Rare Male Slash Exchange 2022 letter
May. 22nd, 2022 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
verecundaDear RMSE creator,
Hello! Thank you so much for creating something for one of my rare ships! I love this exchange, and I'm excited to see what you come up with. :D
This letter contains a rundown of my general likes and DNWs, as well as some potential prompts for each of my requested ships. If you find something here to inspire you, that’s great - but at the same time, please don’t feel restricted to what’s here, either. If you have ideas of your own, I’d love to see them too!
I can be found on AO3 as![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Verecunda.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the mod.
Likes
Art likes
Smut likes
DNWs
Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
- Alan Breck Stewart/David Balfour
Middle-earth Books
- Beleg Cúthalion/Túrin Turambar
- Eönwë/Sauron
- Khamûl/Witch-king of Angmar
Middle-earth Movies
- Elros the Guard/Galion
Sun Horse, Moon Horse - Rosemary Sutcliff
- Cradoc/Lubrin Dhu
Sword at Sunset - Rosemary Sutcliff
- Cei/Gwalchmai
Likes
• Fic and art of all ratings.
• Most genres: humour, angst, fluff, darkfic, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life, character pieces, plotty pieces.
• I love a good happy ending, but the canons/pairings I’ve requested in this round have a definite tendency towards the bittersweet or downright tragic, so I’m quite ready and willing to have my heartstrings wrenched!
• I’ve got a special fondness for works that fill in characters’ backstories, “missing scenes” from canon, and alternate POVs on canon events. Post-canon settings are always good, of course.
• I love canon compliant fic, but I also love canon divergence AUs. I love exploring the possibilities.
• Worldbuilding detail. I always want to know more about whatever world these characters inhabit. Most of my fandoms are in historical/fantasy settings, so if you want to nerd out on the background details and lore, awesome!! But this is definitely not obligatory. First and foremost, I’m here for the characters.
• Intelligent, competent characters being intelligent and competent.
• Characters with tough/stoic/snarky exteriors having to confront and/or show their vulnerabilities.
• Odd couples. I love opposites that attract: characters who seem completely different but complement each other perfectly.
• Banter! I love characters who have a good back-and-forth.
• Characters learning to love again.
• 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. Which leads to:
• Outsider POVs are always fun. What do the friends, families, or even enemies think of these two idiots?
• Pairings that cross cultural/class/professional lines, and how they navigate the conflicts that arise.
• Power dynamics in general are great, whether they’re being managed in a healthy way, or just completely fucked up. I’m also entirely weak for the trope where the character who seems to have the most power in the relationship being so totally loopy for the other that they’ll give them anything they want.
• Related to that: loyalty kink, King (or Queen) and Lionheart dynamics.
• First times: first kiss, first confession of love, first time having sex, etc.
• Smut is great, but by no means obligatory. (Smutty likes are below!) Pure G-rated fluff or even just a few sensual details sketched it are equally fine by me.
• Getting together and established relationship fic are equally good.
• Quiet moments of intimacy: heart-to-heart talks; kisses on cheeks, foreheads, noses, etc.; hand-holding; face-stroking; hair-stroking; cuddles; resting heads on shoulders or chests; forehead-touching, etc.
• When in doubt, there’s always the classic tropes: sex pollen, marriage of convenience that blossoms into something more, fake relationship, only one bed, etc.
• Apart from my requested characters, I'm quite happy with other characters making an appearance in the fic.
Art likes
I know sweet sod all about art, so I find it much harder to come up with prompts on this side. I am very sorry about that. Suffice it to say, anything in your own style will be wonderful! I’ve tried to include some specific prompts with my requests, but here’s a brief list of some very general art likes:
• Portraits of my requested characters/ships, or an illustration of one of the scenarios I’ve prompted. Illustrations of key scenes from canon would also be very welcome!
• In general, I love images that tell a story.
• Details of costume and material culture.
• I love bold colours as well as black and white, contrasting shades, mingling of light and shadow, cell shading.
• If it helps, here are some artists I particularly love: Van Gogh, Matisse, Caravaggio, Ivan Aivazovsky, John Atkinson Grimshaw, Geoff Hunt, Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, Alan Lee.
• Homages to/spoofs of famous paintings - eg. characters in the pose from Klimt’s Kiss or Burton’s The Meeting on the Turret Stairs.
• Characters drawn in distinctive styles: art nouveau, Disney, etc.
• Effects of different light sources, especially firelight and candlelight; sunsets and sunrises; moonlight and starlight; light on water.
• I also love water effects: rivers and pools, waterfalls, fountains, oceans. I love ripples, currents, spray, etc.
Smutty likes
• Penetrative sex.
• Non-penetrative sex, especially frottage and intercrural.
• Oral.
• Handjobs/fingering/etc.
• Clothed or partially-clothed sex.
• Body worship.
• One character unable to see the other (whether facing away, blindfolded, etc.) and having to rely on their other senses.
• Voyeurism/exhibitionism.
• Mutual masturbation.
• Restraints, bondage.
• Breast/nipple play.
• Orgasm delay/denial.
• Toys.
• Riding, whether the rider is setting the pace or just - ahem - along for the ride.
• Sweet, slow, romantic sex.
• Equally: rough, desperate, oh-god-must-have-you-now fucking.
• Older/more experienced characters guiding their younger/less experienced partners.
• Alternatively, the older/more experienced partner being the cautious one, while the younger/less experienced one is more than raring to go.
• Anything about overcoming shyness and/or inhibitions.
• Power dynamics explored, reflected, or even dismantled through sex. Whether it’s a character in a generally subordinate position who takes charge in the bedroom, or whether one half of the ship holds all the cards, up to and including dub-con/non-con scenarios.
• For dub-con/non-con especially, the “iron fist in a velvet glove” sort of force, subtle - even psychological - force over physical.
• I have no preferences when it comes to who tops or bottoms in my ships, and very often enjoy seeing characters who fandom usually puts on the bottom get to be on top for a change. So if you’d like to depart from the usual orthodoxy, be my guest!
DNWs
• First or second person POV (unless it’s the POV of the original canon).
• Modern/mundane/coffee-shop AUs.
• Soulmate/soulmark/soulbond AUs. (For Tolkien fandoms, that includes the fanon concept of Dwarves having a One.)
• A/B/O.
• Unrequested non-canon ships. (Appearances by/references to canon pairings are fine.)
• Unrequested gender/sexuality headcanons.
• Watersports.
• Scat.
• Rimming.
• Mpreg.
• Tentacles.
• Most of my fandoms have historical/fantasy settings, with mores very different to ours, so 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. Fade to black is fine, though.
• 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.
Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
Pairing: Alan Breck Stewart/David Balfour
The novel was published in 1886, so various ebook options are available for free on Gutenberg.
This is one of my all-time favourite books, and Davie and Alan are one of my all-time favourite literary double acts. I love their back-and-forth, and their strong mutual loyalty and respect, despite the vast cultural and political differences between them, David’s stark Lowland Protestant Hanoverianism vs. Alan’s flamboyant Highland Catholic Jacobitism. And the shippy potential is just incredible: They both sleep under Alan’s coat!! Also: “Whereupon he gave me both of his [hands], saying surely I had cast a spell upon him, for he could forgive me anything.” I mean!!!
Any missing scenes from their trek across the Highlands would be fab: battling midges, dodging redcoats, and snarking at each other all the way. Perhaps some snuggling for warmth during a particularly dreich night in the heather turns into something else entirely? Or the adrenaline from another successful escape has an unforeseen outlet?
For all it’s an adventure novel, there are quieter moments which would be great for a relatively slower-burning coming-together, like those five idyllic days in the Heugh of Corrynakiegh. There’s also spades of room for hurt/comfort: I’d love anything about Alan fussing over David while he’s ill, especially in Balquhidder. Their making-up after their quarrel is so hilarious and sweet at the same time, and I’d love to know what sort of heart-to-heart talks they had as soon as Davie was feeling up to it again. Or maybe Davie, in the delirium of his fever, lets slip something about his true feelings for Alan…
One post-canon scenario I’d love to see is Alan sneaking back to Scotland to visit David at the House of Shaws, with Davie being like “YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT” while being secretly pretty touched. Maybe Alan meets Mr. Campbell, the minister, and has to grit his teeth and be polite to him for Davie’s sake! Maybe David goes across to visit Alan in France? Or even an AU where they both have to escape to France after all? The sequel, Catriona, also has Alan coming to stay with Davie in his student digs in Leyden - a situation that seems rife with possibilities! (Oh no, these poky lodgings have only one bed, what do??)
(Speaking of Catriona, I like it fine, but if you’re not fond of it, or haven’t read it, feel free to ignore its existence completely.)
The book is entirely from David’s POV, so getting Alan’s perspective could be fun. I’m sure certain things in the story, or about their relationship, would look very different through his eyes! One thing I love is how, in Kidnapped, David says of Alan: “For though he had a great taste for courage in other men, yet he admired it most in Alan Breck,” yet in Catriona, we have Alan saying to Davie, “Man, I wish that I had your courage! […] for auld, cauld, dour, deadly courage, I am not fit to hold a candle to yourself.”
If you want to do an outsider POV, there are several characters I can think of who would be great for that, especially the girl at the inn, who sees Alan pretending to make a fuss over David; and Mr Rankeillor, who would surely be shrewd enough to see how things stood between them, and canny enough to keep it to himself. Of course, if there’s someone else you’d rather do, go for it.
David in particular is a very religious character, so if you want to delve into historical/religious attitudes towards sexuality, that’s great, but you can also handwave that if it doesn’t appeal to you. (RLS never felt himself especially bound by historical accuracy either!)
This is also one fandom where, given that the book is narrated in first-person, I'm happy to waive my usual first-person DNW.
Art prompts: all the 18th century costume porn, and Scottish scenery porn,! Anything dealing with the height difference between the two of them would be fab - I love how that Alan is the shorter one, and still offers to carry/support David several times. Maybe something incorporating the motif of the silver button?
Middle-earth Books
Pairing: Beleg Cúthalion/Túrin Turambar
I love the relationship between these two so much. Just… the way Beleg’s love for Túrin continually overrides his own better judgement, the constant devotion, the way all of Túrin’s outlaw gang get so jealous of Beleg, the heart-wrenching tragedy of Beleg’s death and Túrin’s complete blue-screen-of-death devastation after it. Just… *screams*.
I’d love absolutely anything and everything expanding on what we get in canon. I want to know more about their time fighting together on the borders of Doriath: Beleg training Túrin in Elvish fighting and tracking, battling side by side and back to back against the hordes of Morgoth, rescuing each other and tending to each other’s wounds, their friendship gradually turning into something else as it’s forged in the fire of war. Those lodges used by the Marchwardens also sound like very cosy places when you’re alone out in the wilds together…
I wonder what it would be like for Beleg, falling in love with a Man, especially since it’s been less than twenty years since Lúthien left Doriath for the sake of mortal love. Then there’s the fact that he’s known Túrin since he was a child. The lives of Men must pass in a flash to the Eldar, so I imagine for Beleg there must have been an incredible whiplash moment of realising that Túrin was suddenly an adult — swiftly followed by the disconcerting realisation of “oh no he’s hot”. As for Túrin, I’m tempted to imagine that he always quietly adored Beleg from the time of that first rescue, with that adoration gradually maturing into something more over the years.
Anything set during their time among the outlaws would also be great: Túrin looking after Beleg after he’s been roughed up by the group, renewing their bond, getting to know each other again, fighting together in the Land of Bow and Helm. (Even the entire region ends up being named after the pair of them — I mean!!) Plus if you want to work in Andróg and co. writhing with jealousy in the background, I certainly wouldn’t complain!
For me, the great beauty of this story is very much in its tragedy, so I’m perfectly happy if you want to do something canon-compliant. That said, we fans do tend to be a sappy, soft-hearted lot who just want our faves to be happy, so if you prefer, I certainly wouldn’t say no to an AU where things somehow end happily (or at least, happier). What if Beleg doesn’t die in Taur-nu-Fuin, but accompanies Túrin and Gwindor to Nargothrond (and beyond)? What if Túrin agrees to return to Doriath after all? If you have some idea how the curse might be lifted and they all live happily ever after, go for it!!
Art prompts: I love the contrast between Túrin’s all-black aesthetic, and Beleg in his white cloak, so anything leaning into that would be lovely. Any scenes of more contented days in Doriath, or stolen moments in the House of Ransom, etc. There are also so many iconic weapons and other artefacts associated with these characters - the Dragon-helm, Anglachel, Belthronding, etc., so I’d love to see something featuring them. Something dark and tragic featuring Anglachel, perhaps, since they both die by its blade?
Pairing: Eönwë/Sauron
This is one of those pairings that has exactly one canon interaction — but oh, the possibilities! I like to imagine that when Sauron dons his fair form and surrenders to Eönwë after the War of Wrath, we’re not just seeing Morgoth’s lieutenant surrendering to Manwë’s herald, but two Maiar who were once friends meeting again after several ages apart. Friends… or possibly even lovers? Just imagine all the messy emotions that would be flying around a reunion like that!
Imagining they did have a history together, what was it like? Perhaps a slow, tentative evolution from friends to lovers: flirting in the gardens of Almaren, first kisses, experimenting together as they get to know how their physical forms work. Or is it something that lies between them, unspoken, perhaps not even fully understood, still unfulfilled when Mairon leaves to follow Melkor? Did Mairon ever confide in Eönwë about his doubts and inner conflict as his allegiance began to shift, or did he keep it all absolutely secret? Did Eönwë ever sense that something was off with him, or did Mairon’s betrayal take him completely aback?
Alternatively, perhaps their relationship originated while Mairon was still in Almaren as Melkor’s spy. Did he perhaps strike up a flirtation/seduction of Eönwë in order to gain information about Manwë’s intentions?
And when Mairon does leave? Does Eönwë learn of his betrayal, perhaps confronting him before he leaves? Does Mairon try to convince him to come with him? Or does Eönwë only learn of his betrayal after he’s gone? What are his feelings when word gets out about Melkor’s terrible new lieutenant? Does he think that Mairon might have been taken by force, or does he guess the truth at once?
(fwiw, Angbang is pretty much my otp where Sauron is concerned, so if you want to throw a bit of that into the mix for some conflict, I’ll certainly not complain! As long as Eönwë/Sauron remains the focus. Are Eönwë and Melkor both aware and highly jealous of each other?)
There’s so much scope for conflict and angst and regret in this pairing, especially after Mairon has gone over to evil. Just as Manwë gives Melkor a chance to redeem himself, does Eönwë hold out hope that Mairon might still come back to the light? And what about Mairon? I adore how absolutely, gleefully evil Sauron is in the Silmarillion, but according to Tolkien himself, he still wasn’t completely beyond redemption even then. Are there ever times that he finds himself remembering, with just a teeny-tiny tinge of regret, what he had with Eönwë? During the various wars with the Valar and their hosts, does he ever subtly deflect Melkor’s attentions away from endangering Eönwë?
Then we come to the surrender. Is it simple manipulation on Sauron’s part, assuming his fair guise in the hope that he can use their former relationship to charm or seduce Eönwë into showing him leniency? Or if we go with the view that Sauron’s repentance at this point was genuine, what sort of emotions and memories are stirred up? Is Sauron surprised by how strong his feelings for Eönwë still are, after all this time? Does Eönwë try to resist his own feelings in order to carry out his duty properly? Does he believe in Sauron’s sincerity? When the book says that he doesn’t have the authority to judge a fellow Maia, but tells Sauron to face the Valar’s judgement, it sounds to me like he genuinely wants to help, but his hands are tied. Is there a passionate but short-lived reunion between the two of them, before Sauron flees? Is Eönwë crushed by this latest betrayal, or did he know in his heart that Sauron would never return? And does Sauron feel any last lingering regret for betraying Eönwë yet again as he disappears into the East?
And what about the Second and Third Ages? How does Eönwë feel, learning about Sauron’s rise as the new Dark Lord? The Maiar have the ability to walk about the world undetected even by the Eldar, so does he ever travel to Middle-earth and witness Sauron’s atrocities for himself? Do they ever meet again? At the end of the War of the Ring, does Eönwë have to go out and gather up whatever little is left of Sauron’s spirit so he can be cast into the Void once and for all?
Art prompts: Anything with Eönwë and Mairon in the Years of the Lamps. I’d love to see your take on these Maiar in either their physical or spirit forms. Or something playing with the various contrasts between them: eg. Eönwë the warrior vs. Sauron the sorcerer, the heavenly herald of Manwë vs. the diabolical lieutenant of Morgoth. Any rendering of Sauron’s surrender would be great!
Pairing: Khamûl/Witch-king of Angmar
The Lord of the Nazgûl and his second-in-command? Now there’s a dynamic rife with possibilities! And hey, they even have matching rings. ;)
Since we know virtually nothing about these two as individuals, you have complete carte blanche to do whatever you like with this idea. And as per my likes above, I love things that fill in characters’ backstories. So tell me all about these two and whatever it is that’s between them.
Who were they when they were alive? We know Khamûl was an Easterling, but the Witch-king’s identity is unknown. He may be one of the three Númenórean lords who accepted rings from Sauron, but it’s equally possible he belonged to one of the indigenous kingdoms of Middle-earth. Did he and Khamûl know each other before they joined Sauron - old rivals, perhaps, who were constantly at war with each other? Cue all the Nemesis Mine scenarios, UST-laden sword-fights, etc. Was one of them ever a prisoner of the other 👀? Or maybe they were even unlikely allies, who banded together against some common enemy, and discovered they had even more in common than that? Did Sauron recruit them individually, or did he get them as a package deal? Did he somehow manipulate their relationship to bring them under his thrall? Were they willing servants of the Dark Tower, or were they originally noble figures, whose good qualities were twisted towards evil ends? Did one of them end up in some sort of mortal danger, prompting the other to turn to Sauron to help him save him, only for them both to be caught in his net?
Honestly, I’ll take absolutely any sort of story about these two, any kind of dynamic. Enemies to lovers, enemies with benefits, frenemies with benefits, or even a completely devoted captain and second-in-command? Mordor’s equivalent to the Sacred Band of Thebes??
If you’re into worldbuilding, this pairing has so many opportunities to build on! Cultural differences - and similarities - between the Men of the East and the West. Different perceptions of kingship and lordship, territorial rights, courtship, m/m relationships… the whole lot! I’d love to know more about Easterling history and culture, their POV on the history of Middle-earth.
And how does their bond work as they stop being living men and become wraiths? There’s some sense in canon that although they are totally in thrall to Sauron, they’re not quite mindless drones. The Witch-king in particular seems to have some personality of his own, and the fact that they have different degrees of power suggests there are some traces of individuality still there. Do Angmar and Khamûl retain some sense of their own personalities and their relationship? Do they still have feelings for each other, and if so, how does that gel with the fact that their raison d’être is now wholly to serve Sauron and the Ring? Can wraiths even have personal relationships? Does Sauron get any cruel enjoyment out of manipulating their bond for his own purposes? And what is Khamûl’s reaction when the Witch-king is slain? Is he still able to feel grief?
Art prompts: I’d love to see your take on both Angmar and Khamûl when they were living men, including your take on Easterling costume (and Númenórean, if that’s the background you’re choosing for Angmar). Something involving the motif of their two rings? Something featuring them as wraiths would also be cool. If the Witch-king’s wraith form is a pale king, how does Khamûl appear?
Middle-earth Movies
Pairing: Elros the Guard/Galion
I like the wee snapshot of characterisation we get with these two in the wine-cellars: Galion very happy to skive off his duties and chug the King’s wine, Elros trying very hard to be a jobsworth (those barrels should have been sent away hours ago! he has Dwarves to guard!), but very much not immune to letting himself be lured into a private piss-up. Makes you wonder what else they might get up to when they should be working! *waggles eyebrows*
Honestly, I don’t have too many ideas here, I just like the idea of these two. Anything playing with the aforementioned contrast between them would be a lot of fun - Elros being Very Conscientious, only to be continually distracted by Galion. Boozy flirting! Cheeky quickies when they’re supposed to be busy! If Elros is the Keeper of the Keys, surely he must know all the wee out-of-the-way places where they could go without being disturbed. ;)
What if what we see in the film is just a tiny part of Galion’s centuries-long attempt to get Elros’ attention? Maybe he had this big seduction planned for Mereth-en-Gilith, plying Elros with some classy Dorwinion wine, letting things unfold from there… only they both ended up falling straight to sleep and letting the prisoners escape. Oops. I’d love to know what happens to them after that!
I’d love anything fun, fluffy, or sexy with these two, but of course, if you want to go for something a bit darker, there’s plenty of scope for that. After all, they’re members of a small, beleaguered kingdom whose forest is increasingly falling under the Shadow. How does that affect their relationship? Is Galion’s casual attitude to his duties a reaction to all the perils they face? It’s safe to assume that being Elves, they’re probably kickass warriors, so do they fight side-by-side during any of the battles involving the Wood-elves - the Five Armies, the War of the Last Alliance, the War of the Ring? Or do they stay behind to guard the halls while their King rides to war? (Either way, I’d prefer no character death. A happy ending, please!)
There’s also the cultural element you could explore, between the Silvan Elves and the Sindar, especially since the film-verse hints at some tension between the two groups. According to Tolkien Gateway, Galion isn’t a Sindarin name, so presumably he’s of Silvan descent. Is Elros Sindarin then, perhaps a follower of Oropher and Thranduil who followed them out of Beleriand? Has there been some tension between them across the millennia? Has their friendship been a long time in the making? Did they start out as rivals in the court, a rivalry made worse by the fact that they quite blatantly fancied each other?
Art prompts: any scenes of these two living it up with the King’s booze! Something set in the halls — I love those underground waterfalls! Or a scene outside, beneath the trees, in the light of the stars.
Sun Horse, Moon Horse - Rosemary Sutcliff
Pairing: Cradoc/Lubrin Dhu
I find the dynamic between these two so interesting, the way there’s a definite affinity between them, and they could have been friends, but for the gulf of conqueror and conquered between them — and all of that overshadowed by their (initially) unconscious knowledge that it all has to end with Lubrin’s death. I’d love absolutely anything that explored all those layers and complexities, as well as the story’s main themes of leadership and sacrifice. The book is entirely from Lubrin’s POV, so if you wanted to explore their relationship through Cradoc’s eyes, that would be great, too.
I have to admit, that scene where Cradoc first summons Lubrin to the hall to entertain him, I had to laugh a bit, because it almost felt like it was leading up to one of those old skool captive romance tropes. (“Have that slave washed and bring him to me!”) Anything playing with those tropes would be great fun, whether you want to play them straight, or put another twist on them that suits the atmosphere of the novel. Does Cradoc ever summon Lubrin to visit him again, perhaps in a more private setting this time? Do they become lovers while the Horse is being made, perhaps spurred on by the intensity of the enterprise? If so, do they manage to keep it a secret, or do others find out, like Cradoc's foster-brother? Or the other Iceni prisoners find out about it - and what is their reaction?
(Lubrin/Dara also seems like a pretty obvious ship in this book, so if you want to work that into the background, I'm all for it, whether that's Dara being jealous, youthful Lubrin/Dara that never really got the chance to be realised before Dara was chosen to be Teleri's husband, Lubrin being torn between his feelings for Dara and for Cradoc, the different things they represent, etc.)
Or maybe some of the quasi-mystical power surrounding the Horse has a hand in drawing them together. I’d love anything that plays with the spiritual/ritual element of the story. Just as the Horse represents both the Iceni and the Attribates, does that act as a kind of harbinger of their relationship? Given that the Iceni practice matrilineal succession, what about a scenario where, in the absence (so he thinks) of a Royal Woman, Cradoc seeks to legitimise his overlordship by joining with the the last surviving son of the last Royal Woman instead?
It kind of wrecks the whole theme of the story, I know, but if you want a bit more creative wiggle-room, I’m always happy with a good fixit AU. What if Cradoc just can’t go through with it? What if, at the last minute, a white mare appears as an omen of something or other, and the priests call off the sacrifice? What if they decide on another kind of sacrifice is required to sanctify the horse? I’m always here for a good bit of ritual sex. :)
Art prompts: anything featuring the motif of the Horse, or indicating the passage of the seasons in the book, the windswept Downs which are always such a feature of Sutcliff’s work.
Sword at Sunset - Rosemary Sutcliff
Pairing: Cei/Gwalchmai
For some reason, one of the moments in this book that stands out in my memory is towards the end, when Cei tells Artos about Gwalchmai’s death, and it describes him “weeping for him”. I can’t help but wonder what sort of relationship these two might have had, that we should see big tough Cei breaking down so openly.
I love opposites attracting, and here we have Cei, bluff and flashy and fiery-tempered (but capable of being actually pretty sensitive), and Gwalchmai the healer, quiet and reserved (but capable of being a fierce fighter too). I’d love to see what sort of relationship grows between them as they follow Artos. Do their contrasting temperaments mean their relationship takes time to develop, or do they get along well from the first? Something set just after Gwalchmai joins the Companions, maybe, with Cei intrigued by this quiet lad that Artos picked up at the monastery?
Apart from that, there are all the good, old-fashioned brothers-in-arms-to-lovers tropes: weapons training that gets surprisingly up close and personal, fighting side by side in battle, Gwalchmai patching up Cei’s wounds after a battle (or a punch-up!) — or what about turning the tables and having Cei look after Gwalchmai? Does Gwalchmai’s leg ever bother him and need some looking after?
How do things work during their years in the north? For much of the time, Cei is in command of Castra Cunetium, while Gwalchmai mostly seems to be attached to Artos’ main garrison. How does their relationship work when they’re apart so often? Stolen moments, impassioned reunions whenever Cei’s back in Trimontium, maybe?
Given the nature of the book, I’m all for a bit of tragedy, so if you wanted to do something set towards the end, that would pull my heartstrings in just the right way! Something about Cei at Gwalchmai’s bedside would be heartbreakingly lovely.
I always enjoy something sexy, if that’s what you’re looking to make. And Cei is canonically horny, after all. ;) As far as this pairing goes, is he cheerfully bi, or does he think of himself as strictly a ladies’ man — so that his feelings for Gwalchmai take him by surprise? Maybe seeing Gault and Levin together lead them both to realise that their friendship runs much deeper than they’d realised. As a novice monk, maybe Gwalchmai is still a virgin, and Cei, like a good bro (cough) makes it his mission to help him get laid… only for things to take a rather interesting turn. Or is Gwalchmai surprisingly experienced?
Hello! Thank you so much for creating something for one of my rare ships! I love this exchange, and I'm excited to see what you come up with. :D
This letter contains a rundown of my general likes and DNWs, as well as some potential prompts for each of my requested ships. If you find something here to inspire you, that’s great - but at the same time, please don’t feel restricted to what’s here, either. If you have 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.
Likes
Art likes
Smut likes
DNWs
Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
- Alan Breck Stewart/David Balfour
Middle-earth Books
- Beleg Cúthalion/Túrin Turambar
- Eönwë/Sauron
- Khamûl/Witch-king of Angmar
Middle-earth Movies
- Elros the Guard/Galion
Sun Horse, Moon Horse - Rosemary Sutcliff
- Cradoc/Lubrin Dhu
Sword at Sunset - Rosemary Sutcliff
- Cei/Gwalchmai
Likes
• Fic and art of all ratings.
• Most genres: humour, angst, fluff, darkfic, hurt/comfort, slice-of-life, character pieces, plotty pieces.
• I love a good happy ending, but the canons/pairings I’ve requested in this round have a definite tendency towards the bittersweet or downright tragic, so I’m quite ready and willing to have my heartstrings wrenched!
• I’ve got a special fondness for works that fill in characters’ backstories, “missing scenes” from canon, and alternate POVs on canon events. Post-canon settings are always good, of course.
• I love canon compliant fic, but I also love canon divergence AUs. I love exploring the possibilities.
• Worldbuilding detail. I always want to know more about whatever world these characters inhabit. Most of my fandoms are in historical/fantasy settings, so if you want to nerd out on the background details and lore, awesome!! But this is definitely not obligatory. First and foremost, I’m here for the characters.
• Intelligent, competent characters being intelligent and competent.
• Characters with tough/stoic/snarky exteriors having to confront and/or show their vulnerabilities.
• Odd couples. I love opposites that attract: characters who seem completely different but complement each other perfectly.
• Banter! I love characters who have a good back-and-forth.
• Characters learning to love again.
• 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. Which leads to:
• Outsider POVs are always fun. What do the friends, families, or even enemies think of these two idiots?
• Pairings that cross cultural/class/professional lines, and how they navigate the conflicts that arise.
• Power dynamics in general are great, whether they’re being managed in a healthy way, or just completely fucked up. I’m also entirely weak for the trope where the character who seems to have the most power in the relationship being so totally loopy for the other that they’ll give them anything they want.
• Related to that: loyalty kink, King (or Queen) and Lionheart dynamics.
• First times: first kiss, first confession of love, first time having sex, etc.
• Smut is great, but by no means obligatory. (Smutty likes are below!) Pure G-rated fluff or even just a few sensual details sketched it are equally fine by me.
• Getting together and established relationship fic are equally good.
• Quiet moments of intimacy: heart-to-heart talks; kisses on cheeks, foreheads, noses, etc.; hand-holding; face-stroking; hair-stroking; cuddles; resting heads on shoulders or chests; forehead-touching, etc.
• When in doubt, there’s always the classic tropes: sex pollen, marriage of convenience that blossoms into something more, fake relationship, only one bed, etc.
• Apart from my requested characters, I'm quite happy with other characters making an appearance in the fic.
Art likes
I know sweet sod all about art, so I find it much harder to come up with prompts on this side. I am very sorry about that. Suffice it to say, anything in your own style will be wonderful! I’ve tried to include some specific prompts with my requests, but here’s a brief list of some very general art likes:
• Portraits of my requested characters/ships, or an illustration of one of the scenarios I’ve prompted. Illustrations of key scenes from canon would also be very welcome!
• In general, I love images that tell a story.
• Details of costume and material culture.
• I love bold colours as well as black and white, contrasting shades, mingling of light and shadow, cell shading.
• If it helps, here are some artists I particularly love: Van Gogh, Matisse, Caravaggio, Ivan Aivazovsky, John Atkinson Grimshaw, Geoff Hunt, Arthur Rackham, Beatrix Potter, Alan Lee.
• Homages to/spoofs of famous paintings - eg. characters in the pose from Klimt’s Kiss or Burton’s The Meeting on the Turret Stairs.
• Characters drawn in distinctive styles: art nouveau, Disney, etc.
• Effects of different light sources, especially firelight and candlelight; sunsets and sunrises; moonlight and starlight; light on water.
• I also love water effects: rivers and pools, waterfalls, fountains, oceans. I love ripples, currents, spray, etc.
Smutty likes
• Penetrative sex.
• Non-penetrative sex, especially frottage and intercrural.
• Oral.
• Handjobs/fingering/etc.
• Clothed or partially-clothed sex.
• Body worship.
• One character unable to see the other (whether facing away, blindfolded, etc.) and having to rely on their other senses.
• Voyeurism/exhibitionism.
• Mutual masturbation.
• Restraints, bondage.
• Breast/nipple play.
• Orgasm delay/denial.
• Toys.
• Riding, whether the rider is setting the pace or just - ahem - along for the ride.
• Sweet, slow, romantic sex.
• Equally: rough, desperate, oh-god-must-have-you-now fucking.
• Older/more experienced characters guiding their younger/less experienced partners.
• Alternatively, the older/more experienced partner being the cautious one, while the younger/less experienced one is more than raring to go.
• Anything about overcoming shyness and/or inhibitions.
• Power dynamics explored, reflected, or even dismantled through sex. Whether it’s a character in a generally subordinate position who takes charge in the bedroom, or whether one half of the ship holds all the cards, up to and including dub-con/non-con scenarios.
• For dub-con/non-con especially, the “iron fist in a velvet glove” sort of force, subtle - even psychological - force over physical.
• I have no preferences when it comes to who tops or bottoms in my ships, and very often enjoy seeing characters who fandom usually puts on the bottom get to be on top for a change. So if you’d like to depart from the usual orthodoxy, be my guest!
DNWs
• First or second person POV (unless it’s the POV of the original canon).
• Modern/mundane/coffee-shop AUs.
• Soulmate/soulmark/soulbond AUs. (For Tolkien fandoms, that includes the fanon concept of Dwarves having a One.)
• A/B/O.
• Unrequested non-canon ships. (Appearances by/references to canon pairings are fine.)
• Unrequested gender/sexuality headcanons.
• Watersports.
• Scat.
• Rimming.
• Mpreg.
• Tentacles.
• Most of my fandoms have historical/fantasy settings, with mores very different to ours, so 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. Fade to black is fine, though.
• 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.
Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
Pairing: Alan Breck Stewart/David Balfour
The novel was published in 1886, so various ebook options are available for free on Gutenberg.
This is one of my all-time favourite books, and Davie and Alan are one of my all-time favourite literary double acts. I love their back-and-forth, and their strong mutual loyalty and respect, despite the vast cultural and political differences between them, David’s stark Lowland Protestant Hanoverianism vs. Alan’s flamboyant Highland Catholic Jacobitism. And the shippy potential is just incredible: They both sleep under Alan’s coat!! Also: “Whereupon he gave me both of his [hands], saying surely I had cast a spell upon him, for he could forgive me anything.” I mean!!!
Any missing scenes from their trek across the Highlands would be fab: battling midges, dodging redcoats, and snarking at each other all the way. Perhaps some snuggling for warmth during a particularly dreich night in the heather turns into something else entirely? Or the adrenaline from another successful escape has an unforeseen outlet?
For all it’s an adventure novel, there are quieter moments which would be great for a relatively slower-burning coming-together, like those five idyllic days in the Heugh of Corrynakiegh. There’s also spades of room for hurt/comfort: I’d love anything about Alan fussing over David while he’s ill, especially in Balquhidder. Their making-up after their quarrel is so hilarious and sweet at the same time, and I’d love to know what sort of heart-to-heart talks they had as soon as Davie was feeling up to it again. Or maybe Davie, in the delirium of his fever, lets slip something about his true feelings for Alan…
One post-canon scenario I’d love to see is Alan sneaking back to Scotland to visit David at the House of Shaws, with Davie being like “YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT” while being secretly pretty touched. Maybe Alan meets Mr. Campbell, the minister, and has to grit his teeth and be polite to him for Davie’s sake! Maybe David goes across to visit Alan in France? Or even an AU where they both have to escape to France after all? The sequel, Catriona, also has Alan coming to stay with Davie in his student digs in Leyden - a situation that seems rife with possibilities! (Oh no, these poky lodgings have only one bed, what do??)
(Speaking of Catriona, I like it fine, but if you’re not fond of it, or haven’t read it, feel free to ignore its existence completely.)
The book is entirely from David’s POV, so getting Alan’s perspective could be fun. I’m sure certain things in the story, or about their relationship, would look very different through his eyes! One thing I love is how, in Kidnapped, David says of Alan: “For though he had a great taste for courage in other men, yet he admired it most in Alan Breck,” yet in Catriona, we have Alan saying to Davie, “Man, I wish that I had your courage! […] for auld, cauld, dour, deadly courage, I am not fit to hold a candle to yourself.”
If you want to do an outsider POV, there are several characters I can think of who would be great for that, especially the girl at the inn, who sees Alan pretending to make a fuss over David; and Mr Rankeillor, who would surely be shrewd enough to see how things stood between them, and canny enough to keep it to himself. Of course, if there’s someone else you’d rather do, go for it.
David in particular is a very religious character, so if you want to delve into historical/religious attitudes towards sexuality, that’s great, but you can also handwave that if it doesn’t appeal to you. (RLS never felt himself especially bound by historical accuracy either!)
This is also one fandom where, given that the book is narrated in first-person, I'm happy to waive my usual first-person DNW.
Art prompts: all the 18th century costume porn, and Scottish scenery porn,! Anything dealing with the height difference between the two of them would be fab - I love how that Alan is the shorter one, and still offers to carry/support David several times. Maybe something incorporating the motif of the silver button?
Middle-earth Books
Pairing: Beleg Cúthalion/Túrin Turambar
I love the relationship between these two so much. Just… the way Beleg’s love for Túrin continually overrides his own better judgement, the constant devotion, the way all of Túrin’s outlaw gang get so jealous of Beleg, the heart-wrenching tragedy of Beleg’s death and Túrin’s complete blue-screen-of-death devastation after it. Just… *screams*.
I’d love absolutely anything and everything expanding on what we get in canon. I want to know more about their time fighting together on the borders of Doriath: Beleg training Túrin in Elvish fighting and tracking, battling side by side and back to back against the hordes of Morgoth, rescuing each other and tending to each other’s wounds, their friendship gradually turning into something else as it’s forged in the fire of war. Those lodges used by the Marchwardens also sound like very cosy places when you’re alone out in the wilds together…
I wonder what it would be like for Beleg, falling in love with a Man, especially since it’s been less than twenty years since Lúthien left Doriath for the sake of mortal love. Then there’s the fact that he’s known Túrin since he was a child. The lives of Men must pass in a flash to the Eldar, so I imagine for Beleg there must have been an incredible whiplash moment of realising that Túrin was suddenly an adult — swiftly followed by the disconcerting realisation of “oh no he’s hot”. As for Túrin, I’m tempted to imagine that he always quietly adored Beleg from the time of that first rescue, with that adoration gradually maturing into something more over the years.
Anything set during their time among the outlaws would also be great: Túrin looking after Beleg after he’s been roughed up by the group, renewing their bond, getting to know each other again, fighting together in the Land of Bow and Helm. (Even the entire region ends up being named after the pair of them — I mean!!) Plus if you want to work in Andróg and co. writhing with jealousy in the background, I certainly wouldn’t complain!
For me, the great beauty of this story is very much in its tragedy, so I’m perfectly happy if you want to do something canon-compliant. That said, we fans do tend to be a sappy, soft-hearted lot who just want our faves to be happy, so if you prefer, I certainly wouldn’t say no to an AU where things somehow end happily (or at least, happier). What if Beleg doesn’t die in Taur-nu-Fuin, but accompanies Túrin and Gwindor to Nargothrond (and beyond)? What if Túrin agrees to return to Doriath after all? If you have some idea how the curse might be lifted and they all live happily ever after, go for it!!
Art prompts: I love the contrast between Túrin’s all-black aesthetic, and Beleg in his white cloak, so anything leaning into that would be lovely. Any scenes of more contented days in Doriath, or stolen moments in the House of Ransom, etc. There are also so many iconic weapons and other artefacts associated with these characters - the Dragon-helm, Anglachel, Belthronding, etc., so I’d love to see something featuring them. Something dark and tragic featuring Anglachel, perhaps, since they both die by its blade?
Pairing: Eönwë/Sauron
This is one of those pairings that has exactly one canon interaction — but oh, the possibilities! I like to imagine that when Sauron dons his fair form and surrenders to Eönwë after the War of Wrath, we’re not just seeing Morgoth’s lieutenant surrendering to Manwë’s herald, but two Maiar who were once friends meeting again after several ages apart. Friends… or possibly even lovers? Just imagine all the messy emotions that would be flying around a reunion like that!
Imagining they did have a history together, what was it like? Perhaps a slow, tentative evolution from friends to lovers: flirting in the gardens of Almaren, first kisses, experimenting together as they get to know how their physical forms work. Or is it something that lies between them, unspoken, perhaps not even fully understood, still unfulfilled when Mairon leaves to follow Melkor? Did Mairon ever confide in Eönwë about his doubts and inner conflict as his allegiance began to shift, or did he keep it all absolutely secret? Did Eönwë ever sense that something was off with him, or did Mairon’s betrayal take him completely aback?
Alternatively, perhaps their relationship originated while Mairon was still in Almaren as Melkor’s spy. Did he perhaps strike up a flirtation/seduction of Eönwë in order to gain information about Manwë’s intentions?
And when Mairon does leave? Does Eönwë learn of his betrayal, perhaps confronting him before he leaves? Does Mairon try to convince him to come with him? Or does Eönwë only learn of his betrayal after he’s gone? What are his feelings when word gets out about Melkor’s terrible new lieutenant? Does he think that Mairon might have been taken by force, or does he guess the truth at once?
(fwiw, Angbang is pretty much my otp where Sauron is concerned, so if you want to throw a bit of that into the mix for some conflict, I’ll certainly not complain! As long as Eönwë/Sauron remains the focus. Are Eönwë and Melkor both aware and highly jealous of each other?)
There’s so much scope for conflict and angst and regret in this pairing, especially after Mairon has gone over to evil. Just as Manwë gives Melkor a chance to redeem himself, does Eönwë hold out hope that Mairon might still come back to the light? And what about Mairon? I adore how absolutely, gleefully evil Sauron is in the Silmarillion, but according to Tolkien himself, he still wasn’t completely beyond redemption even then. Are there ever times that he finds himself remembering, with just a teeny-tiny tinge of regret, what he had with Eönwë? During the various wars with the Valar and their hosts, does he ever subtly deflect Melkor’s attentions away from endangering Eönwë?
Then we come to the surrender. Is it simple manipulation on Sauron’s part, assuming his fair guise in the hope that he can use their former relationship to charm or seduce Eönwë into showing him leniency? Or if we go with the view that Sauron’s repentance at this point was genuine, what sort of emotions and memories are stirred up? Is Sauron surprised by how strong his feelings for Eönwë still are, after all this time? Does Eönwë try to resist his own feelings in order to carry out his duty properly? Does he believe in Sauron’s sincerity? When the book says that he doesn’t have the authority to judge a fellow Maia, but tells Sauron to face the Valar’s judgement, it sounds to me like he genuinely wants to help, but his hands are tied. Is there a passionate but short-lived reunion between the two of them, before Sauron flees? Is Eönwë crushed by this latest betrayal, or did he know in his heart that Sauron would never return? And does Sauron feel any last lingering regret for betraying Eönwë yet again as he disappears into the East?
And what about the Second and Third Ages? How does Eönwë feel, learning about Sauron’s rise as the new Dark Lord? The Maiar have the ability to walk about the world undetected even by the Eldar, so does he ever travel to Middle-earth and witness Sauron’s atrocities for himself? Do they ever meet again? At the end of the War of the Ring, does Eönwë have to go out and gather up whatever little is left of Sauron’s spirit so he can be cast into the Void once and for all?
Art prompts: Anything with Eönwë and Mairon in the Years of the Lamps. I’d love to see your take on these Maiar in either their physical or spirit forms. Or something playing with the various contrasts between them: eg. Eönwë the warrior vs. Sauron the sorcerer, the heavenly herald of Manwë vs. the diabolical lieutenant of Morgoth. Any rendering of Sauron’s surrender would be great!
Pairing: Khamûl/Witch-king of Angmar
The Lord of the Nazgûl and his second-in-command? Now there’s a dynamic rife with possibilities! And hey, they even have matching rings. ;)
Since we know virtually nothing about these two as individuals, you have complete carte blanche to do whatever you like with this idea. And as per my likes above, I love things that fill in characters’ backstories. So tell me all about these two and whatever it is that’s between them.
Who were they when they were alive? We know Khamûl was an Easterling, but the Witch-king’s identity is unknown. He may be one of the three Númenórean lords who accepted rings from Sauron, but it’s equally possible he belonged to one of the indigenous kingdoms of Middle-earth. Did he and Khamûl know each other before they joined Sauron - old rivals, perhaps, who were constantly at war with each other? Cue all the Nemesis Mine scenarios, UST-laden sword-fights, etc. Was one of them ever a prisoner of the other 👀? Or maybe they were even unlikely allies, who banded together against some common enemy, and discovered they had even more in common than that? Did Sauron recruit them individually, or did he get them as a package deal? Did he somehow manipulate their relationship to bring them under his thrall? Were they willing servants of the Dark Tower, or were they originally noble figures, whose good qualities were twisted towards evil ends? Did one of them end up in some sort of mortal danger, prompting the other to turn to Sauron to help him save him, only for them both to be caught in his net?
Honestly, I’ll take absolutely any sort of story about these two, any kind of dynamic. Enemies to lovers, enemies with benefits, frenemies with benefits, or even a completely devoted captain and second-in-command? Mordor’s equivalent to the Sacred Band of Thebes??
If you’re into worldbuilding, this pairing has so many opportunities to build on! Cultural differences - and similarities - between the Men of the East and the West. Different perceptions of kingship and lordship, territorial rights, courtship, m/m relationships… the whole lot! I’d love to know more about Easterling history and culture, their POV on the history of Middle-earth.
And how does their bond work as they stop being living men and become wraiths? There’s some sense in canon that although they are totally in thrall to Sauron, they’re not quite mindless drones. The Witch-king in particular seems to have some personality of his own, and the fact that they have different degrees of power suggests there are some traces of individuality still there. Do Angmar and Khamûl retain some sense of their own personalities and their relationship? Do they still have feelings for each other, and if so, how does that gel with the fact that their raison d’être is now wholly to serve Sauron and the Ring? Can wraiths even have personal relationships? Does Sauron get any cruel enjoyment out of manipulating their bond for his own purposes? And what is Khamûl’s reaction when the Witch-king is slain? Is he still able to feel grief?
Art prompts: I’d love to see your take on both Angmar and Khamûl when they were living men, including your take on Easterling costume (and Númenórean, if that’s the background you’re choosing for Angmar). Something involving the motif of their two rings? Something featuring them as wraiths would also be cool. If the Witch-king’s wraith form is a pale king, how does Khamûl appear?
Middle-earth Movies
Pairing: Elros the Guard/Galion
I like the wee snapshot of characterisation we get with these two in the wine-cellars: Galion very happy to skive off his duties and chug the King’s wine, Elros trying very hard to be a jobsworth (those barrels should have been sent away hours ago! he has Dwarves to guard!), but very much not immune to letting himself be lured into a private piss-up. Makes you wonder what else they might get up to when they should be working! *waggles eyebrows*
Honestly, I don’t have too many ideas here, I just like the idea of these two. Anything playing with the aforementioned contrast between them would be a lot of fun - Elros being Very Conscientious, only to be continually distracted by Galion. Boozy flirting! Cheeky quickies when they’re supposed to be busy! If Elros is the Keeper of the Keys, surely he must know all the wee out-of-the-way places where they could go without being disturbed. ;)
What if what we see in the film is just a tiny part of Galion’s centuries-long attempt to get Elros’ attention? Maybe he had this big seduction planned for Mereth-en-Gilith, plying Elros with some classy Dorwinion wine, letting things unfold from there… only they both ended up falling straight to sleep and letting the prisoners escape. Oops. I’d love to know what happens to them after that!
I’d love anything fun, fluffy, or sexy with these two, but of course, if you want to go for something a bit darker, there’s plenty of scope for that. After all, they’re members of a small, beleaguered kingdom whose forest is increasingly falling under the Shadow. How does that affect their relationship? Is Galion’s casual attitude to his duties a reaction to all the perils they face? It’s safe to assume that being Elves, they’re probably kickass warriors, so do they fight side-by-side during any of the battles involving the Wood-elves - the Five Armies, the War of the Last Alliance, the War of the Ring? Or do they stay behind to guard the halls while their King rides to war? (Either way, I’d prefer no character death. A happy ending, please!)
There’s also the cultural element you could explore, between the Silvan Elves and the Sindar, especially since the film-verse hints at some tension between the two groups. According to Tolkien Gateway, Galion isn’t a Sindarin name, so presumably he’s of Silvan descent. Is Elros Sindarin then, perhaps a follower of Oropher and Thranduil who followed them out of Beleriand? Has there been some tension between them across the millennia? Has their friendship been a long time in the making? Did they start out as rivals in the court, a rivalry made worse by the fact that they quite blatantly fancied each other?
Art prompts: any scenes of these two living it up with the King’s booze! Something set in the halls — I love those underground waterfalls! Or a scene outside, beneath the trees, in the light of the stars.
Sun Horse, Moon Horse - Rosemary Sutcliff
Pairing: Cradoc/Lubrin Dhu
I find the dynamic between these two so interesting, the way there’s a definite affinity between them, and they could have been friends, but for the gulf of conqueror and conquered between them — and all of that overshadowed by their (initially) unconscious knowledge that it all has to end with Lubrin’s death. I’d love absolutely anything that explored all those layers and complexities, as well as the story’s main themes of leadership and sacrifice. The book is entirely from Lubrin’s POV, so if you wanted to explore their relationship through Cradoc’s eyes, that would be great, too.
I have to admit, that scene where Cradoc first summons Lubrin to the hall to entertain him, I had to laugh a bit, because it almost felt like it was leading up to one of those old skool captive romance tropes. (“Have that slave washed and bring him to me!”) Anything playing with those tropes would be great fun, whether you want to play them straight, or put another twist on them that suits the atmosphere of the novel. Does Cradoc ever summon Lubrin to visit him again, perhaps in a more private setting this time? Do they become lovers while the Horse is being made, perhaps spurred on by the intensity of the enterprise? If so, do they manage to keep it a secret, or do others find out, like Cradoc's foster-brother? Or the other Iceni prisoners find out about it - and what is their reaction?
(Lubrin/Dara also seems like a pretty obvious ship in this book, so if you want to work that into the background, I'm all for it, whether that's Dara being jealous, youthful Lubrin/Dara that never really got the chance to be realised before Dara was chosen to be Teleri's husband, Lubrin being torn between his feelings for Dara and for Cradoc, the different things they represent, etc.)
Or maybe some of the quasi-mystical power surrounding the Horse has a hand in drawing them together. I’d love anything that plays with the spiritual/ritual element of the story. Just as the Horse represents both the Iceni and the Attribates, does that act as a kind of harbinger of their relationship? Given that the Iceni practice matrilineal succession, what about a scenario where, in the absence (so he thinks) of a Royal Woman, Cradoc seeks to legitimise his overlordship by joining with the the last surviving son of the last Royal Woman instead?
It kind of wrecks the whole theme of the story, I know, but if you want a bit more creative wiggle-room, I’m always happy with a good fixit AU. What if Cradoc just can’t go through with it? What if, at the last minute, a white mare appears as an omen of something or other, and the priests call off the sacrifice? What if they decide on another kind of sacrifice is required to sanctify the horse? I’m always here for a good bit of ritual sex. :)
Art prompts: anything featuring the motif of the Horse, or indicating the passage of the seasons in the book, the windswept Downs which are always such a feature of Sutcliff’s work.
Sword at Sunset - Rosemary Sutcliff
Pairing: Cei/Gwalchmai
For some reason, one of the moments in this book that stands out in my memory is towards the end, when Cei tells Artos about Gwalchmai’s death, and it describes him “weeping for him”. I can’t help but wonder what sort of relationship these two might have had, that we should see big tough Cei breaking down so openly.
I love opposites attracting, and here we have Cei, bluff and flashy and fiery-tempered (but capable of being actually pretty sensitive), and Gwalchmai the healer, quiet and reserved (but capable of being a fierce fighter too). I’d love to see what sort of relationship grows between them as they follow Artos. Do their contrasting temperaments mean their relationship takes time to develop, or do they get along well from the first? Something set just after Gwalchmai joins the Companions, maybe, with Cei intrigued by this quiet lad that Artos picked up at the monastery?
Apart from that, there are all the good, old-fashioned brothers-in-arms-to-lovers tropes: weapons training that gets surprisingly up close and personal, fighting side by side in battle, Gwalchmai patching up Cei’s wounds after a battle (or a punch-up!) — or what about turning the tables and having Cei look after Gwalchmai? Does Gwalchmai’s leg ever bother him and need some looking after?
How do things work during their years in the north? For much of the time, Cei is in command of Castra Cunetium, while Gwalchmai mostly seems to be attached to Artos’ main garrison. How does their relationship work when they’re apart so often? Stolen moments, impassioned reunions whenever Cei’s back in Trimontium, maybe?
Given the nature of the book, I’m all for a bit of tragedy, so if you wanted to do something set towards the end, that would pull my heartstrings in just the right way! Something about Cei at Gwalchmai’s bedside would be heartbreakingly lovely.
I always enjoy something sexy, if that’s what you’re looking to make. And Cei is canonically horny, after all. ;) As far as this pairing goes, is he cheerfully bi, or does he think of himself as strictly a ladies’ man — so that his feelings for Gwalchmai take him by surprise? Maybe seeing Gault and Levin together lead them both to realise that their friendship runs much deeper than they’d realised. As a novice monk, maybe Gwalchmai is still a virgin, and Cei, like a good bro (cough) makes it his mission to help him get laid… only for things to take a rather interesting turn. Or is Gwalchmai surprisingly experienced?
