badritual | au exchange letter

Dear Creator,

I have used parts of previous letters to compose the body of this letter. If none of my ideas/prompts catch your attention, I'm totally fine with mixing and matching some of my tropes/likes/freeforms/etc. to come up with a story! I also may not have specific prompts for every pairing/fandom I've requested. If anything is confusing, or you have any questions or need clarification, you can reach me through the mods!

A lot of these fandoms and prompts/ideas are repeat requests, including fandoms I've already received amazing fic for. I really just love the fandom/idea to be requesting it again; it's not meant to be a slight against the authors or fic I've received in the past!

What I Love
DNWs
Stuff I Like
Criminal Minds (US TV)
Grishaverse - Leigh Bardugo
Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Knives Out (2019)
Law & Order: SVU
Prodigal Son (TV 2019)
Sleepy Hollow (TV)
Star Trek: Discovery
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types
Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

What I Love: I'm currently really into gothic romance/gothic horror/horror of any stripe really. I also adore romcoms, enemies-to-lovers, difficult/complicated relationships, and questions with no easy answers. I love ambiguous/happy for now/sad endings, things that make me think, and are not necessarily tied up with a neat pretty bow.

My main DNWs are listed below. Exceptions will be noted:

DNWs:
• domestic violence/abuse
• violence against animals/animal death
• A/B/O, BDSM, and kneeling 'verses (fine with these tropes appearing as "one offs", not interested in universes structured around them)
• mpreg
• watersports/omorashi/scat
• mundane AUs (i.e. coffee shop, flower shop, cafe, high school/college, etc)
• vampire/werewolf AUs for non-supernatural fandoms/fandoms where they don't appear or exist (canon vampires/werewolves in supernatural-based fandoms are fine!)
• horror that centers on mental institutions/hospitals/etc.
• inclusion of current real world events (i.e. war in Ukraine, US politics/Trump, SCOTUS decisions, covid, etc.)

Stuff I Like:
• gothic/gothic romance/horror/ghost stories!!!
• gothic romance/romantic horror
• space gothic (think Event Horizon and the Alien series)
• cosmic horror
• body horror
• monsters!!! sentient monsters!!! monsters that just wanna eat things!!! i like monsters!!!
• What happens after the fairytale ends?
• bodyswap
• casefic
• time travel/time loops/time fuckery
• pining / pining for someone while in a relationship with them)
• mind-games/manipulation
• ghosts/hauntings/etc. (literal and metaphorical)
• houses that want to eat you
• nature that wants to eat you
• eldritch architecture/architecture that wants to eat you (fwiw i adore the evilbuildings tumblr, which has some examples of buildings i could see hungering for human flesh)
• morally gray/immoral angels
• the monstrous feminine / female monsters / feminine horror
• miscommunication (within reason)
• poly/poly-v relationships
• enemies to lovers
• friends to lovers to enemies to lovers
• friends to enemies to lovers
• unhealthy/codependent relationships
• obsession/obsessive relationships
• relationships with a power imbalance (i.e. mentor/pupil, priest/parishioner, older partner/younger partner, queen/subject, etc.)
• power imbalances/power dynamics/power dynamics inverted (i.e. the student in the professor/student relationship has all the power, parishioner has power over the priest, subject controls the queen, etc)
• characters facing/dealing with mortality (of their lives, their livelihoods, careers, etc.)
• platonic soulmates
• amnesiafic
• epistolary/social media pastiche
• future fic
• ensemble fic
• complicated relationships
• professional/career-related jealousy
• Ritual sex/resurrection rituals
• small town AUs (small town in the suburban gothic sense rather than cute, quaint villages and whatnot)

Criminal Minds (US TV)

Pairings:
Elle Greenaway & Spencer Reid
Elle Greenaway/Spencer Reid
Penelope Garcia/Aaron Hotchner

Freeforms:
Criminal Minds: Elle Greenaway Is a Ghost
Criminal Minds: Elle Greenaway Doesn't Leave the BAU
Criminal Minds: Elle Greenaway Becomes an UNSUB
Criminal Minds: Hotch Was Always an UNSUB
Criminal Minds: Hotch Comes Back to the BAU
Criminal Minds: Hotch Becomes an UNSUB
CM: Hotch moves in with other half of ship after Haley's death
CM: Hotch is Divorced in S1
CM: Hotch and Garcia hooked up before she was ever on the FBI's radar
CM: Hotch's ears don't get better after Lo-fi/Mayhem

Prompts/ideas:
Spencer/Elle/b>
Pretty much what it says on the tin! I love the idea that Elle becomes someone the BAU has to hunt, and how that affects Spencer and perhaps pushes him toward her in a way OR Elle becoming a ghost who continues to haunt the BAU or, specifically, Spencer. I really love them as a romantic pairing but will happily read friendship/platonic fic with them too!

Penelope/Hotch
I really dug Hotch and Garcia's energy in the earlier seasons, and how he seemed both exasperated with her at times, and gruff, while also deeply admiring her and being fond of her, actually taking actions to protect her feelings. (Hotch getting her flowers and telling her they were from Rossi stands out, for example). I'd love something in a similar vein to my Spencer/Elle prompts with Hotch either becoming/always being an UNSUB and how that change in canon might put Penelope and Hotch on a path to each other, push them further apart, or do something else altogether, OR maybe how Hotch returning to the BAU prior to the end of the show might change his and Garcia's dynamic (along with/in addition to a look at how his absence changed their bond).

Notes: I don't have strong feelings toward Haley but I'm fine if you want to handwave away the marriage or move the divorce up a few seasons to S1.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Grishaverse - Leigh Bardugo

Pairings:
Nikola Lantsov/Alina Starkov
The Darkling | Aleksander Morozova/Nikolai Lantsov/Alina Starkov
The Darkling | Aleksander Morozova/Alina Starkov

Freeforms:
Grisha Trilogy: Alina accepts Nikolai's proposal
Grisha Trilogy: Nikolai has Grisha abilities (and hides them)
ALL: Secret Marriage
ALL: Soulbond Allows Characters To Share Powers/Abilities
ALL: Serious Injuries Healed By Soulbonding
All: Sex Always Causes A Temporary Soulbond Between Partners
ALL: Soulmate triads are rare
ALL: Characters Share a Body
ALL: Magical Healing Cock is a recognized medical procedure
ALL: Sex pollen is a natural hazard
ALL: Public Sex is Normalized by Society
ALL: Ritual Sex Required To Save The World
ALL: Forced Marriage AU
All: Forced marriage to resolve enmity/rivalry actually works leading to understanding/feelings

Prompts/ideas:
So, I really don't like the endings these three characters/ships I've nominated got in canon. I will take any mix of my likes/freeforms in fic form, for all three pairings and be absolutely thrilled with it.

Notes: No Mal please, thanks. He can be permadead rather than resurrected, or maybe he and Alina just went their separate ways after the third book. Or you can pair him off with Zoya and send them happily on their way. Also I would prefer no pregnancy/baby fic with any of these pairs.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Harry Potter - J. K. Rowlingg

Pairings:
Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy

Freeforms:
ALL: Character A is a hockey player and Character B is a figure skater
ALL: Enemies forced to work together

Prompts/ideas:
I'll admit I'm looking for a pretty specific genre of AU here, which is "The Cutting Edge but with Dramione." But!!! Please don't feel boxed into that if you're not vibing with it. Pluck something from my "stuff I like" and/or other freeforms, if you wish.

Notes: Nothing I can think of.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Knives Out (2019)

Pairings:
Benoit Blanc/Marta Cabrera

Freeforms:
All: Golden Age Detective AU
ALL: Characters Are Detective Duo
ALL: Murder Mystery/Clue AU
ALL: Fake marriage to solve a canon problem
ALL: Accidental Marriage AU

Prompts/ideas:
I'm really charmed by the idea of Benoit and Marta having to play at being a married couple to solve a case they're investigating together. I'd also be happy with any of the other freeform scenarios and/or a mix of likes/freeforms too!

Notes: N/A

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Law & Order: SVU

Pairings:
Rafael Barba/Olivia Benson

Freeforms:
Law & Order SVU: Rafael Barba Doesn't Leave
Law & Order SVU: Olivia Benson and Rafael Barba Are Married
ALL: Characters in Longtime Secret Relationship
ALL: Secret Relationship Is Publicly Revealed

Prompts/ideas:
I think I have as many unresolved issues with Barba's departure as Liv does. I'll love anything where he doesn't leave and finds a way to stay on the job, and/or finds a way to stay Liv's life. I'm also partial to the "they were secretly married the whole time" trope for this pairing; I'd love seeing an author work out how they could have hidden a secret marriage in plain sight during Barba's run on the show, and weave it into canon.

Notes: No background Bensler please! I'm fine with references to Stabler and his friendship with Liv (and I'm fine if you want to include him as a character too), but don't want Liv caught in a love triangle with him and Barba or for Barson to take a backseat to Bensler.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Prodigal Son (TV 2019)

Pairings:
Malcolm Bright & Edrisa Tanaka

Freeforms:
All: Serial Killer AU
ALL: Serial Killer/Criminal Profiler AU
ALL: Murderer/Criminal Psychologist
ALL: Murder Mystery/Clue AU
Prodigal Son: Malcolm didn't get fired from the FBI
Prodigal Son: Malcolm and Dani don't get together

Prompts/ideas:
I love love love the idea of Malcolm and Edrisa as, at the very least, morally ambiguous murder friends. What if they're both serial killers (rival serial killers?) or one is a killer and the other is a profiler or psychologist? Or combine any of my darker, more gothic-fiction-y likes with this pair. I guarantee I will love it.

Notes: No background Malcolm/Dani.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Sleepy Hollow (TV)

Pairings:
Ichabod Crane/Abbie Mills

Freeforms:
Sleepy Hollow: Abbie Mills is Alive
ALL: Resurrection Is Possible But Creates a Soul Bond
All: Journey to the Underworld to Resurrect Loved One
ALL: Character Is Resurrected But Came Back Wrong
ALL: Ghost Marriage
ALL: Ritual Sex Required To Save The World
ALL: Secret Relationship Is Publicly Revealed
ALL: Fake marriage to solve a canon problem
ALL: Magical Healing Cock is a recognized medical procedure
ALL: Public Sex is Normalized by Society
ALL: Forced Marriage AU
All: Forced marriage to resolve enmity/rivalry actually works leading to understanding/feelings

Prompts/ideas:
If all you do is unfridge Abbie and give her and Ichabod the happy ending I wanted for them, I will be thrilled. If you use any of my freeforms and/or weave in some of my "stuff I like" I will worship the ground you walk on.

I will take any sort of resurrection for Abbie, even one that goes wrong, as long as she's resurrected.

Make it as dark and gothic-y and horrific as you like, or as light and romcom-y and happy. As long as you bring Abbie back in some way, I'll be pleased.

Notes: No dead Abbies.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Star Trek: Discovery

Pairings:
Solo: Mirror Michael Burnham
Michael Burnham/Original Universe Gabriel Lorca
Michael Burnham & Original Universe Gabriel Lorca
Mirror Michael Burnham/Gabriel Lorca | Mirror Gabriel Lorca
Michael Burnham/Gabriel Lorca | Mirror Gabriel Lorca
Michael Burnham & Mirror Philippa Georgiou

Freeforms:
Star Trek DSC: Stranded On an Eldritch Planet
Star Trek DSC: Original Universe Gabriel Lorca is Alive
Star Trek DSC: Mirror Michael Burnham is Emperor
Star Trek DSC: Michael Burnham Stays in the Mirror Universe
Star Trek DSC: Discovery doesn't go to the future
All: Character Tries to Woo and Honorably Marry Their Fellow Sex Pollen Victim
ALL: Some people are naturally immune to sex pollen
ALL: Canon is 100x more gothic and foreboding
ALL: Gothic Romance AU
ALL: Gothic Horror
ALL: Suburban Gothic
All: Sex Pollened by a Villain
ALL: Magical Healing Cock is a recognized medical procedure
ALL: Canonically dead villain faked own death
ALL: Canonically Dead Character Survives
ALL: Public Sex is Normalized by Society
ALL: Forced Marriage AU
All: Forced marriage to resolve enmity/rivalry actually works leading to understanding/feelings
ALL: Bodyswap
All: Mindblowing Sex Awakens Magic Powers

Prompts/ideas:
So, I'm going through a Disco resurgence and I'm freshly obsessed with any and all combination of Michael Burnham and Gabriel Lorca. Prime Lorca, Mirror Lorca, some other type of AU Lorca, whatever, throw him in with a Michael Burnham and I'll be satisfied.

I'm especially interested in a post-s1 AU where Prime Lorca finds his way onboard Discovery (Pike optional, but it would be kind of fun to see a prickly, traumatized, guilt-ridden Lorca, freshly saved from the hellish mirror universe, having to interact with Chris "the jewel of Starfleet" Pike who had to sit out the war). How is Prime Lorca received on Discovery? Is Michael reluctant to trust him or does she power through her discomfort/grief because it's "illogical" to blame Prime Lorca for Mirror Lorca's actions? Does Prime Lorca feel displaced back in the prime universe? etc etc etc. I really just want to see how these two grieving, emotionally wounded people might be able to come together despite the havoc Lorca's mirror self wreaked on Discovery and Michael in particular.

As for Burnham and Mirror Lorca, they have some Hades/Persephone vibes going on that I subconsciously latched onto (and adore) so leaning into the gothic romance tropes with these two is always appreciated. Maybe she does actually intend to stay with him instead of trying to trick him. How does that go for her? How does that go for Mirror Lorca? Does staying with him change Michael, or does it change Mirror Lorca?

With Burnham and Mirror Lorca, specifically, I don't want a redemption story where he learns how to be a good person. I would love to see a story where perhaps he works some of Michael's/the Federation's sunnier, kinder, more optimistic worldview into his own while remaining "himself." I'd love to see him struggle with having his worldview changed the more he's around prime Michael, and how he copes with that. (Or doesn't.)

(Nuanced/complicated takes on Mirrorverse are like catnip to me also, fwiw.)

As for Burnham and Mirror Georgiou, I would love some sort of action/adventure story, with Prime Burnham and Mirror Georgiou having to rely on each other for survival (on an eldritch planet perhaps?) set in the primeverse, post-s1 or as an AU in the mirrorverse. Or maybe Burnham stays in the mirrorverse and usurps the throne from Pippa herself?

With solo Mirror Burnham, I'd love a character study of her at any point in her life or in the narrative. Maybe what leads her to join Mirror Lorca's rebellion (does she sincerely believe he's right or is she trying to infiltrate the rebels to double-cross Lorca?) Also, in the Star Trek Discovery: Succession comic, she survives her rumored death only to eventually die of poisoning when Mirror Airiam usurps the throne; what if Mirror Burnham did survive to become emperor? What kind of leader does she become?

Of course I'll also love any combo of likes/freeforms if these ideas don't get the creative juices flowing.

Notes: Re. the grooming comment from Philippa about Mirror Michael and Mirror Lorca, I didn't interpret it as referring to sexual abuse; I think it was purposely meant to be ambiguous both to Michael and to the audience. That is to say, I'd vastly, vastly prefer no references to past child abuse, sexual abuse, or underage relationships involving the ship.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types

Pairings:
Darth Maul & Rex & Ahsoka Tano
Rex & Ahsoka Tano
Anakin Skywalker & Ahsoka Tano

Freeforms:
SW: Anakin and Ahsoka spend more time together after being reunited
SW: Rex and Ahsoka Don't Split Up After Order 66
SW: Maul and Ahsoka Go on the Run Together
SW: Maul Ahsoka and Rex Don't Split Up After Order 66
SW: Everything That Can Go Wrong For Palpatine Does So
SW: Palpatine Is Killed During The Clone Wars

Prompts/ideas:
Any combo of my pairs with any of my likes/freeforms would make me happy. I'd be thrilled with "so and so goes on the run after Order 66" or "Anakin kills Palpatine and goes on with run with Ahsoka," or anything in that vein.

Notes: N/A

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Pairings:
Armitage Hux/Rose Tico

Freeforms:
SW: Hux Doesn't Die
ALL: Villain turns good

Prompts/ideas:
I'd love anything where Hux survives or gets to do more with his spying for the Resistance. The spy reveal felt like it was solely there to be played off for laughs; I'd love if he actually was helpful and something developed between Hux and Rose. Maybe she's his handler or something.

Alternately, you could bring Hux back as a ghost and have him haunt the resistance base and Rose, or have him become emperor and choose Rose to be his consort.

Notes: Not into any background ships.

I tend to leave art specifics up to the individual artist. The only thing I'm not really into is chibi art, but other than that anything goes.
Return to the Table of Contents

Once again, I'd like to stress that my prompts/ideas are only suggestions! Please don't feel constrained by them! Mix and match my likes/prompts/ideas/etc. as you please, or come up with something completely on your own without my input. They're just meant as a guide if you need it.

You can check out my other dear author letters here and here for a better idea of the kind of tropes I like! If you need any clarification please contact me through the mods and I'll get back to you ASAP.

au exchange letter

Table of Contents