Dear AUex Writer Letter 2017
Jul. 7th, 2017 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
doranwenAUex is here!!!!!! I wanted AUex before it ever existed, and was so delighted that the mod decided to try it this year. I adore canon divergence so much, you have no idea. (But you will by the time you get to the end of this letter!) I did a lot of describing the awesomeness about each character and AU idea, and hope you're truly inspired by them. I hope you have a lot of fun writing for me. :)
I love characters who are strong, characters who have quiet depth, characters with an active inner life, characters who think and feel… You'll probably see this in the characters I requested. :)
I once made up a 101 favorite tropes list (in no particular order), so feel free to make use of those if any of them get your muse going: http://doranwen.livejournal.com/246063.html
Besides those tropes, here are my general likes:
deep platonic friendship, romantic friendship, asexual romance, found families, apocalyptic fic, hurt/comfort, nonsexual physical touch (including cuddling), self-sacrifice, characters being vulnerable, character redemption, survival fic, positive treatment of religion, characters dealing with trauma, trust building, missing scenes
DNWs: sex or sexual feelings, supernatural/fantasy beings (elves, vampires, werewolves, gnomes, zombies, etc.), deathfic or horror, calling an adult "baby" or "darling", mpreg, crackfic, gore (mild violence is OK, just not as graphic as a surgery documentary), uncensored profanity, first/second person fic
Don't worry if someone's written that particular idea before. My first real fandom was one where people used to write a dozen versions of the same TV ep, and I loved reading them all. There are never too many versions of the same story, in my opinion. Too few of these AUs have been written, and I want to see more of even the ones that have!
And now to the requests (in the order of which I found them in the tagset table):
Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis
Narnia is something of a contradiction for me here; on one hand, I see Aslan as good and wise, but on the other hand, I'm requesting several rather dark/angsty AUs!
The only character tags I reqested were Relationship: Edmund Pevensie & Lucy Pevensie & Peter Pevensie & Susan Pevensie and Relationship: The Pevensie family (Chronicles of Narnia), because I like stories about all four of the children the best over ones that only focus on one or two; I also love stories that include the parents. They don't have to all have the same amount of time in the fic, though, so as long as they're all included in some way, that works for me! I love the bond between the siblings and the way their personalities complement each other. Once Edmund learned his lesson and they became kings and queens, they are wonderful at supporting each other. I also love seeing the parents' take on their children, changed as they are from their experiences. I imagine their relationship with them undergoes a transformation, particularly with Edmund.
AU: Narnian language isn't English anymore when Pevensies come (Narnia books)
It was how many years—2000?—after Frank and Helen become the first king and queen of Narnia, that the Pevensies enter Narnia. Without a strong tradition of literature and audio/video media such as we have today to reinforce the language, by all linguistic rights it should have changed beyond recognition by the time the Pevensies ended up in Narnia. Whether you want to go crazy and actually apply sound change rules to English (please don't try this unless you actually have some experience with conlanging or linguistics of this type - though if you do, feel free to have at it!), or just go with saying the characters couldn't understand the words they were hearing, I'd love to see how the Narnia story would have worked without the instant comprehension that Lewis put into the books. After all, if time can work at different rates (and that be logical), why shouldn't the language be totally different? Not only would it be interesting at the beginning - with the Pevensies trying to understand everyone else - but imagine it at the end of LWW, when they end up back in the room with the wardrobe… and they're now expected to speak a language they haven't spoken for however many years? :D
AU: The Pevensies return through the wardrobe as adults (Narnia books)
I got the idea for this one from a really awesome exchange fic I saw where only one of them came back as an adult (it was for a darkfic exchange). The implications of this are grim but if they have each other, there's that modicum of hope for a future… They might be able to convince the professor, but who else would believe they were those children? Professor Kirke would be having to answer questions of where the children went - and what do they do to survive? As long as someone else takes their ration books to the shops, they can get away with it, but when their parents want them to return home, what would they do?
AU: One or more of the Pevensies had children while in Narnia (Narnia books)
This one combines well with the previous one. While leaving children in Narnia while they come back (and turn into children themselves) is heartbreaking, the idea of all of them returning as adults with the girls coming back pregnant, or even returning as adults with their children accompanying them… so many complications that would be difficult to deal with, especially if their spouses were left in Narnia. Or what if some of their children were left in Narnia and some came back with them? Angsty!!! :D If you're thinking the less-angsty route, I'd also love to see fic of them dealing with young princes and princesses in Narnia, whether it be teaching them the sword or bow, or lessons on good manners with the different animal races, etc.
AU: The Pevensies' parents die while they're at Professor Kirke's (Narnia books)
Here's my big angst whammy - they rule for years, come back, plan to go meet parents they barely remember at this point… and the parents die before they can reunite. What do they do? Where do they go? Assuming they have all these skills and knowledge that children would not have thanks to their years ruling Narnia, there's so much one could do with this idea, tragic though it might be.
Gold Diggers (1995)
Requested chars/ships:
Beth Easton (Gold Diggers)
Jody Salerno (Gold Diggers)
Relationship: Beth Easton & Jody Salerno (Gold Diggers)
I love these two girls so much; I don't care whether you write them as regular friendship or romantic friendship, I just love the bond they have. Whether you focus on one or the other or on the friendship between the two, they'll still have each other. A lot of these AUs combine very well together - feel free to mix several into one very AU fic. :D
AU: Beth joins Jody in living at the cave (Gold Diggers)
Why, I leave it to you. Does her mom die somehow and she doesn't want to go live in a foster home? Something else? This presumes the boat crash never happens, because Beth isn't trying to drive the boat herself.
AU: Ray abuses Jody as well as her mom (Gold Diggers)
The film keeps things nicely toned down for the children watching. All you see is Jody's mother's face bruised. In all likelihood, Ray wouldn't have stopped at hitting Lynette, but would have targeted Jody too, when he could. Or what if that wasn't the only kind of abuse? It happens all too frequently and Jody would be a likely target. :/
AU: Ray actually dies from Jody's attack (Gold Diggers)
Does Jody have to go hide out in Bear Mountain to make sure that she's not charged with murder? What other implications of this might there be?
AU: The boat doesn't crash so Beth gets back safely (Gold Diggers)
When does Beth return with the news that Ray survived? (Or combine with the above AU) Do they start questioning Beth about where Jody is? How do their meetings go?
Middle-earth Book Canon
Requested chars/ships:
Aragorn (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Faramir (Middle-earth Book Canon)
I love both these characters so much - the nobility, wisdom, etc. The relationship between the two of them is lovely - Aragorn as liege lord who respects and loves the younger man whose life he saves. That sort of deep nonsexual bond between men is so rare in media these days (and perhaps in real life) but it is one of my favorite things about LOTR.
AU: Aragorn is secretly Faramir's biological father (Middle-earth Book Canon)
This crazy plotbunny bit me awhile back but I haven't the faintest clue how to pull it off so I was glad I could add it to my requests here! Timing-wise, Faramir would have been conceived not long before the raid on the Corsairs of Umbar, after which Thorongil left for the North. While Aragorn was in love with Arwen at the time, she had not reciprocated, so that makes things a wee bit freer than it would have been otherwise. Is he aware of who Finduilas is when he sleeps with her? Or has she disguised herself in some way? As I've requested both Aragorn and Faramir, depending on which you may have offered, you can also write this from either POV as they find out the truth years later.
AU: Boromir survives the Ring War (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Who hasn't wanted to see Boromir live? I'm sure you can come up with your own take on it! I can see either one of these men rejoicing in that.
AU: Gilraen lives to see Aragorn crowned as king (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Gilraen despaired far too easily, in my opinion. Her son is going to reunite the Two Kingdoms and she can't hold onto enough hope to live a normal lifespan??? (She only made it to 100! She should have lived quite a few more years than that!) I'd love to see her survive and be able to rejoice in his triumphs. If you write from Faramir's POV, I'd love to see her become something of a mother/grandmother to him - or grandmother for real if you also include the AU that Aragorn is Faramir's biological father.
Middle-earth Book Canon
Requested chars/ships:
Éomer (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Éowyn (Middle-earth Book Canon)
These two siblings are wonderful; I love their bond with each other as well as the fiery temperaments. Any of the following AUs would work well from either POV.
AU: Éomer marries Lothíriel before Ring War begins (Middle-earth Book Canon)
I would've requested Lothíriel but some of these other AUs would have been difficult to manage with her. You can always write it from her POV, however, since Éomer will obviously be included. :) I'd love to see how throwing off that timeline might've worked - how would things change? Is she in a lot of danger from Gríma?
AU: Gríma does not limit himself to molesting Éowyn through speech alone (Middle-earth Book Canon)
With Théoden so out of it and the court controlled by Gríma's lackeys, who would Éowyn have to go to? In truth, she would not dare to let her brother know anything of what was happening because she knows that his awareness would mean his death. I'll take all the angst here - just give me a little hope to go with it! :) (For this one I'd relax my usual DNW regarding sex, as you may need to adapt that to fit this AU.)
AU: Théodred survives the Ring War (Middle-earth Book Canon)
How does he survive? Does he become king? Is there a reason he does not and passes it to Éomer instead? So many possibilities!
The Pretender (TV)
Requested chars/ships:
Jarod (The Pretender)
Miss Parker (the Pretender)
Relationship: Jarod & Miss Parker (The Pretender)
Relationship: Jarod/Miss Parker (The Pretender)
No matter which AU you go with, either Jarod or Miss Parker would be a great character to focus on, and both together is always lovely, of course. These two are really an OTP for me here, because I think they're the only ones who really understand each other. (Mind you, they get things wrong some, but I think they still understand each other better than anyone else.) So if written as friends, I'd prefer not to see either of them involved in a relationship with someone else.
AU: Angelo is Miss Parker's brother instead of Lyle (The Pretender)
With all of the Centre's manipulation of genetics and hiding the truth, I wouldn't be surprised if this were the truth. Given the revelation that Miss Parker's bio-father is not Mr. Parker, perhaps Lyle was actually his son. You can very nicely combine this one with the following AU.
AU: Sydney is Miss Parker's biological father (The Pretender)
Mr. Raines is as bad or worse as a bio-father as Mr. Parker is. Sydney, on the other hand, is a much more palatable option, and would go a long ways towards establishing the sort of relationships they should have anyway.
AU: Catherine was not killed after Ethan was born (The Pretender)
Did she have to escape the Centre? Could she take Miss Parker with her or did she have to leave her there in ignorance of the truth? Or did she return later, miraculously alive after a supposed suicide attempt?
AU: Faith lives (The Pretender)
Since Faith was Miss Parker's adopted sister, they would have seen a lot of her growing up. How would Faith's presence have affected the dynamics between Jarod and Miss Parker later?
AU: Jarod catches up to his mom on Carthis (The Pretender)
What would they have said to each other? What would Miss Parker have done?
AU: Jarod is rescued by Catherine (The Pretender)
What would his life have looked like? Would Catherine have had to flee the Centre with Miss Parker too?
AU: Miss Parker was never sent away to boarding school (The Pretender)
Instead of being sent away, what if Miss Parker had grown up with Jarod? Would they have tried to have a romantic relationship with him locked up doing SIMs?
AU: Miss Parker stays at the Centre as teen and helps Jarod escape (The Pretender)
A continuation of the above AU, I think as she grew older and realized he was locked up, I think she would have found a way to free him. It would have gone a long ways towards breaking "Daddy's" hold on her, realizing he was responsible for keeping her friend a virtual slave.
AU: Raines dies from the oxygen tank explosion (The Pretender)
Mr. Parker's manipulations were pretty bad in and of themselves, but if Raines hadn't been in the picture, things might have been different in so many ways…
AU: The last of the serum isn't lost so Angelo gets it (The Pretender)
What would Angelo have become, restored back to normal ability to communicate? Would he still have his empathic gifts? Would he still be living in the Centre (helping Jarod stay ahead of the search team) or would he have escaped too?
Rizzoli & Isles (TV)
Requested chars/ships:
Jane Rizzoli (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Relationship: Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
I really love Jane's character, and I love the bond these two have. Both of them learn so much from each other over the course of the show, and support each other through so many things. While I can see why most fans ship Jane and Maura as a couple, I headcanon Jane as asexual (she just hasn't figured it out yet), though the bond between them does verge on a romantic friendship and I love seeing fics that take it there. They're fairly comfortable with casual physical contact, and I love seeing fics where that's part of supporting each other.
One big area the show was noticeably lacking in was actually dealing with all the trauma the characters suffered. The most they would show (even after escaping from being kidnapped) was a little joking around on the couch, and the next episode they were back to normal. It was absolutely ridiculous! If an actual human being had went through all of what they went through, there would be some major PTSD going on there! I really wish they'd dealt with that more. Feel free to throw appropriate amounts of that into one of these AUs if it works for you.
AU: Frost doesn't die (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Whether you want to have him surviving the car crash or just rewrite some of the later non-homicide bits with Frost included without even explaining why he's alive, I'd love to see more of him. I enjoyed Lee Thompson Young's acting so much and it was such a tragedy…
AU: Jane and Maura have their first meeting when younger (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
I love alt-beginnings AUs so much, and these two are no exception. Were they children? teens? Did they immediately hit it off, or was there friction at first?
AU: Jane's miscarriage never happens (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
I'd like Tasha to make it, but there were several other ways you could alter the story to make it so Jane didn't have to lose the baby. I loved the implications of her pregnancy and how it would change the dynamics of things.
AU: Lydia abandons her baby completely (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
What if Lydia really was such a flake that she dumped the baby on the Rizzolis and took off without another look back? Who would adopt TJ? How would his presence affect things?
AU: Not everyone lives through the parking garage collapse (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Whether Frost dies earlier than he does on the show, or Tommy doesn't make it (please don't kill off baby TJ, that's just too much for me here), there's lots of room for tragedy and angst with this one.
AU: The post-Hoyt birthday party never happens (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Show me a more realistic end to that day, please! When you've just been held hostage by your worst nightmare, seen your best friend tasered and threatened (and who knows what else, you're welcome to play with how far he got)… are you really going to come home and be all "sure, I want my My Pretty Pony birthday party now, thanks Mom"? Yeah, right!
Smallville
Requested chars/ships:
Relationship: Clark Kent & Chloe Sullivan (Smallville)
Relationship: Clark Kent/Chloe Sullivan (Smallville)
These are an OTP for me, I think. I've only seen up to partway into the 4th season and was so disgusted with the way the show was going (and I could not stand Erica Durance's character for anything!) that I quit watching and had to quit really being involved in the fandom. This is the first exchange I've dared ask for just plain Smallville, because I honestly don't want to see anything from past S3. (I have read very little about the rest of the show that I actually liked.) I chose the AUs I did for that purpose. :)
As far as other characters go, as long as they appeared in the first three seasons, great! I prefer Clark to be the only alien around (no holdovers from his planet or weird stuff like that), and the magic stuff that appeared in S4 was not my cup of tea. Feel free to "fix" the cave Jor-El to explain/make him more reasonable, since clearly the programming has gotten a little confused…
AU: Body swap without black kryptonite (Smallville)
This is just sheer fun. I've read all of one story where Clark and Chloe end up swapping bodies (and Chloe discovers Clark's secret in the process because when you can get from point A to point B in milliseconds and crumble a sink by just holding onto it, you know something's up). It was hilarious and I wish there were more takes on a situation like that. So I'd love to see what you come up with! Would prefer Clark not end up switching bodies with someone else, especially someone like Lionel.
AU: Chloe and Pete remember what happened during Rush (Smallville)
That memory blank was the biggest copout ever. Chloe learned Clark's secret (and thought it was "so cool") and he clearly wanted to make out with Chloe when under the influence of Red K, so that's going to raise a bunch of things that need to be dealt with. Tons of potential for Chlarkiness (and some interesting convos along the way). I'd love it if she didn't lie to Clark and tell him she didn't remember anything, too.
AU: Chloe becomes Lois and Lois never comes to Smallville (Smallville)
This is the Chlois theory, as it used to be called. Basically, find a way for Chloe to become the Lois that she always was meant to be - really, all she needs to do is change her hair color and name. Why does she have to do this? Does she tell Clark about it, or does he figure out? Future fic is great here as long as you ignore the canonical events of later seasons.
AU: Chloe brings Clark home at the beginning of S3 (Smallville)
What would Chloe say or do that would get Clark to come home with her? Get the ring off him in a moment of weakness? Does she discover his secret? I am uncommonly fond of Exile AUs.
AU: Clark & Chloe don't quit dating after S1 (Smallville)
Did anyone else want to scream ARGH! when she played the friends card? Here's your chance to remedy that. Let's see what 2x1 would've looked like with a Clark who was still dating Chloe. Would he eventually learn to trust her enough to tell her his secret?
AU: Clark does not mumble Lana's name during Fever (Smallville)
What he actually does is up to you, though I'd love it if he actually remembered something of what Chloe was saying. Or maybe he stumbles across the paper she read it from later?
AU: Clark is too late to save Lana from the tornado (Smallville)
Here's my angsty AU. Whether he recovers her body or not, I'd love to see a fic where Lana doesn't make it, and Clark's despondency about that. Chloe, of course, will be at his side trying to comfort him (and bonus points if you throw in the "Clark & Chloe don't quit dating after S1" AU as well). Maybe his secret comes out in Clark's frustration of why he feels he should've been able to, or maybe he just wakes up to the fact that he's got Chloe there for him.
AU: Clark tells Chloe his secret before S4 (Smallville)
I've already thrown this one as an optional prompt for a few of the other AUs, but I'd love to see how it might work! If Chloe could show Clark that he wouldn't end up on the Wall of Weird, you'd think that Clark would eventually realize that Chloe would react totally different to how Pete did, and be ready and willing to protect his secret.
AU: Clark's mom doesn't lose the baby in S2 (Smallville)
I'd love to see Clark with a baby sister. I thought that explosion-killed-the-baby thing was the worst thing, because that would've added such interesting dynamics to things. What do you wanna bet that Chloe actually melts a bit getting to interact with a baby - and it totally surprises Clark?
AU: Gabe doesn't survive the explosion at the end of S3 (Smallville)
Another angsty one! If Gabe doesn't survive the explosion, what happens to Chloe? I'd love to see her end up with the Kents somehow.
AU: Lana moves with her aunt to Metropolis (Smallville)
Hee, this would be such the best thing - get Lana out of there and let it just be Clark and Chloe from there on out. No more Lana distraction!
AU: Lionel dies sometime during the first three seasons (Smallville)
How does it happen? Does Clark somehow break and realize he's got to get rid of Lionel or everyone will not be safe? Does Lionel die at the end of S1? Either way, I'd love to see how that makes things safer for the people Clark loves.
AU: Ryan doesn't have a brain tumor so he lives (Smallville)
I hated that tumor plotline. They create this awesome little brother-type character—and then they get rid of him because he figures out Clark's secret. I'd love to see him be perfectly healthy and come to live with the Kents. Having someone around who knows Clark's secret - and can read minds - can only be a good thing. Does he figure out what Lionel or Lex are up to? Or does he figure out that Chloe's in love with Clark and be the catalyst to get the two of them together? (Or if you're combining with the "they never quit dating" one, does he help Clark realize that she's safe to tell his secret to?)
AU: S4 onward never happened (Smallville)
This is sort of my perennial AU of all AUs. Throw out the whole show after the end of S3 and rewrite it your way! Whether you stick with a short "this is the way things are" or get more involved, I'd love to see a Smallville without Lois, magic, aliens that aren't Clark, relationship between Clark and Lana, etc. Give me a deepening relationship between Clark and Chloe and you've made my day, whether they are just stronger friends or more.
Women's Murder Club (TV)
Requested chars/ships:
Lindsay Boxer (WMC TV)
Relationship: Lindsay Boxer & Cindy Thomas (WMC TV)
I love tough characters with soft centers, and Lindsay is a classic example. I also love the interactions between these two. I see a bit of hero worship—and maybe a crush of sorts—on Cindy's side, and annoyance that turns to fondness and respect on Lindsay's. What you do with that is up to you. I requested the friendship tag but I'm OK with making it deeper. It's hard to know where that line is sometimes, especially when you're just focusing on the connection between them.
I love Claire's motherliness, particularly with Lindsay, and I can see her totally mothering Cindy. Jill is less of an interest for me so you need not include her, or can just keep her focused on case stuff or being general friends. As for the guys in the women's lives, I'd prefer they have minor or no roles in the fic, with the exception of Ed.
AU: Cindy is injured while being a decoy (WMC TV)
I loved Cindy's role in the decoy bit, and would love to see Lindsay's reaction to her being injured as one (not killed, please!).
AU: Lindsay stays with Cindy in the hospital instead of Jill (WMC TV)
This is a great opportunity to deepen the friendship between the two of them…
AU: Lindsay's pregnancy test is positive (WMC TV)
I'd love to see what happens here. Does she tell Tom or does he find out on his own? What does Cindy do?
X-Men/Deadpool Movie Franchise
Requested chars/ships:
Rogue (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Logan & Rogue (Original Timeline)
I love these two, and the bond they have. I'm also totally OK with making it deeper when Rogue is a little older - right now she's not ready for a mature relationship and I think Logan knows that. But she won't be young forever… I've only seen the first three films, so you can make up anything that's not explained in those. (Really, anything that isn't in the first two, lol.)
AU: Rogue and Logan don't run into anyone when they first meet (Original Timeline)
I always have wondered what their story would've been like had neither the X-Men nor the Brotherhood gotten a hold of them first off. Would they have developed a bond with each other? Run into other mutants and worked with them in any way?
AU: X3 Never Happened (Original Timeline)
Give me ALL the aftermath of X2 and none of the ignoring of it that X3 did, lol. I'd love to see Logan sticking around, teaching Rogue everything he knows so she could defend herself in case they're ever attacked again. Maybe you can think of a good story coming out of the X2 stuff.
X-Men/Deadpool Movie Franchise
Requested chars/ships:
Relationship: Rogue/Scott Summers (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Scott Summers & Ororo Munroe (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Scott Summers & Rogue (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Scott Summers/Ororo Munroe (Original Timeline)
Scott Summers (Original Timeline)
I absolutely love Scott, and this request shows it. I think he works well with either Rogue or Ororo, though I enjoy him alone also! He and Rogue have in common that they both have visible aspects to their mutations that they can never shake - and cannot control. He and Ororo have a bond borne out of knowing each other for years - and even possibly having similar backgrounds. Since I've never seen any films other than X1, X2, and X3, you can make up their backstories all you like. (Just keep the alien Shi'ar stuff out of it - I like my X-Men as realistic as possible beyond the powers bit.)
AU: Jean stays dead after X2 and the Phoenix never appears (Original Timeline)
What would X3 have looked like without the Phoenix interfering? Scott and Professor X would be alive, for one…
AU: Professor X and Scott survive X3 (Original Timeline)
These two dying are the biggest reason I don't care for X3. Find a way for them not to die, and I'll enjoy the story a ton!
AU: Scott was never involved with Jean romantically (Original Timeline)
Set this anywhere in the first three films (as long as Scott doesn't die in X3), and I'd love to see what would have happened. Is Logan in a relationship with Jean, then? Is Scott in love with Ororo? Or do you fast forward a few years and show a relationship developing between him and Rogue? However you do it, changing this one thing would change dynamics a ton!
AU: X3 Never Happened (Original Timeline)
Oh, I would love to see the aftermath of X2 with Scott - all the angst. Does Ororo's friendship with him help him find solace after Jean's death, or is it in a friendship with a fellow "outcast" named Rogue, who perhaps even feels guilty for Jean's death because she tried to fly the plane and crashed it? So many possibilities here…
Happy writing! :D
I love characters who are strong, characters who have quiet depth, characters with an active inner life, characters who think and feel… You'll probably see this in the characters I requested. :)
I once made up a 101 favorite tropes list (in no particular order), so feel free to make use of those if any of them get your muse going: http://doranwen.livejournal.com/246063.html
Besides those tropes, here are my general likes:
deep platonic friendship, romantic friendship, asexual romance, found families, apocalyptic fic, hurt/comfort, nonsexual physical touch (including cuddling), self-sacrifice, characters being vulnerable, character redemption, survival fic, positive treatment of religion, characters dealing with trauma, trust building, missing scenes
DNWs: sex or sexual feelings, supernatural/fantasy beings (elves, vampires, werewolves, gnomes, zombies, etc.), deathfic or horror, calling an adult "baby" or "darling", mpreg, crackfic, gore (mild violence is OK, just not as graphic as a surgery documentary), uncensored profanity, first/second person fic
Don't worry if someone's written that particular idea before. My first real fandom was one where people used to write a dozen versions of the same TV ep, and I loved reading them all. There are never too many versions of the same story, in my opinion. Too few of these AUs have been written, and I want to see more of even the ones that have!
And now to the requests (in the order of which I found them in the tagset table):
Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis
Narnia is something of a contradiction for me here; on one hand, I see Aslan as good and wise, but on the other hand, I'm requesting several rather dark/angsty AUs!
The only character tags I reqested were Relationship: Edmund Pevensie & Lucy Pevensie & Peter Pevensie & Susan Pevensie and Relationship: The Pevensie family (Chronicles of Narnia), because I like stories about all four of the children the best over ones that only focus on one or two; I also love stories that include the parents. They don't have to all have the same amount of time in the fic, though, so as long as they're all included in some way, that works for me! I love the bond between the siblings and the way their personalities complement each other. Once Edmund learned his lesson and they became kings and queens, they are wonderful at supporting each other. I also love seeing the parents' take on their children, changed as they are from their experiences. I imagine their relationship with them undergoes a transformation, particularly with Edmund.
AU: Narnian language isn't English anymore when Pevensies come (Narnia books)
It was how many years—2000?—after Frank and Helen become the first king and queen of Narnia, that the Pevensies enter Narnia. Without a strong tradition of literature and audio/video media such as we have today to reinforce the language, by all linguistic rights it should have changed beyond recognition by the time the Pevensies ended up in Narnia. Whether you want to go crazy and actually apply sound change rules to English (please don't try this unless you actually have some experience with conlanging or linguistics of this type - though if you do, feel free to have at it!), or just go with saying the characters couldn't understand the words they were hearing, I'd love to see how the Narnia story would have worked without the instant comprehension that Lewis put into the books. After all, if time can work at different rates (and that be logical), why shouldn't the language be totally different? Not only would it be interesting at the beginning - with the Pevensies trying to understand everyone else - but imagine it at the end of LWW, when they end up back in the room with the wardrobe… and they're now expected to speak a language they haven't spoken for however many years? :D
AU: The Pevensies return through the wardrobe as adults (Narnia books)
I got the idea for this one from a really awesome exchange fic I saw where only one of them came back as an adult (it was for a darkfic exchange). The implications of this are grim but if they have each other, there's that modicum of hope for a future… They might be able to convince the professor, but who else would believe they were those children? Professor Kirke would be having to answer questions of where the children went - and what do they do to survive? As long as someone else takes their ration books to the shops, they can get away with it, but when their parents want them to return home, what would they do?
AU: One or more of the Pevensies had children while in Narnia (Narnia books)
This one combines well with the previous one. While leaving children in Narnia while they come back (and turn into children themselves) is heartbreaking, the idea of all of them returning as adults with the girls coming back pregnant, or even returning as adults with their children accompanying them… so many complications that would be difficult to deal with, especially if their spouses were left in Narnia. Or what if some of their children were left in Narnia and some came back with them? Angsty!!! :D If you're thinking the less-angsty route, I'd also love to see fic of them dealing with young princes and princesses in Narnia, whether it be teaching them the sword or bow, or lessons on good manners with the different animal races, etc.
AU: The Pevensies' parents die while they're at Professor Kirke's (Narnia books)
Here's my big angst whammy - they rule for years, come back, plan to go meet parents they barely remember at this point… and the parents die before they can reunite. What do they do? Where do they go? Assuming they have all these skills and knowledge that children would not have thanks to their years ruling Narnia, there's so much one could do with this idea, tragic though it might be.
Gold Diggers (1995)
Requested chars/ships:
Beth Easton (Gold Diggers)
Jody Salerno (Gold Diggers)
Relationship: Beth Easton & Jody Salerno (Gold Diggers)
I love these two girls so much; I don't care whether you write them as regular friendship or romantic friendship, I just love the bond they have. Whether you focus on one or the other or on the friendship between the two, they'll still have each other. A lot of these AUs combine very well together - feel free to mix several into one very AU fic. :D
AU: Beth joins Jody in living at the cave (Gold Diggers)
Why, I leave it to you. Does her mom die somehow and she doesn't want to go live in a foster home? Something else? This presumes the boat crash never happens, because Beth isn't trying to drive the boat herself.
AU: Ray abuses Jody as well as her mom (Gold Diggers)
The film keeps things nicely toned down for the children watching. All you see is Jody's mother's face bruised. In all likelihood, Ray wouldn't have stopped at hitting Lynette, but would have targeted Jody too, when he could. Or what if that wasn't the only kind of abuse? It happens all too frequently and Jody would be a likely target. :/
AU: Ray actually dies from Jody's attack (Gold Diggers)
Does Jody have to go hide out in Bear Mountain to make sure that she's not charged with murder? What other implications of this might there be?
AU: The boat doesn't crash so Beth gets back safely (Gold Diggers)
When does Beth return with the news that Ray survived? (Or combine with the above AU) Do they start questioning Beth about where Jody is? How do their meetings go?
Middle-earth Book Canon
Requested chars/ships:
Aragorn (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Faramir (Middle-earth Book Canon)
I love both these characters so much - the nobility, wisdom, etc. The relationship between the two of them is lovely - Aragorn as liege lord who respects and loves the younger man whose life he saves. That sort of deep nonsexual bond between men is so rare in media these days (and perhaps in real life) but it is one of my favorite things about LOTR.
AU: Aragorn is secretly Faramir's biological father (Middle-earth Book Canon)
This crazy plotbunny bit me awhile back but I haven't the faintest clue how to pull it off so I was glad I could add it to my requests here! Timing-wise, Faramir would have been conceived not long before the raid on the Corsairs of Umbar, after which Thorongil left for the North. While Aragorn was in love with Arwen at the time, she had not reciprocated, so that makes things a wee bit freer than it would have been otherwise. Is he aware of who Finduilas is when he sleeps with her? Or has she disguised herself in some way? As I've requested both Aragorn and Faramir, depending on which you may have offered, you can also write this from either POV as they find out the truth years later.
AU: Boromir survives the Ring War (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Who hasn't wanted to see Boromir live? I'm sure you can come up with your own take on it! I can see either one of these men rejoicing in that.
AU: Gilraen lives to see Aragorn crowned as king (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Gilraen despaired far too easily, in my opinion. Her son is going to reunite the Two Kingdoms and she can't hold onto enough hope to live a normal lifespan??? (She only made it to 100! She should have lived quite a few more years than that!) I'd love to see her survive and be able to rejoice in his triumphs. If you write from Faramir's POV, I'd love to see her become something of a mother/grandmother to him - or grandmother for real if you also include the AU that Aragorn is Faramir's biological father.
Middle-earth Book Canon
Requested chars/ships:
Éomer (Middle-earth Book Canon)
Éowyn (Middle-earth Book Canon)
These two siblings are wonderful; I love their bond with each other as well as the fiery temperaments. Any of the following AUs would work well from either POV.
AU: Éomer marries Lothíriel before Ring War begins (Middle-earth Book Canon)
I would've requested Lothíriel but some of these other AUs would have been difficult to manage with her. You can always write it from her POV, however, since Éomer will obviously be included. :) I'd love to see how throwing off that timeline might've worked - how would things change? Is she in a lot of danger from Gríma?
AU: Gríma does not limit himself to molesting Éowyn through speech alone (Middle-earth Book Canon)
With Théoden so out of it and the court controlled by Gríma's lackeys, who would Éowyn have to go to? In truth, she would not dare to let her brother know anything of what was happening because she knows that his awareness would mean his death. I'll take all the angst here - just give me a little hope to go with it! :) (For this one I'd relax my usual DNW regarding sex, as you may need to adapt that to fit this AU.)
AU: Théodred survives the Ring War (Middle-earth Book Canon)
How does he survive? Does he become king? Is there a reason he does not and passes it to Éomer instead? So many possibilities!
The Pretender (TV)
Requested chars/ships:
Jarod (The Pretender)
Miss Parker (the Pretender)
Relationship: Jarod & Miss Parker (The Pretender)
Relationship: Jarod/Miss Parker (The Pretender)
No matter which AU you go with, either Jarod or Miss Parker would be a great character to focus on, and both together is always lovely, of course. These two are really an OTP for me here, because I think they're the only ones who really understand each other. (Mind you, they get things wrong some, but I think they still understand each other better than anyone else.) So if written as friends, I'd prefer not to see either of them involved in a relationship with someone else.
AU: Angelo is Miss Parker's brother instead of Lyle (The Pretender)
With all of the Centre's manipulation of genetics and hiding the truth, I wouldn't be surprised if this were the truth. Given the revelation that Miss Parker's bio-father is not Mr. Parker, perhaps Lyle was actually his son. You can very nicely combine this one with the following AU.
AU: Sydney is Miss Parker's biological father (The Pretender)
Mr. Raines is as bad or worse as a bio-father as Mr. Parker is. Sydney, on the other hand, is a much more palatable option, and would go a long ways towards establishing the sort of relationships they should have anyway.
AU: Catherine was not killed after Ethan was born (The Pretender)
Did she have to escape the Centre? Could she take Miss Parker with her or did she have to leave her there in ignorance of the truth? Or did she return later, miraculously alive after a supposed suicide attempt?
AU: Faith lives (The Pretender)
Since Faith was Miss Parker's adopted sister, they would have seen a lot of her growing up. How would Faith's presence have affected the dynamics between Jarod and Miss Parker later?
AU: Jarod catches up to his mom on Carthis (The Pretender)
What would they have said to each other? What would Miss Parker have done?
AU: Jarod is rescued by Catherine (The Pretender)
What would his life have looked like? Would Catherine have had to flee the Centre with Miss Parker too?
AU: Miss Parker was never sent away to boarding school (The Pretender)
Instead of being sent away, what if Miss Parker had grown up with Jarod? Would they have tried to have a romantic relationship with him locked up doing SIMs?
AU: Miss Parker stays at the Centre as teen and helps Jarod escape (The Pretender)
A continuation of the above AU, I think as she grew older and realized he was locked up, I think she would have found a way to free him. It would have gone a long ways towards breaking "Daddy's" hold on her, realizing he was responsible for keeping her friend a virtual slave.
AU: Raines dies from the oxygen tank explosion (The Pretender)
Mr. Parker's manipulations were pretty bad in and of themselves, but if Raines hadn't been in the picture, things might have been different in so many ways…
AU: The last of the serum isn't lost so Angelo gets it (The Pretender)
What would Angelo have become, restored back to normal ability to communicate? Would he still have his empathic gifts? Would he still be living in the Centre (helping Jarod stay ahead of the search team) or would he have escaped too?
Rizzoli & Isles (TV)
Requested chars/ships:
Jane Rizzoli (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Relationship: Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
I really love Jane's character, and I love the bond these two have. Both of them learn so much from each other over the course of the show, and support each other through so many things. While I can see why most fans ship Jane and Maura as a couple, I headcanon Jane as asexual (she just hasn't figured it out yet), though the bond between them does verge on a romantic friendship and I love seeing fics that take it there. They're fairly comfortable with casual physical contact, and I love seeing fics where that's part of supporting each other.
One big area the show was noticeably lacking in was actually dealing with all the trauma the characters suffered. The most they would show (even after escaping from being kidnapped) was a little joking around on the couch, and the next episode they were back to normal. It was absolutely ridiculous! If an actual human being had went through all of what they went through, there would be some major PTSD going on there! I really wish they'd dealt with that more. Feel free to throw appropriate amounts of that into one of these AUs if it works for you.
AU: Frost doesn't die (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Whether you want to have him surviving the car crash or just rewrite some of the later non-homicide bits with Frost included without even explaining why he's alive, I'd love to see more of him. I enjoyed Lee Thompson Young's acting so much and it was such a tragedy…
AU: Jane and Maura have their first meeting when younger (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
I love alt-beginnings AUs so much, and these two are no exception. Were they children? teens? Did they immediately hit it off, or was there friction at first?
AU: Jane's miscarriage never happens (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
I'd like Tasha to make it, but there were several other ways you could alter the story to make it so Jane didn't have to lose the baby. I loved the implications of her pregnancy and how it would change the dynamics of things.
AU: Lydia abandons her baby completely (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
What if Lydia really was such a flake that she dumped the baby on the Rizzolis and took off without another look back? Who would adopt TJ? How would his presence affect things?
AU: Not everyone lives through the parking garage collapse (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Whether Frost dies earlier than he does on the show, or Tommy doesn't make it (please don't kill off baby TJ, that's just too much for me here), there's lots of room for tragedy and angst with this one.
AU: The post-Hoyt birthday party never happens (Rizzoli & Isles TV)
Show me a more realistic end to that day, please! When you've just been held hostage by your worst nightmare, seen your best friend tasered and threatened (and who knows what else, you're welcome to play with how far he got)… are you really going to come home and be all "sure, I want my My Pretty Pony birthday party now, thanks Mom"? Yeah, right!
Smallville
Requested chars/ships:
Relationship: Clark Kent & Chloe Sullivan (Smallville)
Relationship: Clark Kent/Chloe Sullivan (Smallville)
These are an OTP for me, I think. I've only seen up to partway into the 4th season and was so disgusted with the way the show was going (and I could not stand Erica Durance's character for anything!) that I quit watching and had to quit really being involved in the fandom. This is the first exchange I've dared ask for just plain Smallville, because I honestly don't want to see anything from past S3. (I have read very little about the rest of the show that I actually liked.) I chose the AUs I did for that purpose. :)
As far as other characters go, as long as they appeared in the first three seasons, great! I prefer Clark to be the only alien around (no holdovers from his planet or weird stuff like that), and the magic stuff that appeared in S4 was not my cup of tea. Feel free to "fix" the cave Jor-El to explain/make him more reasonable, since clearly the programming has gotten a little confused…
AU: Body swap without black kryptonite (Smallville)
This is just sheer fun. I've read all of one story where Clark and Chloe end up swapping bodies (and Chloe discovers Clark's secret in the process because when you can get from point A to point B in milliseconds and crumble a sink by just holding onto it, you know something's up). It was hilarious and I wish there were more takes on a situation like that. So I'd love to see what you come up with! Would prefer Clark not end up switching bodies with someone else, especially someone like Lionel.
AU: Chloe and Pete remember what happened during Rush (Smallville)
That memory blank was the biggest copout ever. Chloe learned Clark's secret (and thought it was "so cool") and he clearly wanted to make out with Chloe when under the influence of Red K, so that's going to raise a bunch of things that need to be dealt with. Tons of potential for Chlarkiness (and some interesting convos along the way). I'd love it if she didn't lie to Clark and tell him she didn't remember anything, too.
AU: Chloe becomes Lois and Lois never comes to Smallville (Smallville)
This is the Chlois theory, as it used to be called. Basically, find a way for Chloe to become the Lois that she always was meant to be - really, all she needs to do is change her hair color and name. Why does she have to do this? Does she tell Clark about it, or does he figure out? Future fic is great here as long as you ignore the canonical events of later seasons.
AU: Chloe brings Clark home at the beginning of S3 (Smallville)
What would Chloe say or do that would get Clark to come home with her? Get the ring off him in a moment of weakness? Does she discover his secret? I am uncommonly fond of Exile AUs.
AU: Clark & Chloe don't quit dating after S1 (Smallville)
Did anyone else want to scream ARGH! when she played the friends card? Here's your chance to remedy that. Let's see what 2x1 would've looked like with a Clark who was still dating Chloe. Would he eventually learn to trust her enough to tell her his secret?
AU: Clark does not mumble Lana's name during Fever (Smallville)
What he actually does is up to you, though I'd love it if he actually remembered something of what Chloe was saying. Or maybe he stumbles across the paper she read it from later?
AU: Clark is too late to save Lana from the tornado (Smallville)
Here's my angsty AU. Whether he recovers her body or not, I'd love to see a fic where Lana doesn't make it, and Clark's despondency about that. Chloe, of course, will be at his side trying to comfort him (and bonus points if you throw in the "Clark & Chloe don't quit dating after S1" AU as well). Maybe his secret comes out in Clark's frustration of why he feels he should've been able to, or maybe he just wakes up to the fact that he's got Chloe there for him.
AU: Clark tells Chloe his secret before S4 (Smallville)
I've already thrown this one as an optional prompt for a few of the other AUs, but I'd love to see how it might work! If Chloe could show Clark that he wouldn't end up on the Wall of Weird, you'd think that Clark would eventually realize that Chloe would react totally different to how Pete did, and be ready and willing to protect his secret.
AU: Clark's mom doesn't lose the baby in S2 (Smallville)
I'd love to see Clark with a baby sister. I thought that explosion-killed-the-baby thing was the worst thing, because that would've added such interesting dynamics to things. What do you wanna bet that Chloe actually melts a bit getting to interact with a baby - and it totally surprises Clark?
AU: Gabe doesn't survive the explosion at the end of S3 (Smallville)
Another angsty one! If Gabe doesn't survive the explosion, what happens to Chloe? I'd love to see her end up with the Kents somehow.
AU: Lana moves with her aunt to Metropolis (Smallville)
Hee, this would be such the best thing - get Lana out of there and let it just be Clark and Chloe from there on out. No more Lana distraction!
AU: Lionel dies sometime during the first three seasons (Smallville)
How does it happen? Does Clark somehow break and realize he's got to get rid of Lionel or everyone will not be safe? Does Lionel die at the end of S1? Either way, I'd love to see how that makes things safer for the people Clark loves.
AU: Ryan doesn't have a brain tumor so he lives (Smallville)
I hated that tumor plotline. They create this awesome little brother-type character—and then they get rid of him because he figures out Clark's secret. I'd love to see him be perfectly healthy and come to live with the Kents. Having someone around who knows Clark's secret - and can read minds - can only be a good thing. Does he figure out what Lionel or Lex are up to? Or does he figure out that Chloe's in love with Clark and be the catalyst to get the two of them together? (Or if you're combining with the "they never quit dating" one, does he help Clark realize that she's safe to tell his secret to?)
AU: S4 onward never happened (Smallville)
This is sort of my perennial AU of all AUs. Throw out the whole show after the end of S3 and rewrite it your way! Whether you stick with a short "this is the way things are" or get more involved, I'd love to see a Smallville without Lois, magic, aliens that aren't Clark, relationship between Clark and Lana, etc. Give me a deepening relationship between Clark and Chloe and you've made my day, whether they are just stronger friends or more.
Women's Murder Club (TV)
Requested chars/ships:
Lindsay Boxer (WMC TV)
Relationship: Lindsay Boxer & Cindy Thomas (WMC TV)
I love tough characters with soft centers, and Lindsay is a classic example. I also love the interactions between these two. I see a bit of hero worship—and maybe a crush of sorts—on Cindy's side, and annoyance that turns to fondness and respect on Lindsay's. What you do with that is up to you. I requested the friendship tag but I'm OK with making it deeper. It's hard to know where that line is sometimes, especially when you're just focusing on the connection between them.
I love Claire's motherliness, particularly with Lindsay, and I can see her totally mothering Cindy. Jill is less of an interest for me so you need not include her, or can just keep her focused on case stuff or being general friends. As for the guys in the women's lives, I'd prefer they have minor or no roles in the fic, with the exception of Ed.
AU: Cindy is injured while being a decoy (WMC TV)
I loved Cindy's role in the decoy bit, and would love to see Lindsay's reaction to her being injured as one (not killed, please!).
AU: Lindsay stays with Cindy in the hospital instead of Jill (WMC TV)
This is a great opportunity to deepen the friendship between the two of them…
AU: Lindsay's pregnancy test is positive (WMC TV)
I'd love to see what happens here. Does she tell Tom or does he find out on his own? What does Cindy do?
X-Men/Deadpool Movie Franchise
Requested chars/ships:
Rogue (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Logan & Rogue (Original Timeline)
I love these two, and the bond they have. I'm also totally OK with making it deeper when Rogue is a little older - right now she's not ready for a mature relationship and I think Logan knows that. But she won't be young forever… I've only seen the first three films, so you can make up anything that's not explained in those. (Really, anything that isn't in the first two, lol.)
AU: Rogue and Logan don't run into anyone when they first meet (Original Timeline)
I always have wondered what their story would've been like had neither the X-Men nor the Brotherhood gotten a hold of them first off. Would they have developed a bond with each other? Run into other mutants and worked with them in any way?
AU: X3 Never Happened (Original Timeline)
Give me ALL the aftermath of X2 and none of the ignoring of it that X3 did, lol. I'd love to see Logan sticking around, teaching Rogue everything he knows so she could defend herself in case they're ever attacked again. Maybe you can think of a good story coming out of the X2 stuff.
X-Men/Deadpool Movie Franchise
Requested chars/ships:
Relationship: Rogue/Scott Summers (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Scott Summers & Ororo Munroe (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Scott Summers & Rogue (Original Timeline)
Relationship: Scott Summers/Ororo Munroe (Original Timeline)
Scott Summers (Original Timeline)
I absolutely love Scott, and this request shows it. I think he works well with either Rogue or Ororo, though I enjoy him alone also! He and Rogue have in common that they both have visible aspects to their mutations that they can never shake - and cannot control. He and Ororo have a bond borne out of knowing each other for years - and even possibly having similar backgrounds. Since I've never seen any films other than X1, X2, and X3, you can make up their backstories all you like. (Just keep the alien Shi'ar stuff out of it - I like my X-Men as realistic as possible beyond the powers bit.)
AU: Jean stays dead after X2 and the Phoenix never appears (Original Timeline)
What would X3 have looked like without the Phoenix interfering? Scott and Professor X would be alive, for one…
AU: Professor X and Scott survive X3 (Original Timeline)
These two dying are the biggest reason I don't care for X3. Find a way for them not to die, and I'll enjoy the story a ton!
AU: Scott was never involved with Jean romantically (Original Timeline)
Set this anywhere in the first three films (as long as Scott doesn't die in X3), and I'd love to see what would have happened. Is Logan in a relationship with Jean, then? Is Scott in love with Ororo? Or do you fast forward a few years and show a relationship developing between him and Rogue? However you do it, changing this one thing would change dynamics a ton!
AU: X3 Never Happened (Original Timeline)
Oh, I would love to see the aftermath of X2 with Scott - all the angst. Does Ororo's friendship with him help him find solace after Jean's death, or is it in a friendship with a fellow "outcast" named Rogue, who perhaps even feels guilty for Jean's death because she tried to fly the plane and crashed it? So many possibilities here…
Happy writing! :D
Tags:
