Trick or Treat 2020 letter
Sep. 12th, 2020 06:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
verecundaDear Trick or Treater,
Hello! Thank you for your interest in my letter. I love this time of year, and I'm already looking forward to this exchange! This letter contains some general likes and dislikes, as well as some potential prompts. If you find something here to inspire you, great! But don't feel restricted to what's here, either. If you have other ideas of your own, I'd love to see them too.
I can be found on AO3 as![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Verecunda.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the mod.
All requests are for fic or art, tricks or treats. And if you want to take part in the Battle of the Bands challenge, feel free to take inspiration from any of the nominated songs that you like.
Likes:
• Art and fic of all ratings.
• Most genres: humour, angst, fluff, darkfic, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life, character pieces, plotty pieces. I like happy endings as well as a good tragedy, or even a bittersweet ending.
• I’ve got a special fondness for things that fill in characters’ backstories, “missing” scenes from canon, and alternate POVs on canon events. Post-canon settings are always good, of course, as are canon divergence AUs and 5+1 fics.
• Intelligent characters being intelligent and competent.
• Characters with tough/stoic/snarky exteriors having to confront and/or show their vulnerabilities.
• Pairings that cross cultural/class/professional lines, and how they navigate the conflicts that arise.
• Odd couples. I love opposites that attract: characters who seem completely different but who end up complementing each other perfectly.
• Banter! I love witty characters who have a good back-and-forth.
• Smut is great, but by no means obligatory.
• Getting-together and established relationship fic are equally good.
• Apart from my requested characters, I'm quite happy with other characters making an appearance in the fic.
• Spooky likes: all the classic Gothic settings: ruined castles and churches, overgrown cemeteries, full moons and ragged clouds, disembodied footsteps, voices, music, etc., shadowy figures and things only half-seen. I don’t mind jump scares and a bit of gore, but I’m more a fan of slow, creeping, atmospheric chills, the power of suggestion and the Nothing Is Scarier trope. I also have a soft spot for cheesy old B-movie calibre horror. And I love Hallowe’en and all the traditions surrounding it, even right back to the old forerunners like Samhain etc.
Art likes:
• I find it much easier to come up with writing prompts than art ones, but I'd be very happy with an illustration based on any of my prompts. I love pictures that tell a story.
• I love bold colours as well as black and white, contrasting shades, mingling of light and shadow, cell shading.
• Honestly, I know virtually nothing about art, but I know what I like to look at. Some artists I particularly love: Van Gogh, Matisse, Caravaggio, Aivazovsky, Alan Lee, Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter.
• I'm always here for spoofs of famous paintings, characters drawn in distinctive styles: art nouveau, Disney, etc.
• Effects of different light sources, especially firelight and candlelight; evening and dawn sunlight; light on water.
• Most of my fandoms are in period settings, so costume porn is always very much appreciated, as are details of material culture. Art mimicking the styles of the period is always good too.
• I love this time of year, so if you want to do something seasonal, I love vivid autumnal colours and long sunsets, and the visual effects of mist and frost.
• For spooky art, I love all the classic Hallowe'en aesthetics - pumpkins and bats and black cats, etc. - as well as ghosts and other things half-hidden in shadow, jagged trees, moonlight.
DNW:
• First or second POV, unless that's the POV of the original canon.
• 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, mpreg, tentacles.
• Most of my fandoms have historical settings, and historical mores being what they were, I’m fine with references to characters being married or having sex in their early teens, but would prefer no explicit sexual content involving any characters under 16.
• I don’t mind dub-con/non-con in a kink context, but I 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.
Father Brown (TV 2013)
Requested characters: Father Brown, M. Hercule Flambeau, Bridgette McCarthy, Felicia Montague, Penelope "Bunty" Windermere, Marianne Delacroix
I love this show so much. It’s so cosy and good-natured, pure comfort TV. At the same time, what with all the murder and mayhem, those great big spooky mansions and their family secrets, the occasional mad cult… it seems like a canon equally suited for tricks or treats! It helps that every so often, we get a wee tease (eg. The Ghost in the Machine, The Star of Jacob, The Curse of Amenhotep) that the supernatural does exist in the world of the show, after all.
My favourite character is probably the Padre himself, but honestly, I love everyone in this bar (yes, even Mallory, for my sins!), so believe me when I say I would be equally delighted to receive a gift focused on any of the requested characters. I love the little family that’s formed over the course of the show, and how even though Lady Felicia and Sid are no longer series regulars, they show up and are still very much part of that family. I’m not much of a shipper in this fandom, so I would prefer gen. I love the dynamic between Father Brown and Flambeau, but I’d love to see the relationships between any of the requested characters explored. Sorry if this is all a bit general, but I’m honestly happy for anything with these characters. Pick your faves and have fun!
If you want to work in a mystery of some kind, that would be awesome! I also love autumn and Hallowe’en, so if you want to do something seasonal, that would be lovely. Picturesque autumns in the Cotswolds? What’s Hallowe’en in Kembleford like? I can see Bunty in particular being all about fancy dress parties. Meanwhile, we know Father Brown and Lady Felicia enjoy a good cheesy horror flick. Is Mrs McCarthy out petitioning to Save Our Children From This Satanic Holiday, or is she too preoccupied with the upcoming autumn fête? (Potential art prompt: what would the characters dress as for Hallowe'en?)
For tricks: Father Brown doesn’t believe in ghosts, but what if something made him change his mind? A restless spirit, maybe, in need of some compassion and understanding. Maybe the ghost of a murder victim who can’t rest until the truth about their death is solved? Or even the ghost of a murderer who wants to repent and move on? Does the presbytery acquire a poltergeist to vex Mrs. McCarthy and steal the strawberry scones? Is there an old tomb in St. Mary’s that would be better off left alone? Is Montague haunted by any old ancestral ghosts? Does the Blue Cross have any other mysterious powers? What if Flambeau and/or Marianne steals a mysterious ancient relic and, in true M.R. James fashion, finds themselves pursued by its spectral guardian, prompting Father Brown and the others to come to their rescue?
Or you could just go all out and have the squad battling some supernatural threat that’s taking over all of Kembleford. Vampire infestation? Zombie horde? (They’ve dealt with just about everything else by now!) Is Kembleford's disproportionate rate of weird deaths and happenings due to it being built on a site of extreme supernatural energy?
With this fandom, I prefer a lighter touch, so even if you do want to go down the spooky/horror route, I’d much prefer no character death (of the requested characters anyway - feel free to bump off as many expendable extras as you see fit :P).
Ghosts (TV 2019)
Requested characters: Alison Cooper, Pat, Robin, Kitty, Jemima
(Series 2 is due to start on the 21st September. Yaaassss! Unfortunately for this letter, that’s just after sign-ups close, so there’s every possibility that over the next month or so, new canon might render some of these prompts moot. I’ll leave my requests as they are, but please feel free to veer away from them if the new series leaves them outdated, or if it sparks any all-new ideas.)
I’m trying to be good here and keep my prompts centred around my requested characters, but it is a bit hard with an ensemble series like this! Just take it as read that I love all the characters and will be happy for you to include whoever else you like.
Hallowe’en at Button House! Imagine the mayhem! How do the ghosts get into the - ahem - spirit of the occasion? I can imagine Pat and Kitty in particular getting right into it. Maybe he teaches her about modern Hallowe’en traditions. She has such a childlike enthusiasm, so the idea of dressing up and playing games to get sweets would be right up her street! Do Alison and Mike get kids from the village trick or treating at their door, hoping they’ll see some real ghosts? Does Robin have some other ancient autumn ritual (autumn equinox? precursor to Samhain?) that he insists on celebrating?
According to tradition, Hallowe’en is the time that spirits walk abroad, so how does that affect places like Button House, which are haunted all the year round? Do the ghosts gain extra powers; are they visible to other people, not just Alison? Is Alison’s own ability to see ghosts affected in some way? Are there other spirits who are only able to haunt the house on this date, perhaps even creepier (or more obnoxious) than the usual crowd? Other supernatural creatures?
Apart from seasonal themes, I’d quite happily read anything about any of the characters requested, filling in backstories, theories on how the various ghosts died (where canon hasn’t already told us), etc. It’s a tough one to call, but Robin might just be my favourite character, for his mixture of mischievous humour and heartfelt moments, funny caveman-speak and genuine intelligence. He’s the oldest of them all and has seen the most changes, so I’d love any and all content about him.
I also find Jemima quite intriguing. She seems to be the creepiest of the ghosts - so much so that she even scares the others! - but what else does she do? Does she have much to do with the other plague ghosts in the cellar, or is she quite isolated? Maybe Alison tries to get the other ghosts to include her. I’d just like to see some more of her.
As far as ships go, canon Alison/Mike are adorable, and I can see the potential for so many ships between the ghosts. Pat, in particular, is a bit of a little black dress for me: I can see him going well with pretty much anyone. But I don’t have any particular otps, so I’m quite willing to be surprised!
Tam o' Shanter - Robert Burns
Characters: Tam o’ Shanter, Nannie, Kate
I love this poem so much. (Link to the full thing, with a handy translation for all of us who don’t speak broad Scots). I love the right Scottishness of it - not just the language, but the preoccupation with witches and the Devil himself - and I love Tam’s whole journey, from the slow ride through the stormy midnight landscape, past various scenes of old murders etc., to the witches’ dance in the ruined kirk, and the wild chase to the bridge. It has spookiness and humour in equal measure, too, so it’s perfect for both tricks or treats!
(I definitely wouldn't expect a fic for this fandom to be written in Scots - though naturally you're welcome to do so, if you want!)
For something on the lighter side, what about the inevitable scene when Tam finally gets home and has to explain to Kate why he’s back so late, and why the horse is suddenly missing her tail. Kate’s POV would be fun to get! Maybe she actually made a deal with the witches to help her get rid of her no-good boozehound of a husband, and is less than thrilled to see him home. Or what if Kate is actually a good witch, which is why she’s always warning Tam about getting drunk and coming past the old kirkyard late, because she knows what’s really out there?
I've always found Nannie very interesting. Why is she the only young witch at the dance? Does she come from a family of witches - does she have relatives at the gathering as well? Or did she sell herself over to the Devil for some other reason? In one verse we learn that she was just inducted into the coven that very night, and goes on to have a successful career terrorising the countryside. Feel free to expand on that! She could be an out-and-out villain who loves being evil, or a more morally complex figure. I’d be intrigued to know more about her either way.
I do wonder what’s going to happen after the events of the poem. Tam’s safe - for now - but he’ll surely have to go back over the river and past the kirk to get to Ayr next market day. What if the witches plan to catch him once and for all? What if he crosses paths with Nannie or one of the others in town during the day, while they’re going about pretending to be ordinary women. Maybe he recognised some respected women of the community in the coven!
I’d also be partial to a bit of dark, seductive Nannie/Tam, if the fancy takes you. AU where she catches him after all and claims him as a plaything? Feel free to make it as dirtybadwrong as you like! Or perhaps, despite his escape, Tam becomes obsessed (perhaps magically ensnared?) with the beautiful witch, and can’t keep himself from venturing back to Kirk Alloway to find her again…?
For an art fill, the settings in the poem are so vividly described, you could pretty much take any scene and make something great out of it. I love all the images in the church, eg. the open coffins with the corpses holding lighted candles, the murderer’s bones on the altar, Auld Nick playing the bagpipes - not to mention the satirical details of the lawyers’ tongues black with lies and the rotten priests’ hearts. If you’re wanting to draw something deliciously spooky and macabre, there are so many ideas here!
The Uninvited (1944)
Requested characters: Roderick Fitzgerald, Pamela Fitzgerald, Stella Meredith, Carmel, Mary Meredith
I love this film so much: a good, old-fashioned ghost story filled with endearing characters, fun dialogue, and lots of atmosphere! Roderick and Pamela are delightful, and Stella deserves everything good. I’d love absolutely anything exploring these characters further, individually or as a group. As far as ships go, I’m quite happy with the canonical Roderick/Stella, and the secondary coupling of Pam/Dr. Scott, so feel free to explore either (or both) of those relationships. Or if you’d rather do something gen rather than shippy, that’s fine too. Honestly, I'd be quite happy to see more of these characters interacting, even if they're just sitting about having tea, or going for a drive along the coast, or making fun of Rick for getting seasick. :P
Anything post-canon would be great. What do the characters do with themselves after the incredible events of the film? Domesticity in a formerly haunted house: what’s the atmosphere like in Windward House now that the hauntings are lifted? One thing I really like in the film is how matter-of-factly they all get involved in the ghost-hunting, playing card games etc. to stay awake while they wait for the spirit(s) to materialise. Do they encounter any other supernatural phenomena in Cornwall?
Within the events of the film itself, when Rick first hears the ghostly sobbing, we learn that Pam's already heard it before, more than once. What about something filling in her early experiences in the house, before Rick comes down from London?
Anything about Stella and the house would also be fascinating. Perhaps some of Carmel’s belongings are still in the house, and Stella is able to learn more about her mother through them. Or you could do something set before the events of the film, exploring how she feels the call of the house through the years, despite all her grandfather’s best efforts.
It might also be interesting to explore the POV of the ghosts themselves, Carmel and/or Mary’s, while they’re haunting the house over the years. Are they aware of each other’s presence in the house? Is there some sort of supernatural conflict between them that we don’t get to see, with Mary trying to harm Stella while Carmel tries to defend her?
Hello! Thank you for your interest in my letter. I love this time of year, and I'm already looking forward to this exchange! This letter contains some general likes and dislikes, as well as some potential prompts. If you find something here to inspire you, great! But don't feel restricted to what's here, either. If you have other ideas of your own, I'd love to see them too.
I can be found on AO3 as
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the mod.
All requests are for fic or art, tricks or treats. And if you want to take part in the Battle of the Bands challenge, feel free to take inspiration from any of the nominated songs that you like.
Likes:
• Art and fic of all ratings.
• Most genres: humour, angst, fluff, darkfic, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life, character pieces, plotty pieces. I like happy endings as well as a good tragedy, or even a bittersweet ending.
• I’ve got a special fondness for things that fill in characters’ backstories, “missing” scenes from canon, and alternate POVs on canon events. Post-canon settings are always good, of course, as are canon divergence AUs and 5+1 fics.
• Intelligent characters being intelligent and competent.
• Characters with tough/stoic/snarky exteriors having to confront and/or show their vulnerabilities.
• Pairings that cross cultural/class/professional lines, and how they navigate the conflicts that arise.
• Odd couples. I love opposites that attract: characters who seem completely different but who end up complementing each other perfectly.
• Banter! I love witty characters who have a good back-and-forth.
• Smut is great, but by no means obligatory.
• Getting-together and established relationship fic are equally good.
• Apart from my requested characters, I'm quite happy with other characters making an appearance in the fic.
• Spooky likes: all the classic Gothic settings: ruined castles and churches, overgrown cemeteries, full moons and ragged clouds, disembodied footsteps, voices, music, etc., shadowy figures and things only half-seen. I don’t mind jump scares and a bit of gore, but I’m more a fan of slow, creeping, atmospheric chills, the power of suggestion and the Nothing Is Scarier trope. I also have a soft spot for cheesy old B-movie calibre horror. And I love Hallowe’en and all the traditions surrounding it, even right back to the old forerunners like Samhain etc.
Art likes:
• I find it much easier to come up with writing prompts than art ones, but I'd be very happy with an illustration based on any of my prompts. I love pictures that tell a story.
• I love bold colours as well as black and white, contrasting shades, mingling of light and shadow, cell shading.
• Honestly, I know virtually nothing about art, but I know what I like to look at. Some artists I particularly love: Van Gogh, Matisse, Caravaggio, Aivazovsky, Alan Lee, Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter.
• I'm always here for spoofs of famous paintings, characters drawn in distinctive styles: art nouveau, Disney, etc.
• Effects of different light sources, especially firelight and candlelight; evening and dawn sunlight; light on water.
• Most of my fandoms are in period settings, so costume porn is always very much appreciated, as are details of material culture. Art mimicking the styles of the period is always good too.
• I love this time of year, so if you want to do something seasonal, I love vivid autumnal colours and long sunsets, and the visual effects of mist and frost.
• For spooky art, I love all the classic Hallowe'en aesthetics - pumpkins and bats and black cats, etc. - as well as ghosts and other things half-hidden in shadow, jagged trees, moonlight.
DNW:
• First or second POV, unless that's the POV of the original canon.
• 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, mpreg, tentacles.
• Most of my fandoms have historical settings, and historical mores being what they were, I’m fine with references to characters being married or having sex in their early teens, but would prefer no explicit sexual content involving any characters under 16.
• I don’t mind dub-con/non-con in a kink context, but I 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.
Father Brown (TV 2013)
Requested characters: Father Brown, M. Hercule Flambeau, Bridgette McCarthy, Felicia Montague, Penelope "Bunty" Windermere, Marianne Delacroix
I love this show so much. It’s so cosy and good-natured, pure comfort TV. At the same time, what with all the murder and mayhem, those great big spooky mansions and their family secrets, the occasional mad cult… it seems like a canon equally suited for tricks or treats! It helps that every so often, we get a wee tease (eg. The Ghost in the Machine, The Star of Jacob, The Curse of Amenhotep) that the supernatural does exist in the world of the show, after all.
My favourite character is probably the Padre himself, but honestly, I love everyone in this bar (yes, even Mallory, for my sins!), so believe me when I say I would be equally delighted to receive a gift focused on any of the requested characters. I love the little family that’s formed over the course of the show, and how even though Lady Felicia and Sid are no longer series regulars, they show up and are still very much part of that family. I’m not much of a shipper in this fandom, so I would prefer gen. I love the dynamic between Father Brown and Flambeau, but I’d love to see the relationships between any of the requested characters explored. Sorry if this is all a bit general, but I’m honestly happy for anything with these characters. Pick your faves and have fun!
If you want to work in a mystery of some kind, that would be awesome! I also love autumn and Hallowe’en, so if you want to do something seasonal, that would be lovely. Picturesque autumns in the Cotswolds? What’s Hallowe’en in Kembleford like? I can see Bunty in particular being all about fancy dress parties. Meanwhile, we know Father Brown and Lady Felicia enjoy a good cheesy horror flick. Is Mrs McCarthy out petitioning to Save Our Children From This Satanic Holiday, or is she too preoccupied with the upcoming autumn fête? (Potential art prompt: what would the characters dress as for Hallowe'en?)
For tricks: Father Brown doesn’t believe in ghosts, but what if something made him change his mind? A restless spirit, maybe, in need of some compassion and understanding. Maybe the ghost of a murder victim who can’t rest until the truth about their death is solved? Or even the ghost of a murderer who wants to repent and move on? Does the presbytery acquire a poltergeist to vex Mrs. McCarthy and steal the strawberry scones? Is there an old tomb in St. Mary’s that would be better off left alone? Is Montague haunted by any old ancestral ghosts? Does the Blue Cross have any other mysterious powers? What if Flambeau and/or Marianne steals a mysterious ancient relic and, in true M.R. James fashion, finds themselves pursued by its spectral guardian, prompting Father Brown and the others to come to their rescue?
Or you could just go all out and have the squad battling some supernatural threat that’s taking over all of Kembleford. Vampire infestation? Zombie horde? (They’ve dealt with just about everything else by now!) Is Kembleford's disproportionate rate of weird deaths and happenings due to it being built on a site of extreme supernatural energy?
With this fandom, I prefer a lighter touch, so even if you do want to go down the spooky/horror route, I’d much prefer no character death (of the requested characters anyway - feel free to bump off as many expendable extras as you see fit :P).
Ghosts (TV 2019)
Requested characters: Alison Cooper, Pat, Robin, Kitty, Jemima
(Series 2 is due to start on the 21st September. Yaaassss! Unfortunately for this letter, that’s just after sign-ups close, so there’s every possibility that over the next month or so, new canon might render some of these prompts moot. I’ll leave my requests as they are, but please feel free to veer away from them if the new series leaves them outdated, or if it sparks any all-new ideas.)
I’m trying to be good here and keep my prompts centred around my requested characters, but it is a bit hard with an ensemble series like this! Just take it as read that I love all the characters and will be happy for you to include whoever else you like.
Hallowe’en at Button House! Imagine the mayhem! How do the ghosts get into the - ahem - spirit of the occasion? I can imagine Pat and Kitty in particular getting right into it. Maybe he teaches her about modern Hallowe’en traditions. She has such a childlike enthusiasm, so the idea of dressing up and playing games to get sweets would be right up her street! Do Alison and Mike get kids from the village trick or treating at their door, hoping they’ll see some real ghosts? Does Robin have some other ancient autumn ritual (autumn equinox? precursor to Samhain?) that he insists on celebrating?
According to tradition, Hallowe’en is the time that spirits walk abroad, so how does that affect places like Button House, which are haunted all the year round? Do the ghosts gain extra powers; are they visible to other people, not just Alison? Is Alison’s own ability to see ghosts affected in some way? Are there other spirits who are only able to haunt the house on this date, perhaps even creepier (or more obnoxious) than the usual crowd? Other supernatural creatures?
Apart from seasonal themes, I’d quite happily read anything about any of the characters requested, filling in backstories, theories on how the various ghosts died (where canon hasn’t already told us), etc. It’s a tough one to call, but Robin might just be my favourite character, for his mixture of mischievous humour and heartfelt moments, funny caveman-speak and genuine intelligence. He’s the oldest of them all and has seen the most changes, so I’d love any and all content about him.
I also find Jemima quite intriguing. She seems to be the creepiest of the ghosts - so much so that she even scares the others! - but what else does she do? Does she have much to do with the other plague ghosts in the cellar, or is she quite isolated? Maybe Alison tries to get the other ghosts to include her. I’d just like to see some more of her.
As far as ships go, canon Alison/Mike are adorable, and I can see the potential for so many ships between the ghosts. Pat, in particular, is a bit of a little black dress for me: I can see him going well with pretty much anyone. But I don’t have any particular otps, so I’m quite willing to be surprised!
Tam o' Shanter - Robert Burns
Characters: Tam o’ Shanter, Nannie, Kate
I love this poem so much. (Link to the full thing, with a handy translation for all of us who don’t speak broad Scots). I love the right Scottishness of it - not just the language, but the preoccupation with witches and the Devil himself - and I love Tam’s whole journey, from the slow ride through the stormy midnight landscape, past various scenes of old murders etc., to the witches’ dance in the ruined kirk, and the wild chase to the bridge. It has spookiness and humour in equal measure, too, so it’s perfect for both tricks or treats!
(I definitely wouldn't expect a fic for this fandom to be written in Scots - though naturally you're welcome to do so, if you want!)
For something on the lighter side, what about the inevitable scene when Tam finally gets home and has to explain to Kate why he’s back so late, and why the horse is suddenly missing her tail. Kate’s POV would be fun to get! Maybe she actually made a deal with the witches to help her get rid of her no-good boozehound of a husband, and is less than thrilled to see him home. Or what if Kate is actually a good witch, which is why she’s always warning Tam about getting drunk and coming past the old kirkyard late, because she knows what’s really out there?
I've always found Nannie very interesting. Why is she the only young witch at the dance? Does she come from a family of witches - does she have relatives at the gathering as well? Or did she sell herself over to the Devil for some other reason? In one verse we learn that she was just inducted into the coven that very night, and goes on to have a successful career terrorising the countryside. Feel free to expand on that! She could be an out-and-out villain who loves being evil, or a more morally complex figure. I’d be intrigued to know more about her either way.
I do wonder what’s going to happen after the events of the poem. Tam’s safe - for now - but he’ll surely have to go back over the river and past the kirk to get to Ayr next market day. What if the witches plan to catch him once and for all? What if he crosses paths with Nannie or one of the others in town during the day, while they’re going about pretending to be ordinary women. Maybe he recognised some respected women of the community in the coven!
I’d also be partial to a bit of dark, seductive Nannie/Tam, if the fancy takes you. AU where she catches him after all and claims him as a plaything? Feel free to make it as dirtybadwrong as you like! Or perhaps, despite his escape, Tam becomes obsessed (perhaps magically ensnared?) with the beautiful witch, and can’t keep himself from venturing back to Kirk Alloway to find her again…?
For an art fill, the settings in the poem are so vividly described, you could pretty much take any scene and make something great out of it. I love all the images in the church, eg. the open coffins with the corpses holding lighted candles, the murderer’s bones on the altar, Auld Nick playing the bagpipes - not to mention the satirical details of the lawyers’ tongues black with lies and the rotten priests’ hearts. If you’re wanting to draw something deliciously spooky and macabre, there are so many ideas here!
The Uninvited (1944)
Requested characters: Roderick Fitzgerald, Pamela Fitzgerald, Stella Meredith, Carmel, Mary Meredith
I love this film so much: a good, old-fashioned ghost story filled with endearing characters, fun dialogue, and lots of atmosphere! Roderick and Pamela are delightful, and Stella deserves everything good. I’d love absolutely anything exploring these characters further, individually or as a group. As far as ships go, I’m quite happy with the canonical Roderick/Stella, and the secondary coupling of Pam/Dr. Scott, so feel free to explore either (or both) of those relationships. Or if you’d rather do something gen rather than shippy, that’s fine too. Honestly, I'd be quite happy to see more of these characters interacting, even if they're just sitting about having tea, or going for a drive along the coast, or making fun of Rick for getting seasick. :P
Anything post-canon would be great. What do the characters do with themselves after the incredible events of the film? Domesticity in a formerly haunted house: what’s the atmosphere like in Windward House now that the hauntings are lifted? One thing I really like in the film is how matter-of-factly they all get involved in the ghost-hunting, playing card games etc. to stay awake while they wait for the spirit(s) to materialise. Do they encounter any other supernatural phenomena in Cornwall?
Within the events of the film itself, when Rick first hears the ghostly sobbing, we learn that Pam's already heard it before, more than once. What about something filling in her early experiences in the house, before Rick comes down from London?
Anything about Stella and the house would also be fascinating. Perhaps some of Carmel’s belongings are still in the house, and Stella is able to learn more about her mother through them. Or you could do something set before the events of the film, exploring how she feels the call of the house through the years, despite all her grandfather’s best efforts.
It might also be interesting to explore the POV of the ghosts themselves, Carmel and/or Mary’s, while they’re haunting the house over the years. Are they aware of each other’s presence in the house? Is there some sort of supernatural conflict between them that we don’t get to see, with Mary trying to harm Stella while Carmel tries to defend her?
