the_wavesinger | Dear ShipSwap Author

Hello, ShipSwap gifter!

First of all, I'm very, very happy that you're creating for me! I know I've asked for fic only, and that's because I don't know how to word prompts for art. If you're an artist looking to treat, I would adore art, too!

If you want to know more about me , I’m The Wavesinger (Silmarillion Writers’ Guild)

The_Wavesinger, and the-wavesinger on my fannish haunts. You can also find me here on DW, and as the_wavesinger on LJ, but I don’t frequent those places often. If you want more on my fic preferences (unlikely, after this loooong letter!), my fic rec tag on Tumblr may be of some use. And, of course, if something isn't clear, ask and I'll clarify!

First, a list of Do Not Writes.

Kink
Body horror/gore (violence at canon level, please. For example, feel free to torture Maedhros as long as that’s not the only component of the fic)
Bestiality, necrophilia (this doesn’t include Ungoliant, by the way)
Parent/child or full sibling/full sibling incest, unless specified.
Underage character/legal character. Either both participants are underaged, or both are legal, in terms of the society they’re living in. And please no large age gaps. Even if it's just vague romantic attraction, I feel squicky when twenty-five-year-olds express desire for fourteen-year-olds (although the fourteen-year-old having a hero-worship crush on the twenty-five-year-old might be OK? I guess?).
No, no (and no again for good measure) reader inserts. At all.
Trope AUs from fandoms that aren’t related, and yes, this includes magical/daemon/insert trope here AUs (i.e. you can mix and match fandoms only in the Tolkien fandoms)

My soft limits are as follows.

Explicit sex—I’d prefer not to see this, but if you must, no insert-tab-A-into-slot-B or graphic anatomical descriptions, please. Sensuality would be better.
Fics which are all fluff are very difficult for me to stomach—a limit to the cuteness would be good.
AUs with modern settings (high school, coffee shop etc.) are no-no’s unless there’s a reasonable canon explanation (eg-: a Tolkien couple cursed to be reborn again and again into mortal forms) and that only in Tolkien and other fantasy/sci-fi fandoms.
I’d say no A/B/O or soulmate AUs, but these have been done brilliantly, so I’m going to say that if you’re messing with tropes and have the characters going against their social norms, these AUs are OK in non-Tolkien fandoms. And in the same vein, if you want to write crossovers/fusions then please do stick to fandoms I've either written for in the past or have included in this letter. (If in doubt, ask! I'm just saying this because there are some fandoms I'd rather not see, but those are relatively few).
I’m fine with non-explicit rape/non-con/dub-con and abuse, but please do deal with them in a sensitive manner (For example, that Maedhros-in-Angband Sauron/Maedhros rape fic, inclusive of loving detail? I will not like that. Discussion of Sauron/Maedhros rape post-Angband and non-explicit flashbacks? That I'm okay with)
Also, although I don’t mind infidelity, please don’t let anyone walk in on someone with their other half(s)

What I do like:

Angst. Drama. Politics.
I like relationships that are fated to end in tragedy, but I also like a pinch of humor with my angst.
Plotty fics are always welcome!
I like all kinds of fic, so go wild—linear narrative, flashbacks, epistolary…whatever you think of is lovely, the more daring the better.
I don’t mind any type of POV (including second person!). In fact, POV switches and outside POVs on relationships would be lovely.
F/F and female-centric fics always have my love. You can never go wrong with these.
I love canon divergence AUs, and other ‘what-if’ scenarios.
I also have zero problems with fics dealing with misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism etc. I like realism, but not overly-depressing fics or fics centered on issues at the expense of characterization.
Genderbending! I always love Rule 63'd characters.
Stories featuring bi, pan, aro, and/or ace characters are lovely! (Aro but not ace characters I don't see at all, so extra love for that.)
Open relationships! Threesomes! Moresomes! (Non-explicit) orgies!
Transgender characters would be amazing, as would non-binary characters and just genderfuckery in general.
All the hard questions with no answers, characters trapped in unsolvable dilemmas, loss and grief and moving on.

Silmarillion
For the Ainur (and all characters in general, really), playing around with gender definition and norms would be much appreciated!

Aerin/Morwen
For me, this ship is about finding strength in each other and leaning on each other to get through dark times. As such, a gentle fic about companionship with hints at dark things would be what I'm looking for, but I don't mind messy, entangled feelings and rage and betrayal either.

Anairë/Fingolfin and Fëanor/Fingolfin

I'm including these two together because I'd really, really love it if you could have Fingolfin loving both of them! (OT3 would also be lovely but not a requirement.) For both ships, I'd like passion and fire and promises and betrayal and all the stuff of tragedy and song.

Inzilbêth/OFC
An intriguing ship—I'd like an exploration of the King's Men/Faithful schism, with a dash of politics. Side Ar-Gimilzôr/Inzilbêth, with all the messiness that arises, is fine, but I'd like the focus to be on Inzilbêth/OFC, please. (Ace OFC would be lovely!)

Elemmírë/Írimë
Again, I'd love questions about duty and love, family and honour, and about betrayal and truth. A not-so-fluffy Valinor fic would be lovely if you're so inclined, or maybe Elemmírë saying goodbye to her lover or Írimë reminiscing in Beleriand? Again, I don't like happy endings for this pairing, and problems with no easy answers would be welcome. (Trans woman Elemmírë. Please, please, please.)

Finduilas/Nienor, and Finduilas/Nellas/Nienor
If you can make this work canon-'verse, that would, of course, be lovely, but I am here for all the canon divergence AUs! I want these ladies to get a happy ending—taking back their lives, taking control. I don't mind initial angst, of course, or bittersweet endings—I just don't want complete tragedy. (I would give a lot to see nonbinary Nellas. Just saying.)

Tar-Telperien/OFC
Because The Line of Elros saying that Tar-Telperien 'would we with no man' got me thinking of the woman she married. I want politics, for this fic, all the messy political entanglements, and how Tar-Telperien came to be seen in history so negatively (no queen-blaming, please, I'd prefer a Those Pesky Historians version!).

Tar-Vanimeldë/OFC
Maybe Tar-Vanimeldë falls in love with a dancer? I have a headcanon that she was deeply unhappy about Herucalmo wielding power but since he had many supporters and she didn't want to risk a civil war, she let him be. I'd like a little love to lighten up her life, please!

Tar-Míriel/OFC
I want Tar-Míriel to have a slice of happiness before—or after—everything goes wrong. Make the setting and plot as dark as you like—the darker the better—but the relationship itself I'd prefer if it were more gentle, and loving. And, of course, Tar-Míriel as the Witch King is welcome! (And if you go the latter way, trans (man or woman, I don't mind which) or genderqueer (or both) Tar-Míriel, pretty please?)

Tar-Ancalimë/Nessanië
I get quite a lot of kicks out of imagining Tar-Ancalimë in love with Hallacar's sister! A gentle fic is lovely, but I'd also love politics and drama—I'm interesting in what made Ancalimë the domineering, hard-hearted woman she was made out to be. Pulling a Those Pesky Historians is, of course, fine, but I'd also enjoy Ancalimë being forced to be controlling as she's a woman in a man's world, and a case of 'damned if you, damned if you don't. Or, you could have her naturally arrogant and work with that. It's anything goes for me! (Bonus points for 'she did not desire love', and ace Ancalimë and pesky historians not understanding that love doesn't equal sex. Because yes.)

Galadriel/Melian

Melian mentoring Galadriel, please! Political subplots would be lovely, and so would fluffy goodness (although I wouldn't be averse to a darker fic).

Gilmith/Uinen

This lovely fic is how I started shipping Gilmith/Uinen, and while the premise is admittedly very, very tenuous unless you follow that 'verse, I'd love a non-crack exploration of this, if you could! Past Erendis/Uinen would get extra points, because I adore that pairing.

Ilmarë/Varda

Power dynamics! (You can go the sex-y way if you want to, of course, but I'd prefer a different kind of power) Loyalty, faithfulness, even through misguided decisions?

Indis/Nerdanel

I absolutely love this pairing, although its basis is extremely obscure. Here's the quote ~~(let's pretend I haven't memorized it~~): “But Nerdanel would not go with him, and she asked leave to abide with Indis, whom she had ever esteemed...” (The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II), Morgoth's Ring, page 279 in the 2002 HarperCollins paperback edition). I'd love co-queens and/or grief/recovery/coping, but anything to do with Indis/Nerdanel would be fine, really—I count only ~~five~~ seven Indis/Nerdanel fics on the Internet; I want more!

Lindissë/Silmarien

Lindissë appears in the family tree in Aldarion and Erendis, and since we know so little of her and Silmarien, I'd love to see more! Númenorian politics and the role of women in Númenor would be lovely, of course, but fluffiness would also be very welcome! (And I'd love it if both of them (or at least one of them) were ace. Also trans woman Lindissë.)

Míriel/Vairë

Vairë's knowledge of Míriel (or at least her astute guesses) in The Statute of Finwë and Míriel is...interesting, to say the least. And there's a lot more subtext there, too! I'd love a fic about Míriel in the Halls of Vairë—how she came to choose to stay there, maybe, or a slice-of-life fic.

Tar-Telemmaitë/Original Characters

Tar-Telemmaitë's name sounds very 'feminine', to my ears, and I'd like a take on that! Trans man Tar-Telemmaitë, nonbinary Tar-Telemmaitë, or any other explanation would be lovely! Also aro but not ace Tar-Telemmaitë and orgies. Lots of orgies.

LotR

Arwen/Gilraen
Oooh, I love this for its awkward connotations. A gentle fic, if portraying their relationship, but I'd also love a look at the awkwardness that would result—"Aragorn, I've already met your Mother. In fact, I've gone down on her too many times to count". A relationship not based on love, but mutual loss and comfort, staving away loneliness, would be an added bonus. And, as above, bonding! I'd love bonding, and discussions/portrayals of mortality and immortality. What does Arwen's mother-in-law think about her? Surely they must have spent time together in Rivendell, possibly in the years before Arwen was betrothed, but after Aragorn had gone away. Did Aragorn's youthful crush result in mutual embarrassment? Or did they laugh over it? And I'd love advice, given and received, and also Elven vs. Human perceptions of passing time. Arwen/Gilraen in the window of time between Aragorn going away and their betrothal would be lovely.

Arwen/Goldberry
Arwen stumbles upon a strange woman early in the Third Age, in the peacetime, maybe? Or after Aragorn's death, finding some hope and comfort in life while she waits to pass? Either way, I'd love a gentle fic about mortality and loss, and about love in all its myriad forms. A bittersweet tone would be lovely.

Éowyn/Lothíriel
Politics! Politics galore, please, and also queens finding themselves away from home and taking comfort from their peers. I don't mind infidelity, but open relationships would be so much better! I'd also like a bit more about the Rohirrim. I love horses, so if you could include equestrian detail in the fic that'd also be lovely. Light angst would be fine, but I'd prefer a happy or bittersweet ending, please!

Berúthiel/OFC
For this, love, loyalty, and tragedy. Also cats. I want cats. (And no animal abuse! I'd like Berúthiel secretly loving her cats ~~and not~~ ~~that~~ ~~way~~.) Just two cat ladies not living happily ever after. (Yes, this is a crack pairing. Shhh.)

Goldberry/Lady of the Blue Brooch
There are so many lovely fics for this pairing, but I still want more! For those of you who don't know, the Lady of the Blue Brooch was a woman (because I am a master of stating the obvious), presumably a noble of Cardolan, and her brooch found its way into the tomb of the last prince of Cardolan. And, of course, Goldberry (and Tom) knew her. From there, I'd love whatever your take on this would be! (Except maybe the Lady is not actually a Lady? Because genderqueer characters are lovely ;))

Ioreth/OFC
I'd love something connected to Imloth Melui and its roses—why do they have such significance to Ioreth? Was it because of a lover she had when she was 'a lass'? A bittersweet or unhappy ending is fine, but the relationship itself I'd like to be happy, a relationship out of the old tales—one which even a king would be content with. (And I'd love it if your OC was a trans woman or nonbinary!)

Mithrellas/Nimrodel
Ah, the good old mediaeval lady/handmaiden trope. I'd like to see Mithrellas' grief and longing for her lady, maybe, but also anger at Nimrodel for tossing her aside so easily when Amroth arrived. And maybe marrying Imrazôr is her way of saying 'fuck you' for that? And maybe she realizes that isn't enough? Or is there a gradual descent into madness? Hurt feelings and anger, power dynamic—all things I want. Whether they find each other again is up to you, but I don't want a fluffy ending—bittersweet or angsty would be better.

Aragorn and Arwen's daughter/Éowyn and Faramir's daughter

An adventure fic with a happy ending is all I want for these two, really. Also politics, and women in politics, specifically the two of them, and them kicking their brothers' arses! (An asexual relationship would be very, very welcome.) And maybe a sexual but not romantic relationship?

Arwen/Ioreth

As with Arwen/Gilraen, I'd like learning and teaching for this, a mutual relationship, gentle, but bittersweet, and dealing with mortality and loss. (And, again, a relationship where the love they feel for each other isn't romantic would be many times adored.)

A:TLA
Please nothing sexual for this fandom, and I don't mind aging up the characters for minimal squick, either!

Suki/Ty Lee

This is my A:TLA OTP, and for these two, I'd love a Ty Lee joins the Kyoshi Warriors fic. Past Azula/Ty Lee would be an added bonus, of course, and I'd love a gentle fic about grief and loss. Hurt/comfort would be lovely, as would a bittersweet tone, and mutual support and bonding.

Azula/Ty Lee

The dark!ship of my heart. And by dark, I mean dark. Dub-con, powerplay, mindfucks—throw them all at me, and I'd love it! Loyalty, of course, and tragedy, and anger and passion and also auras, and I just want dark, dark fic.

Katara/Suki

Sisters-in-arms fic! Katara and Suki fighting together, living together, loving together. Kick-ass women kicking ass, action, adventure! And all the bittersweet fluffiness is also lovely. (And please, please, please trans woman Katara, because I will love you forever.)

Kanna/Yugoda

Pakku wasn't the only one who missed Kanna, and who loved her. A story about Kanna's girlhood and the aftermath of her eventual escape would be lovely—bittersweet and gentle, with lots of angst. Or Kanna and Yugoda, finding each other after The Siege of the North, love and forgiveness and anger ~~and maybe Yugoda/Kanna/Pakku OT3~~. (Ace Yugoda would be much appreciated!)

Narnia

Queens being awesome, please! For all the ships, I'd love political drama and romance, warrior-queens and queens ruling by diplomacy. Illicit, not-so-illicit, queen consorts—all the types of romance would be lovely. I just really, really want wordplay, power dynamics, and queens. (Also, if your OC is a trans woman? I'd love that!)

Alternately, for Susan/OFC: post-series, Susan growing up and falling in love, and if she's shut out of Narnia because of this? Narnia is wrong, Susan thinks fiercely, and so is Aslan, because love is beautiful and pure.

Anne of Green Gables

Anne/Stella

A bittersweet fic about might-have-beens would be amazing! Requited or unrequited, I just want all the sadness, with a touch of gentleness and the typical Anne humor.

Di/Any Female Character

Di's short-lived, ill-fated friendships seem to me to be forerunners of later love affairs. I'd love a romance featuring Di, set during RoI. Sweet and gentle, or something darker, I don't mind either.

Paul/Walter

This gives me vibes of a creative partnership, focused not so much on sex and sexuality as love, and giving and taking. The age gap does make me a bit uncomfortable, but...*shrugs*.

Star Wars

Han/Luke/Leia

I thought I'd gotten over my shippy stage for the OT a long time ago, but I re-watched it recently, and apparently not. This is the OT3 of my heart, and I love the messy dynamics and political manoeuvring and adventure and philosophy and all other stuff this entails. I have very specific likes for this pairing—I picture Luke as being vaguely uncomfortable about sex—ace-ish, grey ace would probably come the closest—and also verging on genderqueer and also maybe-kind-of-if-you-want-to-do-this-but-I-would-very-much-love-it-if-you-did trans, (because Luke is an awesome character, and with him it really isn't stretching because the material is already there), and Leia and Han (who are bi or pan or omni because no one is monoromantic (with sexuality I have no headcanons) in this 'verse :D. And also, trans man Han or Rule 63'd Han (a la the ESB reading, because yes) would be great) being sexually active but not Luke. The romance and love part, though? Luke excels at this. Messiness is lovely, and all the angst and conflict (especially over Leia's and Luke's birth family) and guilt and general fucked-up things, although their dynamic itself I picture as very gentle, based on love and trust and mutual support, as well as 'let's-see-who-kicks-ass-best' competitions. I'd especially love a post RotJ fic. Maybe retaking Coruscant? Or the three dealing with trauma? I'd love Rebel Alliance politics and drama either way. And I just want everyone to be sad because I'm evil like that.

Rey/Jessika and Rey/Female Resistance Pilot
Partners in crime—flying together, whoever you choose being Rey's right hand (and yes, hand jokes welcome. Also Han jokes). Or maybe love in unexpected places? Whichever you choose, I’d love a gentle fic about companionship. I don't mind either during TFA or post-TFA, and if post-TFA, speculation would be lovely! Also, I headcanon nonbinary Jessika, and would love love love this so much, pretty please.

Rey/OFC

Rey wasn't completely alone on Jakku once upon a time. I know this has to end in tragedy (or at least mutual separation), but for the duration of the story I'd like a fierce, passionate, but ultimately gentle love.

Padmé/Sabé

Queen and handmaiden on Naboo or later political intrigue would be lovely, of course, but I'm particularly interested in Padmé-lives fic. And this doesn't even have to be very much AU! Everything can go as planned! Padmé could fake her death! And Leia's remembering her mother in RotJ makes a little more sense! Basically, I'd love Padmé and Sabé being rebel leaders together (ignore Rebels for this, please). And side Leia/Mon Mothma would be gorgeous.