Chocolate Box 2020 letter

[verecunda]

Dear Chocolatier,

Hello! Thank you for your interest in my letter. I’m looking forward to see what you come up with. :) This letter contains a rundown of my general likes and dislikes, as well as a lot of squee about my requested ships. If you find something here to inspire you, great! But also please don’t feel restricted to what I have here. If you have an idea of your own that you’re burning to try, I’d love to see that too! On a similar note, some prompts are longer than others, but don’t take that as a mark of preference. I just have more definite ideas for some pairings than for others. I’ll be equally thrilled to get something for any of these fandoms and pairings!

I can be found on AO3 as Verecunda.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, either via the mod or anon message.


Likes:

*I enjoy most genres: gen, romance, humour, angst, fluff, darkfic, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life, canon divergence AUs, character exploration, plotty pieces, happy endings, sad endings, ambiguous endings. I’ve got a special fondness for filling in characters’ backstories, "missing scenes" from canon, and alternate POVs on canon events.
*Worldbuilding detail. I always want to know more about the worlds these characters inhabit.
*Intelligent, competent characters being intelligent and competent.
*Characters with tough/stoic/snarky exteriors having to confront and/or show their vulnerabilities.
*Pairings and friendships that cross cultural/class/professional lines, and how they navigate the conflicts that arise.
*Odd couples. I love opposites that attract: characters who seem so different but who end up complementing each other perfectly. (This can be either romantic or platonic.)
*Banter! I love witty characters who have a good back-and-forth.
*For shipfic I love both getting together and established relationship, first times, quiet intimacy: characters having heart-to-heart talks, kisses on cheeks, foreheads, noses, etc., hand-holding, light touches, face-stroking, hair-stroking, cuddles, resting heads on shoulders or chests, etc.
*Pining!! I live for good old-fashioned, hopeless pining, especially if it’s mutual and all parties are in silent agonies, equally convinced it can never be. UST and unrequited love also hurt so good.
*The ones in love always being the last to know.
*Smut is great, but by no means obligatory. I’ll happily read sweet vanilla cuddle!sex, consensual kink, all the way through to hate-sex, Consensual but not Safe or Sane, up to and including dub-con and non-con.
*Apart from my requested characters, I'm quite happy with other characters making an appearance in the fic.

DNW:

*Modern/mundane/coffee-shop AUs.
*Soulmate AUs.
*A/B/O.
*Unrequested non-canon ships. (Appearances by/references to canon pairings are fine.)
*Unrequested trans headcanons.
*Smut/kink specific: watersports, scat, rimming, underage (under 16, as per UK age of consent), mpreg, tentacles.
*I don’t mind non-con/dub-con in a kink context, but don’t want rape/sexual abuse/prostitution as plot devices for tragic character backstory, unless it’s already canon. Even then, I’d prefer not to dwell on it.


Frontier Wolf - Rosemary Sutcliff

One of my favourite Sutcliff novels, featuring one of my favourite Sutcliff protagonists. I absolutely adore Alexios and I think he deserves all the love in the world. Which is to say, I’m willing to ship him with just about anyone. :P So, without further ado…

Relationship: Alexios Flavius Aquila/Hilarion

I love the whole trajectory of their relationship: from the initial mistrust, to the little hints of Hilarion’s deepening loyalty, then to the way the book leaves them on the threshold of their new friendship. I’d love to see anything that covers the development of their relationship post-canon, as they lead their new Attacotti scouts in Belgica (and beyond?), the trust and affection growing between them all the time. I am absolutely 100% here for Hilarion pining for Alexios from behind his lazy, sarcastic front, and/or torturing himself with the idea that Alexios could never love him back because he’ll always love Cunorix. Equally, I love the idea of Alexios finally allowing himself to love again, or falling for Hilarion but being too wary of showing it for fear of being mocked.

Really, I love these two, and I’d love just about any tone of fic - angsty, fluffy, smutty - and there are so many situations I’d love to see. What would happen if they met someone in Belgica who had served with Alexios before and remembered the disastrous events at Abusina? I’d kind of love to see Hilarion defending Alexios’ honour, whether with fists or some well-placed sarcasm. More gentle h/c during Alexios’ recuperation - Hilarion sitting with him, bathing with him, maybe even holding him during fever/nightmares? *___* Five wacky schemes Hilarion came up with to woo his Commander + one time he found himself being wooed instead?


Relationship: Alexios Flavius Aquila/Cunorix

This relationship is such a vital part of the story, yet to be honest, I feel it’s something we’re not shown enough of. That said, I can’t read their final confrontation without getting a lump in my throat, and I am delighted by Alexios’ blindingly obvious thirst when Cunorix shows up in all his finery to greet the Praepositus. (“I’m dazzled! Are we sure it’s not actually midsummer?” ALEXIOS PLS.)

So, please, I’d love to see anything exploring their relationship further. Is it something they act upon, or does it remain as UST? (Are the Votadini and the Frontier Wolves all off at the side going “ffs get a room!!!”) Clandestine moments snatched in other half-ruined forts and signal towers? Do they both find in each other a relief from the pressures and responsibilities of leadership? Does Alexios ever confide in Cunorix about Abusina, or does he learn it from somewhere else - a trader, maybe, or a Roman soldier from another unit?

I’d love to get more of Cunorix’s point of view on the events of the story. How does he reconcile his love for Alexios with his love for Shula? Does he have any reservations about his friendship with the Roman Commander, even before the Picts and the Dalriads start massing, or have things been so peaceful with his father and Gavros that he doesn’t see the trouble coming any more than Alexios does? What is his reaction when he first hears about Connla’s death at Alexios’ hands? Does he feel any conflict while hunting down the Third Ordo - at least, any conflict that he's willing to admit to himself?

AUs are always good: what would happen if Cunorix somehow survived the duel with Alexios, and was taken as a prisoner instead? Or if Alexios traded himself in as a prisoner in exchange for his men’s safe passage to Habitancum?


Relationship: Alexios Flavius Aquila/Julius Gavros

This wasn’t a ship I had ever considered until I ended up writing it for someone else’s prompt in a previous exchange, but the idea was so intriguing I am now fully aboard the Alexios/Gavros ship! After all, Gavros is so very kind and supportive of Alexios when he first arrives, despite knowing about his disgrace, and Alexios sees at once that Gavros is someone he can learn from. I also love the bit towards the end, where Gavros asks Alexios if he’s willing to tell him about his experiences, because the longer he keeps them bottled up, the harder it’ll be to talk about them in the future. Is there an attraction between them from the first, and do they act on it, or is Alexios too preoccupied just then to recognise it? Perhaps Gavros visits him during his recuperation at Onnum, and they grow closer from there.

Perhaps an AU where, instead of taking over Gavros’ command, Alexios is sent to Castellum as his second-in-command. (I have no idea what this means for the chain of command in the numerus, but hey, it’s the Frontier Wolves. High command probably doesn’t care that much if Castellum ends up with two ducenarii. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) Or perhaps Gavros is put in command of another scout unit and ends up meeting Alexios again in Belgica or another frontier.


Relationship: Alexios Flavius Aquila/Lucius

To be honest, I don’t have many concrete ideas for this one, I’m just throwing it out in the spirit of, “So has this been done yet or…?” I think this is a pairing that has quite a lot of potential for sweetness (and sadness, if you want to go there). Lucius is a quiet, sober type, which seems like a nice counterpart to Alexios’ fretful inner monologue, and I think they’d get on very nicely together, in an understated sort of way. Plus, at the beginning, Alexios is quick to decide that Lucius isn’t quite so dry as he first appears, and Lucius tries to defuse Hilarion’s needling, so there seems to be something nice to build on there.

So… yes. Anything you fancy! Something sweet about the two of them bonding over the Georgics? Falling in love quietly over long nights in the Mess? Something heartbreaking about the fact that Lucius just straight-up dies in Alexios’ arms? Or, hell, just a Lucius Lives! AU where he also follows Alexios to Belgica, or gets to see the Aquila farm in all its bucolic Virgilian glory?


The Silver Branch - Rosemary Sutcliff

Relationship: Tiberius Lucius "Justin" Justinianus/Anthonius

This is another pairing I’ve not seen much of, but seems to have a lot of potential. :) Justin and Anthonius are both such gentle, honourable, compassionate souls, and one of my very favourite scenes in the book is the one where Anthonius looks at Justin’s surgical instruments and tells him how lucky he is to be able to heal people. Since there’s like no content for this ship, I’d be absolutely thrilled with anything! A sweet first time? Any missing scenes of them getting to know each other better during the events of the book: Anthonius fretting about Justin while he’s away from the farm with Flavius? Training together? Justin having to patch Anthonius up from some minor injury after the battle of Calleva? What about after the events of the book? Does Anthonius request to follow Flavius and Justin to their new posting?

I love pining, and this also seems like a pairing that would lend itself well to it, with the pair of them being completely, blindingly into each other but not saying anything because of Reasons (maybe Justin is too shy and lacking in self-confidence, and Anthonius is too noble) until they're both in dire need of having their heads knocked together.

I also adore the bond between Justin and Flavius, so I’d love him to feature somehow, whether he’s a 100% hardcore Justin/Anthonius shipper, or the overprotective cousin.


The Lantern Bearers - Rosemary Sutcliff

Right. Confession time. I first read Eagle of the Ninth and The Silver Branch years ago, but put off reading The Lantern Bearers until just last month, because I knew it was going to hurt. And tbh the most coherent reaction I have is still “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!” An absolute masterpiece, but my God, my heart is still aching for just about everyone in it. The themes of healing and carrying light through the darkness had me crying unashamedly by the end, so my general plea in this letter is pretty much: I just want them to be happy. *sob*

For what it’s worth, I know that some of the characters turn up again in Sword at Sunset, which I haven’t read (yet!), so feel free to use as much or as little of that canon as you like.

Relationship: Aquila/Ness & Flavian

Oh God. Oh God. I spent the better part of the book breaking my heart for the three of them. It’s even worse because Aquila is totally aware of how distant and unapproachable he is, but can’t find his way back across the gulf. I love, though, that Ness is more than able to give him a run for his money, and I also love the bit where he has the sudden longing to bring her things - "New songs and the three stars of Orion's belt, and honey-in-the-comb, and branches of white flowering thorn at mid-winter". Maybe - eventually - after the end, he starts trying to make some tentative romantic gestures (whether they work out or not!).

I’d love to see anything that further explored the progress of their relationship over the years: moments where they’re actually getting along, or even when they’re having a particularly incandescent argument. In particular, I’d love to get some of Ness’ POV - I imagine it’d make a very interesting counterpoint to Aquila’s! What, for instance, were her feelings when she decided to stay with him, rather than go back with her father?

I love Flavian, too, and the distance between him and his father is heartbreaking. I really hurt for Aquila’s jealousy of Flavian’s hero-worship of Artos (though again, he knows it's his fault). Then my heart melted at the end, when Flavian stands with Aquila before Ambrosius. I love how Ness sent Flavian to be with his father at the final battle, because she obviously knows how much they need each other, and is obviously hurt as well that her family is so divided. I’d like to see something about Ness and Flavian talking about Aquila - trying to work out what makes him tick and sort out their feelings fort him.

But above all, I’d love to see how they go forward together as a family after the events of the book, now that there’s a chance of healing. Even just something relatively cosy and domestic, with them all getting to know each other properly. Do Aquila and Flavian tell Ness about what happened with Mull? (He confessed so publicly I can’t imagine her not getting to hear about it one way or the other!)


Relationship: Flavia/Saxon Husband

Another part of the story I desperately want to know more about. How did Flavia go from being captive slave to the wife of a Saxon chieftain? When Aquila asks her if it’s love or hate between her and her husband, she tells him it’s a bit of both, which makes me wonder so much about what sort of complex and conflicting emotions lie behind those words. I like to think, at least, it means there’s something more going on than just Flavia being utterly forced and unwilling, even if that’s how things started out between them. And if that’s how it did start, how did things change? Was Mull the catalyst for change between them? How does their relationship progress over the years? Do they have more children?

(Given the circumstances, don’t feel you have to whitewash the brutality or tragedy of the story. I’m completely fine with portrayals of or references to rape, but I’d prefer for there to be more than that. Also, given how fiercely Flavia fights during the raid, I think she could probably make life hell for anyone who tried to rape her.)

The fact that her husband gives Flavia the dolphin ring back as a bride-gift seems like quite a sweet, respectful gesture, given the circumstances, almost like an acknowledgement or apology for the loss of her family and former life, giving her back something that’s rightfully hers.

Aquila himself wonders if Flavia’s situation was anything like Ness’, so to be honest, I’d like to imagine that Flavia and her husband were also able to find some common ground and affection. The mingling of peoples and bloodlines is also such an important theme in Sutcliff’s work, and I just want Flavia to find some healing and peace in the end, too.


Relationship: Aquila & Flavia

Their relationship colours just about everything that happens in the book, and it’s the loss of each other that drives them into such different lives. I’d love to see more of it: something about them in happier days, perhaps, as youngsters on the farm. I love their race and betting in the first chapter. They seem so close: what was it like when Aquila first left home to join the army? Flavia perhaps might not have really made a singing magic to bring Aquila home from Rutupiae, but perhaps she had some presentiment of the decision he would make?

Or, if you like, I’d love to get Flavia’s perspective on some things we only hear about from Aquila’s POV. Her POV on the brief reunion on Tanatus? What were her feelings when Mull returned to her with the story of how he had been saved by a Roman uncle with a dolphin tattoo? I hope she felt the same way Aquila did, that they had somehow found each other again.

Given that they spend most of their lives apart, don’t feel duty-bound to include both of them in person. If you fancy doing something about one of them thinking about the other and wondering what’s happened to them, or something along those lines, that’s also grand.


Relationship: Flavian & Artos, Flavian/Artos

It’s obvious that part of Flavian’s hero-worship of Artos stems from the distance between him and Aquila, and a longing for a positive male role model. But Artos is such a lovable character in his own right, I can quite easily imagine Flavian fanboying over him even if he and his father were close. I have fewer definite ideas here, but I’d love to see more of their relationship. What is its exact nature? Is Artos a father figure, or more like a cool older brother? I’m also open to the idea of Flavian/Artos as a ship - I can definitely see Flavian having a complete starry-eyed crush, whether that’s requited on Artos’ part or not.

I think Artos can probably empathise with Flavian’s feeling the absence of his father in his life. I love his tacit little gesture of approval at the end, when Flavian chooses to stand with Aquila, so I get the feeling he’s been rooting for the two of them to sort things out. Is it something he and Flavian ever talk about?

I’m a bit stuck for further prompts, but I’d love to see more of their dynamic!


Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans (2019)

And now for a very different take on Roman Britain! I’m a long-time fan of both the HH books and TV series, and very much enjoyed the film. This is one fandom where I’m really not in it for heavy angst - lots of silliness and cuteness please! Not really fussed about smut in this case either, though feel free to fade to black if you find your story heading that way.

Relationship: Attilius “Atti” Minus/Orla

I’m weak for any pairing that involves Celts and Romans, and these kids are cute. :) I love the Warrior Girl, Nerdy Boy dynamic, so anything touching on that would be great. Atti discovering how he’s actually quite into a girl who can pick him up and tie him in knots, while Orla’s happy with her awkward Roman beanpole, thanks. I’d be happy to see any cute friends-to-lovers scenario set after the events of the film, as they both find their relationship deepening over time. (Bonus points for the reaction of their various relatives/tribespeople, who probably saw this coming a mile off!) I’d also love to see something about them learning to appreciate each other’s cultures: Orla getting into gladiator matches, maybe, or Atti celebrating Beltane with the Celts (or any festival that doesn’t look like it’s going end up with him being ritually drowned in a bog!).

Since Orla is the future queen of her tribe, that could open the way for some good old-fashioned Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience tropes! Maybe a proposed marriage alliance with another chieftain’s son prompts both Orla and Atti to realise their true feelings for each other. Or maybe, for political reasons, the new Roman governor decides to arrange a marriage between Arghus’ daughter and some deserving Roman - and who better than Attilius Minus, who masterminded the Watling Street bottleneck strategy? Or in an attempt to stave off a marriage to some odious Roman official/rival tribesman, Orla and Atti agree to enter a marriage of convenience. Cue Feelings™!


Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Relationship: Merkin Muffley/Dimitri Kissov

I watched this for the first time just a couple of months ago and, holy moly, new favourite film! Peter Sellers is a genius! I have a particular soft spot for the well-meaning, mild-mannered, but hopelessly beleaguered President Muffley, and Muffley/Dimitri is my new daft ship. The phone calls! “Of course I like to speak with you. Of course I like to say hello.” What is the backstory here? What other sort of phone conversations have they had in the past? *wink wink* Have they ever met in person? Does Dimitri try to make Muffley jealous with his playboy lifestyle on the other end of the line? How does their love fit in the ultra-macho, jingoistic world of toxic masculinity that the film so mercilessly satirises?

Granted, it’s a bit hard to sail a ship in a canon where humanity is wiped off the face of the earth in a thermonuclear holocaust, but hey, there’s always AUs! Maybe they manage to call off Captain Kong’s bomber crew after all, or maybe the Doomsday device malfunctions, and everyone lives happily ever after.

I don’t know. I’m just desperate for some content here! Honestly, anything you can give me is fine. It’s all fine. It’s great to be fine.