspect to the whole thing. I think that’s something that Alder, at least, should acknowledge if the two of them embark on a relationship, and I’d definitely want it to be clear that there’s a mutual respect between them. I really like the difference in outlook the two of them have, with Tally being passionately idealistic, while Alder has become much more pragmatic and cynical over the (many, many) years, and I like the idea of Tally helping Alder to remember what it is she’s spent so long fighting for.
Nicte Batan/Tally Craven
I definitely read Nicte as flirting with Tally, and - as with the previous pairing - I think a relationship between the two of them could be deliciously complex and fraught with tension. The connection between Tally and Alder definitely adds a whole extra wrinkle to any relationship between them.
Sarah Alder/Nicte Batan
I got big ex-girlfriends vibes from these two. I’d be interested in reading about either a past relationship, before things went so very wrong, or a more contemporary focus, with the two of them trying to navigate a reconciliation. The latter would likely have to be AU.
Abigail Bellweather/Raelle Collar
I love the way their relationship in the show has developed, from outright hostile in the beginning to forming a close bond of trust and respect, even though they still have their differences and points of convention. I’d be happy with things becoming romantic/sexual at pretty much any point in their journey, and it would be interesting to see the effects that would have on their relationships with others.
Raelle Collar/Tally Craven
Tally is always the peacemaker, trying forever to take care of everyone else, regardless of the emotional toll it takes on her. Raelle, of course, does something similar in a far more physical way, literally taking on the wounds of others. Maybe that's enough to find some kind of commonality between them. Maybe Tally pushes herself too far, and Raelle has to take care of her for once. Or maybe something happens after the end of season two, bringing them closer together. Alternatively, maybe something happens when Tally and Raelle visit Raelle's father in season two. (If you want to use a version of Raelle's home and community that's closer to what's shown in the pilot as opposed to season two, I feel like that might have promise, as Raelle reconnects with the community that seemed to depend on her, as well as trying to decide whether or not she wants to pick up the burden of looking after her father.)
Abigail Bellweather/Tally Craven
I like the idea of Tally pushing back against Abigail after being caught between her and Raelle one too many times, and that making Abigail see her differently. Or, when Abigail’s insecurity over not being special is driving her to take greater and greater risks, maybe Tally is the one who gets her to stop. I think it could be interesting to play with a reversal of their usual dynamic, with Tally taking charge in any romantic/sexual encounter between them, and Abigail finding peace in following someone else’s lead for once.
Abigail Bellweather/Raelle Collar/Tally Craven
I really like these characters and strong bonds they’ve developed, and it would be interesting to see how romance would add another dimension to that.
Raelle Collar/Scylla Ramshorn
I’m a sucker for complicated relationships, and this is definitely one complicated relationship. I’d definitely be interested in something that addresses the fact that Scylla is a not quite entirely repentant mass murderer, and how Raelle can reconcile that with her conscience. Or if she can. This is definitely one of the pairings where an unhappy ending feels appropriate, if you’re interested in writing that.
Abigail Bellweather/Raelle Collar/Scylla Ramshorn
This takes all the complications of the previous pairing and dials it up even more. I don’t have any specific prompts in mind for this, I’m just interested to see what you come up with.
Sarah Alder/Izadora
These two seem to have a strong bond of loyalty and trust. I’d imagine that what happened with Nicte Batan has definitely informed how Alder approaches this new protégée of hers, and perhaps what she was intending as a more one-sided bond has developed into something a little more mutual. From Izadora’s side, in addition to being her commander, Alder is a very interesting specimen to study, which adds yet another layer to their interactions. I’d be interested to see how Izadora’s rationalisations for why she certainly isn’t developing romantic feelings for Alder start to fail her.
Shadow and Bone (TV)
Genya Safin/Alina Starkov (Shadow and Bone TV)
This has the potential to be a fun and complicated relationship. Genya is put into a place by Kirigan where she's abused, then recruited by him when he offers a way out of the abuse as well as a way to get her revenge. And in turn, she abuses the trust Alina puts in her, even as she obviously becomes torn by that decision, to the point where she's obviously almost at the breaking point by the time of the party. If you want to do an AU where Genya makes a different decision during Alina's stay at the palace, feel free. (Maybe she's been recruited by Baghra, playing a very dangerous game of being a double agent, and then Alina manages to break through her barriers regardless.) Maybe it's post season 1, and they have to repair their relationship somehow, which could also be fairly juicy.
Zoya Nazyalensky/Alina Starkov (Shadow and Bone TV)
I'd love a good enemies to lovers trope here. Feel free to go into why Zoya dislikes Alina, and why it changes. (The obvious reason is that, riding in with Kirigan like that, she threatens Zoya's already not exactly stable relationship with Kirigan, and Zoya lashes out the only way she can. But if you want to go in another direction, feel free. And if you do include mention of Zoya's relationship with Kirigan, be aware I do consider it absolutely exploitative and manipulative from Kirigan's end, no matter what Zoya undoubtedly thinks.) Possibly Zoya and Alina get into a contentious relationship in the palace, arguing in public, exchanging kisses and bites in secret. Or possibly it's after the end of season one, when things are more complicated between them. If Zoya's aunt is dead, maybe she decides to accompany Alina for her best chance of revenge and they start talking, each being the only one who can really understand the other's complicated feelings about Kirigan. Or, for a complete AU, maybe Zoya decides to try and sleep with Alina instead in that first episode, maybe flustering Alina, maybe causing a different reaction, so they have a very different start and progression.
Zoya Nazyalensky/Genya Safin (S&B TV)
I'm not sure we ever see these two really interact in the tv series, but I can see that neither of them might have much use for the other - Zoya having only contempt for Genya as a civilian, Genya looking down her nose at Zoya for not having any understanding for what real work for the Grisha looks like - which could lead to an interesting push/pull dynamic. Or maybe it's not that at all, maybe for whatever reason, they can only be honest with each other, at least about some things. Alternatively, if you want to set it after season one, then I can see Zoya looking to make contact with Genya as one of Kirigan's partisans, looking to find out information on her quest for revenge. Maybe Genya finds out what she's planning, and has a crisis over the doubts she obviously already has. Or maybe she turns her in, and then has second doubts. Or maybe this is just a story of two women looking to use each other. Regardless, it could be fun and complicated.
Zoya Nazyalensky/Genya Safin/Alina Starkov (S&B TV)
I have no specific prompts for this, but I’m sure the dynamics between the three of them would make for a fascinating story about the three of them trying to make something halfway functional out of it all.
Inej Ghafa/Zoya Nazyalensky (S&B TV)
Maybe the Crows stick around long enough to search for Zoya's aunt, then - given all the betrayals - Zoya leaves with them for Ketterdam afterwards, and something between Inej and Zoya grows. Or maybe they meet during the palace job - maybe Inej has to distract Zoya from something, and does so with a kiss. If you want to write something where the differences in the way they relate to their Suli heritage comes up, that could be really interesting.
Inej Ghafa/Nina Zenik (S&B TV)
I know these two didn’t really interact on screen, but given their respective backgrounds I can’t help feeling that, despite their differences, they’d each find something in the other to relate to. Given the fact that they both feel very strongly about slavery and people being held against their will, perhaps the two of them set out to free a slave they encounter in their travels - despite the need to lay low and not attract attention - and feelings develop during the ensuing chaos.
Parahumans Series - Wildbow
Battery/Faultline
First off, I want to state that I absolutely view Battery and Assault’s canon relationship as toxic - basically, I read it as Assault harassing Battery into having a relationship with him - so for the purposes of this I’d rather that either their relationship never happened, or she’s left him.
Driven hero with a guilty conscience and a mercenary with a protective streak seems like it would be ripe for interesting dynamics. I really like the idea of these two meeting in their civilian identities and hitting it off, while having no idea about each other being capes. Perhaps this is an AU when Battery leaves/divorces Assault, and she goes out seeking some no strings attached fun, but feelings get involved. And then there’s the anvil of their respective cape identities waiting to drop…
Victoria Dallon | Glory Girl | Antares & Lisa Wilbourn | Tattletale
I really like the friendship these two have developed in Ward, and - on the understanding that Lisa would be ace, rather than aro-ace - I think it could be interesting to see the two of them navigate a romantic relationship. I’d be particularly interested in seeing how they deal with Lisa being ace and Victoria very much not, especially if Victoria is wanting to reclaim her body and her sexuality. (I’d prefer it if Amy and what she did to Victoria is never on screen, although I don’t mind it being referred to.) I’d also be interested to see something developing between Lisa and Victoria during Worm.
Original Work
I think the pairings work well enough as prompts on their own, so I’ll just list them here for convenience.
female scientist studying psychic phenomena/female test subject
Modern Witch Running A Bakery/Scientist Who Doesn’t Believe In Magic Or Love (OW)
scientist/clone she created as a replacement for the love of her life (OW)
Librarian/Frequent Patron With a Crush on Them (OW)
Actress/Stunt Double
1940s Femme Fatale/Weary and (not) Cynical (enough) Private Eye
Banished Woman/Swamp Witch (OW)
Forest Goddess/Outlaw Seeking Refuge In Her Forest (OW)
The Nevers (TV 2021)
Penance Adair/Amalia True | Zephyr Alexis Navine
These two really had strong ‘married couple’ vibes to me, and I love the way that from the very first episode of the show it was made clear how well they know and trust each other, even though they still have their differences. I can definitely see a case of mutual pining where they're unwilling to push for something more just in case it goes wrong. From Penance, I imagine there would be some hesitation about given Amalia doesn't seem to be big on monogamy generally, and the example of her relationship with Cousens. From Amalia, it could be that Penance seems relatively innocent in affairs of the heart, and Amalia has self punishing tendencies that might well think that she's not good enough for Penance.
"Bonfire" Annie Carbey/Amalia True | Zephyr Alexis Navine
Sparks definitely flew between these two - pun absolutely intended - and I’d love to see that tension becoming something more. Since both of these women seem to believe that feelings are things that happen to other people, I think it would be hilarious to see the two of them trying to rationalise away anything between them that isn’t just sex.
Harriet Kaur/Desiree Blodgett
Harriet is driven and ambitious, and isn’t really used to relaxing and being taken care of. Desiree seems to disappear into her work, never being seen and appreciated for who she is, rather than what she can give. I’d love to see a tender moment between the two of them where Desiree feels seen and Harriet feels cared for.
DC Extended Universe
Helena Bertinelli/Dinah Lance (DCEU)
Dinah was unabashedly admiring Helena all through Birds of Prey, and Helena seemed to have no idea whatsoever what to do with that. Perhaps sparring or fighting leads to sex, or perhaps patching each other up after a fight leads to a moment of vulnerability between them.
Renee Montoya/Harleen Quinzel (DCEU)
There are so many reasons why this would be an absolute train wreck, and those are the reasons why I’m interested in seeing what would happen if the two of them added a whole new layer of complication to an already complicated relationship. Perhaps Harley, being something of an expert in self-destructive behaviours helps Renee to deal with her drinking habit.
Helena Bertinelli/Renee Montoya (DCEU)
Maybe Renee has trouble adjusting to being a vigilante, and finds herself turning to Helena, both of them learning that opening up and being vulnerable with someone isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Dinah Lance/Renee Montoya (DCEU)
Dinah and Renee both know what it’s like to be overlooked, underestimated and under appreciated. Maybe this can be something they bond over despite their differences, this point of commonality leading each of them to view the other differently.
Dinah Lance/Harleen Quinzel (DCEU)
I don’t have any specific ideas for these two, but they had great chemistry on screen, and could totally see the two of them deciding to act on it. As former adjunct to powerful male crime bosses, they’re each in many ways the best placed to understand the other one, even if their specific relationships were fairly different in tone. I can see them binding over that to some extent.
Helena Bertinelli/Dinah Lance/Renee Montoya (DCEU)
Helena Bertinelli/Dinah Lance/Renee Montoya/Harleen Quinzel (DCEU)
Pretty much all of the above, but multiplied.
Cleo Cazo | Ratcatcher 2/Harleen Quinzel (DCEU)
I’d like to see the two of them spending time together after the events of The Suicide Squad, and Harley introducing Cleo to the Birds of Prey crew.
Helena Bertinelli/Cleo Cazo | Ratcatcher 2 (DCEU)
I’d love to see these two semi-feral women sharing some tender moments together. Maybe Cleo falls asleep on Helena after a fight, and Helena stays exactly where she is until Cleo wakes up, part terrified and part awed by Cleo’s unasked for trust in her. I could definitely see the two of them kind of falling into a relationship and being the last to realise that they’re dating.
The Locked Tomb Series | Gideon the Ninth Series - Tamsyn Muir
Gideon Nav/Coronabeth Tridentarius
Gideon clearly finds Coronabeth extremely attractive, and Coronabeth seems more than happy to flirt with Gideon in return. I can see her being a little charmed by Gideon’s attraction, and impulsively deciding to indulge in a dalliance. Of course, that’s going to make everything else more complicated, but that’s half the fun.
Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus
These two have a long history together, with a whole messy tangle of feelings binding them together. I’d be interested in seeing how things might go if it hadn’t taken them until the point of no return to realise that the feelings they have for each other aren’t entirely negative.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus/Ianthe Tridentarius
I really like the tangled relationship these two have, the way that Ianthe fairly gleefully pursues Harrow with utmost confidence even as Harrow grumpily protests that she's not interested. Apparently I'm something of a sucker for that kind of thing when it's two women. Maybe push this to a place where Harrow realises that she's maybe not quite that opposed to Ianthe's advances as she thought, or maybe she decides to use them as a cover for something else. Feel free to be somewhat ambiguous with this pairing - I think it could work well for them.
Gideon Nav/Ianthe Tridentarius
These two fairly cordially hate each other, which could make a fun push-pull of a different kind. Maybe Gideon decides to try and sleep with Ianthe to get her off Harrow's back, and ends up with more of a problem than she really anticipated. Or maybe Ianthe decides to play with Gideon to try and make Harrow jealous - of one of them at least - and finds out it's not quite as simple as she might have expected. Or maybe they're just stuck somewhere they have to work together and find out - to their mutual disgust - they actually kind of like each other when it comes down to it.
Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus/Ianthe Tridentarius
All of the above, with all the deliciously complicated dynamics that arise from the three of them bumbling around trying to make this work.
The Innsmouth Legacy - Ruthanna Emrys
Catherine Trumbull/Mary Harris
Two highly competent women succeeding in very male dominated fields, on not-quite-allied sides forced to work together out of necessity. With, of course, the added complication that the Yith formerly possessing Catherine was responsible for removing Mary’s ability to read. I can see respect between them becoming something more, but I don’t see any relationship between them coming easily.
Aphra Marsh/Audrey Winslow
Aphra very much reads as ace to me, but she and Audrey seem to have a strong emotional bond, and I definitely get the sense that Audrey would be interested in deepening that.