Everywoman Exchange Letter 2019

[corvusumbranox]

Everywoman Exchange Letter 2019

AO3 Username: StopTalkingAtMe

Hi, and welcome to my letter for the 2019 Rare Pairs Exchange. I'd be thrilled to receive any of the fandoms/ships listed here, and all of the suggestions and prompts are optional.

General Info
1.) The Binding - Bridget Collins
2.) Discworld
3.) The Name of the Rose
4.) Z Nation
5.) Vampyr
6.) Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
7.) Poltergeist: The Legacy

General Likes:

- Character studies and introspection
- World-building and expanding and extrapolating on both the world and the lives of the characters
- Horror of all kinds, from quietly understated ghost stories to fucked-up gore.
- The Closed Circle trope (the most famous example is And Then There Were None) in both horrors and mysteries, particularly if they're set on an isolated island, in a manor house or on a cruise ship. Characters being picked off one by one in various unpleasant and imaginative ways? YES PLEASE.
- Case-fic. Give me more of what's in canon, and I'll be happy
- Mysteries
- Anything spooky, angsty, grim, gritty. I'm not so keen on anything too fluffy or slice-of-life.
- I have absolutely no problem with major character death. Feel free to rip my heart out.
- Smut of all ratings.
- Both happy and sad endings are welcome. although if I do have a preference, it's probably for bittersweet endings over purely happy endings.
- Canon-divergent AUs, and non-mundane AUs
- Post-apocalyptic scenarios
- Zombies
- Violence and gore
- Came back wrong and body horror
- Prequels and post-canon fics
- Angst
- Epistolary elements or non-linear story-telling.
- Sensory details
- Well-written OC characters.

Smut likes:

- Consensual sex both gentle and rough
- Threesomes (especially M/M/F)
- Fellatio and cunnilingus (especially cunnilingus with fingering)
- Mild bondage and other forms of gentle restraint, holding a person down or restraining their wrists.
- Dubcon, although this probably isn't going to be relevant to most of my requests.
- Realistic sex and sensory details.
- Awkward and very definitely not perfect sex.

DNWs:

- A/B/O
- Explicit violent rape
- Incest
- Bestiality
- Scat and waterplay
- BDSM
- Explicit underage sex (15 or below)
- Het anal sex
- Choking as a sexual act
- Torture porn (scenes of torture are fine, and you can get pretty explicit; I'd just prefer torture not be the entire focus of the fic)

The Binding - Bridget Collins

Fandom Specific DNWs:

-Rape and abuse is a major theme in this novel, so I will clarify that I *am* open to it as a major theme here in case you're uncertain, although my DNW still stands for explicit violent rape. If you're unsure, then it's almost certainly fine.
- Seredith shipped with Emmett.

- Seredith

I found the world-building in this novel and the basic idea behind it utterly fascinating, and found myself wanting to know more about the world and about the history and background of the world. I loved Seredith, and the quiet relationship of mutal respect that built up between her and Emmett, and I really wish we'd learned more about her. I'm not specifically looking for ship-fic, but sex scenes and relationships are fine if they suit the story.

Please note that I don't mind at all if the fic touches on Seredith's death or extended mourning.

Prompts:

- Something exploring the events of the novel from Seredith's perspective.
- Any of Seredith's backstory, particularly if that backstory explores worldbuilding and the history of the world. How did she learn she was a Binder? What happened between her and her son?
- Something developing the relationship between Emmett and Seredith, perhaps part of his training or her telling him of the history of the world.
- Something exploring the differences between our world and theirs. Perhaps the two worlds begin to bleed into each other. Unless I missed something, it seems that there is no true fiction in their world; what would happen if a piece of literature from our world -- Shakespeare? Pride and Prejudice? -- leaked through.
- Something exploring the consequences of a book, or several, being burned and the memories, whether pleasant or otherwise, being returned to their owner.

Discworld

Fandom specific DNWs:

- Major character death, anything too dark and depressing (I know, this is horribly subjective. A bit of angst is fine, but I'd prefer the overall feel of the fic be positive. Bittersweet endings are welcome.),
- Sybil shipped with anyone other than Vimes after the events of Guards! Guards! (UNLESS you do a canon-divergent AU) or breaking them up once they're in a relationship, whether the fic is canon-divergent or not.
- Infidelity between Sybil and Vimes

- Sybil Ramkin

I'm currently rereading through the Watch series again, and Sybil is and remains one of my favourite characters. She often doesn't have a huge amount to do in the books, but she's so incredibly important to Sam in keeping him grounded, and I find the relationship that's grown up between them just so incredibly touching and powerful -- they're two people who had resigned themselves to being single for the rest of their lives, so the fact that they not only find each other but develop a relationship built on deep and enduring love is heartwarming.

Prompts:

- We see a lot about Sam's relationship with Ankh-Morpork, but not so much about how Sybil relates to the city. Anything about her day-to-day life, possibly something fun involving dragons
- Backstory. I'd love to see something of her life while growing up. Perhaps a boarding school novel pastiche set in the Quirm College for Young Ladies?
- Shipping. Sybil/Sam Vimes is engraved upon my heart, but that doesn't mean I'm opposed to her being shipped with someone else before they meet, whether it's reciprocated, or one-sided pining. Maybe she had a pash at boarding school? Or a flirtation/fling with Lord Vetinari when they were much younger. And feel free to handwave the virginity thing if appropriate.
- A canon-divergent AU where Sybil happened to be visiting Ramkin Hall during the events of Guards! Guards! and so didn't happen to be the convenient How would that have changed events? Would she still end up meeting and falling in love with Sam in another way, or would he be unable to get over his distaste for the nobility without a massive dragon to bring them together?

The Name of the Rose

- The girl (The Name of the Rose)

I love both the film and the book, so feel free to use one or the other as a starting point, or combine the two. For this, it would be wonderful to see the events of canon from her perspective, ideally giving her a bit more agency than she has in canon.

I absolutely love gritty description and details, so bring on the down-to-earth references to bodily waste, stinking cesspits, rats, filth, and grime. *Especially* if the filth is contrasted with moments of beauty.

First person POV would be a great fit for this, since it'd make it easier to keep her unnamed (although I don't mind if you choose to give her a name) and it echoes the first person of the novel, but third person would be great too if you're not comfortable writing first, or if the fic fits better in third.

A brief list of prompts, I'm afraid, but for this I can definitely see it being something more introspective, and without much of a plot.

Prompts:

- PWP. A scene expanding on the sex scene with Adso
- Something exploring her interactions with the monks
- Any part of canon from her point of view.
- An AU where she really is a witch and magic exists. Does she visit Adso in his dreams after he's left the monastery, or enchant him?

Z Nation

First the caveat that I haven't finished series 5 of Z Nation yet. I do have a copy and I'm currently watching it, so I *should* have finished in time for reveals. I don't mind spoilers at all.

If there's a zombie series that completely and utterly smashes the Bechdel Test, it's Z Nation, and I'm delighted that a show that didn't take itself seriously at all still managed to produce *so many* amazing female characters, all of whom are interesting and distinct in their own ways. I particularly liked the early seasons, but I'm enjoying the change in pace in season 5 so far. I'd love a story set at any point in canon, although obviously Cassandra's presence does kind of skew it early. But, hey, this is a series about zombies after all.

For this request, I'd love anything introspective, or horror or action related. Zombies, any of the typical zombie-apocalypse scenarios, with the usual Z Nation weirdness mixed in. I love the way the team interacts, particularly Warren with the other female characters.

I'd be happy with gen friendship, or any combination of shipping, either het or f/f, or possibly f/f/f (If I have a OTP for this fandom it's probably Warren/Garnett, but for this exchange I would honestly welcome whatever combination you choose).

I have no problem with major character death or extended angst and mourning.

- Roberta Warren

Easily my favourite character, and I absolutely adore her. I love how tough she is throughout, and how she's had to harden up since the early episodes, when she came across as much softer. I'd be thrilled with anything involving Warren: backstory, something introspective when she's got separated from the group and is struggling on her own, something shippy with Garnett or Murphy or any of the women. Seriously, ANYTHING.

- Group: Roberta Warren & Addison Carver & Cassandra

The earlier seasons were probably my favourite overall, before it started to amp up the silliness a couple of notches. I love the silliness too, but those early episodes, when no one quite knew what was going on with Murphy, really hit the sweet spot for me of humour, horror, shipping and angst. I loved the way the group interacted, the way they fought together, how the women were distinct from one another but each had their own individual strengths and weaknesses. So anything showing the three of them interacting, with the rest of the group, or just the three of them together. Introspection, any combination of ships, horror, Cassandra before her 'death' or after Murphy brings her back.

The first couple of seasons seem like the obvious place, but there's no reason why she couldn't be brought back some time later in the series.

- Group: Addison Carver & Cassandra

As above, really. I really liked Cassandra, and always felt there was something missing from her arc, so I'd love to see more of her, whether that's when she's human, or one of Murphy's blends, or perhaps she's been resurrected (again), either as a human or as a blend or something else. They seemed to have a genuine bond, and I loved how Addy insisted on going back for Cassandra in Philly Feast. I could totally see it working as a ship, but I'd be happy with friendship too.

Prompts:

- Any kind of case-fic or zombie related action-adventure/horror.
- The group gets a bit of downtime, and a chance to bond. Maybe in a spa if that's not too hideously sexist, but fuck it, I like spas. Ideally a spa that's infested with zombies. What I'd really love for this is the contrast between the luxurious surroundings and brutal zombie-related violence.
- That Closed Circle trope I mentioned? Basically 'And Then There Were None' with zombies. Which they sort of did already, but I wouldn't say no to more
- Somehow Cassandra is resurrected. Go any way you want with this, whether body horror or a happy fix-it, or something a bit more tragic.
- An AU where the apocalypse isn't zombies. Or it's a dystopia of some kind.
- A historical AU where the zombie outbreak happens in the wild west. I adore the western trappings of some of the show's episodes, so I can see this working perfectly.

Vampyr

What I love about this game is the moral ambiguity and the shades of grey, as well as the historical setting and the horror imagery, and the way the backstories of certain characters are implied. There's so much history there, but we only ever really get a glimpse of it. I would really like to know more, so any kind of worldbuilding or exploration of backstory would be wonderful. Equally, horror of any kind, or something quieter and introspective would also be wonderful.

- Old Bridget

I genuinely love her character so much. She's such a mystery, and I love the contrast of her appearance with how gentle and wise she is. I completely headcanon her as being fiercely protective of the Skals under her care, and since I sort of ship her with Edgar, that provides plenty of opportunities for conflict between the two of them.

- Anything exploring her backstory. Like her relationship with Lord Redgrave for example. Ultimately he proved to be an utter bastard who deserted her when he couldn't turn her into an Ekon, but was there a time when he ever truly loved her? I'd love to see what happened between the two of them.
- Something about her relationship with London as it changes through the centuries.
- Explore what it's like to be a Skal, her life in the sanctuary with the other Skals, and please feel free to go into descriptions of grime and filth. I'm fascinated by what it's like to be a Skal and the differences between them and Ekons.
- The Ascalon Club are continuing to hunt down and slaughter Skals.

- Elisabeth Ashbury

Another wonderful character with a wealth of subtly hinted at backstory which I'd love to see explored more fully. I didn't mind the romance with Jonathan, although it possibly did feel a bit rushed. She was strong in a way that felt appropriate for the period.

- I'd like to know more about her habit of adopting daughters, and perhaps meeting some of the daughters she raised before Charlotte. Did that ever end badly? And why specifically daughters? Perhaps she did once adopt a son, but it ended badly. (depending on how you interpret this prompt, it might scoot a little close to my 'no incest' DNW, so I'll waive that for this, although I'd prefer that it's not reciprocated on Elisabeth's side).
- Something set during her life in the castle in Scotland with William Marshall.
- Depending on the player's choices in-game, Jonathan can be a pretty monstrous character.
Even if it's the not-even-once route, his insistence that it's perfectly possible to live as a vampire without taking life after his being a vampire for only a couple of weeks makes me laugh hollowly. My personal headcanon is that ultimately it'll backfire, leaving Elisabeth to pick up the pieces.

- Group: Old Bridget & Elisabeth Ashbury

The nature of the game means that the characters never really interact with anyone other than Jonathan except in the occasional cut-scene. These two meet off-screen, and it's evident that they get on and Elisabeth is fascinated by Bridget, and I just wish we saw more of it. This could be gen or, if you feel like shipping them, I would be totally down for that.

- Jonathan has finally cracked and gone on a murderous rampage after too long denying himself blood and Elisabeth turns to Bridget for comfort and solace (shipping or gen)
- The missing scene where they meet and get to know each other
- Jacob Blackwood returns, and Elisabeth turns to Bridget for help.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

I love this game for its lore, the characters, the stories, and how free you are to simply explore the world at your leisure. I really like it when fics explore and develop the worldbuilding and characters as seen in-game. For a game like this, which I haven't quite played to death yet, but am getting there, canon-divergent AUs are hugely welcome. Feel free to screw with events as you see fit.

- Female Dovahkiin | Dragonborn

I'm basically giving you carte blanche to do pretty much *anything you want* here. Perhaps an adventure with the Dragonborn travelling in the company of a follower (one of the female ones seems appropriate given the nature of the exchange, but male ), or something more introspective with the Dragonborn travelling through Skyrim alone. Scenery-porn welcome.

I'd also love to see fics where the difficulties of travelling through the frozen northern areas isn't ignored the way it is in game without mods. Any kind of Dragonborn, any race, any class, youthful and naive or an embittered veteran of the Great War. I'd also love to see an alternate start player character who is not actually the Dragonborn, but just your bog-standard adventurer.

- Anything with horror elements, like the creepy-ass necrophiliac necromancer at Yngvild Barrow, or delving into a Falmer dungeon. The Descent is one of my favourite horror films, and the Falmer give me the same sort of vibes.
- The Dragonborn is not really the Dragonborn but a con-artist pretending to have dragonblood for profit.
- Shipping-wise, I don't have much of a preference. I do adore General Tullius, and would flail just the tiniest bit if the Dragonborn was shipped with him, but I'd be equally happy with her shipped with a follower, male or female. Ones that spring to mind include Athis, Jenassa, Marcurio, Serana, and Belrand (yes, him. I know: I'm *weird*. Ideally with a Dragonborn who's pretty damn battered herself).

Poltergeist: The Legacy

I was thrilled to see this nominated. I love this series, set in a mansion with possibly the worst security in the world, so much, and I'm currently rewatching it and falling in love with all the characters all over again. I love the horror aspects, the fact that they're not too scared to get a little filthy at times (with some dubconny themes), the characters and how well they all work with each other.

For this request, I'd love anything horror with any combination of the characters. I love Alex and Rachel and would be fascinated to learn more about Julia who we never saw that much of. I'd also love something focusing on Kat. Or introspection, focusing on any one of the characters.

- Alexandra Moreau
- Julia Walker (Poltergeist:The Legacy)
- Katherine Corrigan
- Rachel Corrigan
- Sister Ingrid Rayne

- Any kind of case-fic -- whether gothic horror or a quieter MJ James style ghost story.
- Something exploring Kat and her gift or her relationship with her mother. Possibly a future-fic where she is an adult and possibly working for the Legacy herself.
- I'm fascinated by the various Legacy houses, and the ever-resent danger of them going dark, so anything exploring that would be wonderful.
- A time-loop fic with any of the characters, where they keep returning to a particular day and have to set something right.