Shelley

• Friendship, found families, loyalty, love, deep emotional connections, devotion, displays of affection and respect
• Third person POV
• Flirting, pining, UST and especially getting together fic
• Possessiveness
• Missing scenes and fix-its, as well as case-fic and plotty stories
• Protectiveness and characters sacrificing their own comforts to help others
• Mutual pining with a happy ending, unrequited love finally realized
• Hurt/comfort, especially after a nightmare, tending wounds, caring for them when they're ill or injured, hovering after something traumatic and trying to take their mind off things
• Tropes like only one bed and every other possible bedsharing scenario, fake couple/marriage leading to the inability to keep hiding feelings, forced proximity and bonus if there’s peril
• First kiss, first times, first realization of feelings
• Humor, snark and banter, laughing and joking with each other
• Happy or at the very least ambiguously hopeful endings

Sex-Related Likes

• I like stories with no sex, fade-to-black, or full-on smut, so write whatever level you prefer.
• I do like at least as much if not more focus on the emotions as on what body part goes where or what position people are in.
• Porn with feelings and emotional or romantic sex
• Dubcon when requested
• Desperate kisses and one or both partners overwhelmed with passion and feelings
• Manhandling and displays of strength, up against the wall sex
• Kneeling (any reason but especially for oral sex or to kiss knees or thighs or anything like that, grand)
• Penetrative sex, oral sex, fingers, frottage, mutual masturbation or one watching the other
• Naked and half-naked or one clothed and the other naked, basically any combo of clothed/not clothed
• Necking, petting, face and neck and body stroking, kissing and/or sucking or licking pretty much anywhere
• I really like up against the wall, taken from behind, and one riding the other, but any positions are fine
• Thank god you're/we're alive sex
• One character being suddenly so overcome with feeling and desire for the other they kiss them and initiate things out of the blue, like they can't wait another second--love those big music swell moments
• When requested or present in canon, hair-pulling or ass-slapping in the heat of the moment
• With appropriate pairings, like vampires, blood drinking and/or licking blood off the other’s mouth, face, neck, etc. can’t go wrong. With vampires, blood doesn't fall under my bodily fluid DNW.

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I have exceptions and qualifications for DNWs in certain cases and will mention those specifically in my requests.

• Anything related to COVID19 or politics
• AUs except canon divergence
• Major character death, disabling or fatal illness or injury
• Self-harm and suicide
• Unhappy or bleak endings
• Script format/only dialogue
• 1st and 2nd person POV
• Original character or unrequested character POV
• Unrequested gender and sexuality headcanons
• Cruelty to animals or animal death
• Infidelity and friend/partner betrayal
• Holiday stories (Halloween is the exception)
• Unrequested crossovers or crack fic
• Speculative elements (ghosts, aliens, sex pollen) in non-speculative canons
• Kidfic, pregnancy or birth of any kind

Sex-Related DNWs

• Non-con
• Underage
• BDSM, D/s and/or consent negotiations
• Generic dirty talk, porn film dialogue during/about sex, calling someone slut, whore or other names
• Mommy/Daddy kink
• Sex toys
• Sexual pain and torture, hitting, suffocating, dehumanization, humiliation, even if consensual
• Anything related to or focusing on body fluids, secretions or wastes, including spitting and come play, though sweaty sex is fine and blood is fine in horror or vampire canons.

To clarify on the serious illness or injury, referencing canon trauma is fine but someone having an amputation, stroke or a life-threatening non-canon disease, or developing any mental disorders like schizophrenia, is a big no.

Injuries and illnesses that can heal are fine, like someone getting shot in a casefic or having the flu or broken bones, for instance.

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Fandom-specific DNWs:

No inclusion of or reference to Izzy's eventual canon death. Set this before with no foreshadowing or pretend it didn't happen and set it after, up to you!

I don't care how you get Izzy and Evelyn in the same place at the same time, but the shared level of contempt for most of humanity would bond these two in an amazing way, wouldn't it? I think an enemies to lovers story would be great with them disliking each other immediately and intensely and that turning into something hot, though I'd be happy with any level of sex in the story, from none to full-on.

I adore Evelyn and think she and Izzy would end up liking and respecting each other and she would also instantly give zero fucks what he thinks, because she's a tough one, and I love that. Her being much taller than him also floats my boat. Izzy was my favorite from the minute he appeared. I just think they'd be fire and so much fun together.

I'm okay with Izzy dealing with his pining for Ed a little bit, at least in the beginning, so there's no need to pretend that wasn't a thing (unless you want to, then it's fine). But if you do bring it up, please don't do much more that mention it or use it to compare to how he feels about Evelyn at the time to show that the current goings-on are much more positive or that he likes how he feels better, etc.

Basically, even if he leaves at the end in an "until next time" scenario (which would be fine!), I don't want a pining Izzy being very distracted by old pining, or having great fun with Evelyn and then going back to pining for Ed.

It would be nice to see Evelyn treated like a lady (or however she wants to be treated!) and for someone who feels something for Izzy to treat him like they care, even if they argue much of the time. Plus, again, hot.

Here are ideas for getting them within snarking distance of each other and some prompts:

• Ed disappeared in search of Stede after he got over his heartache instead of breaking bad, so Izzy goes in search of him in Stede's town and meets Evelyn.
• Maybe Izzy meets her because he's been tasked with killing her as some kind of old debt or favor, so while he's on land he goes to do that. She's clearly been up to some shit and maybe has enemies. He ends up admiring her and turns on the person who wanted her dead instead.
• They run into each other at any point, even post-canon or pre-Stede. Maybe after Izzy was shot he survived and ended up getting medical attention on land somewhere and they meet after he's mostly recuperated but not back on board the ship. Handwave the logistics of it, I don't care.
• I like the idea of Izzy teaching her some sword moves, maybe to protect herself, or them committing murder together. Murder as bonding! Maybe someone's threatening Evelyn and Izzy helps her or completely takes care of the problem.
• I also like the idea that when meet they insult the hell out of each other, but their arguing and/or murderous exploits lead to friendship and feelings.
• I think Izzy has side that really wants to please, and I'll bet Evelyn probably knows exactly what she wants, so I think they'd be incredibly hot together.
• Honestly, him kissing/tonguing her hands, being on his knees, catering to her a bit, would be amazing. I am also all for him taking charge and giving her a wild ride like maybe she's been craving for years too. Both. Or no sex at all, but that dynamic in other things they do!
• The story does have to end with them moving in together in a happy ever after, but please don't have them think or say they'll never see each other again. I'm fine with him leaving (or her, depending on where they are) at the end, but leave them wanting to see each other again someday and assuming it will eventually happen. No heartbreaking finality please.

I ship all the canon couples. If you want to include another character, feel free, love them all.

I just think a story with these two at the center would be amazing. Let them lose control with each other or never even get past a kiss as long as there's obvious sexual tension and desire between them. It'll be fun no matter what.

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Nick and Cody are constantly in each other's personal bubble in a way that would feel awkward to most people, even the closest of friends. The whole show is like they're lovers who just haven't figured that out yet. When one sits down the other practically sits in his lap, and neither of them bat an eye. 

And of course they've been there for each other through thick and thin, took care of each other in Vietnam, live together, sleep in the same room and even work together. There's only one way for them to get closer, and if you want to go there I will be on board, but it's also great if you write them getting to shippy without sex. 

Feel free to include Murray if you want.  I do like him being able to see that they love each other before the guys do and either doing nothing or nudging them ever so slightly towards each other. Them having to rescue him is always a winner too, or him teaming with one of the guys to rescue the other. But it's purely and & relationship. I don't want Boz romantically linked to either Nick or Cody, but he's free to have a love interest of any gender within the story as long as it's not one of them.

I'd really rather avoid a bunch of angst about being gay or bi in the 80s, but I do like when one is afraid to make it known because they worry about damaging the friendship, and the happiness when it's revealed that of course nothing could damage the friendship and they felt the same all along, yay!

I love first times for them, all the getting together scenarios, whether with just revelation of feelings or all the way to sexy times. 

• Peril and concern for each other, like one getting kidnapped for some reason and the other frantic to rescue them. And if the cops think the kidnapped one is dead but the other refuses to give up and accept that, I love that kind of stuff. One rescuing the other, doesn't matter which is which, is great.
• Undercover as gay is a winner here. Maybe they have to pretend to be a couple for a case and it makes them realize some things. And if they're in a hotel or somewhere and, oh no, there's only one bed, all the better. Sex isn't necessary for me to enjoy the story even in a bedsharing situation, but if you want to write, I'll enjoy it!
• Being mistaken as a couple by someone on the outside, a new person they're helping with a case, and that person explaining why they thought that could be good. Someone pointing out that straight heterosexual guys don't generally sit almost in each other's laps when there are several feet of space on either side of them might make them realize some things.
• PTSD nightmares and flashbacks that have the other person comforting them, particularly with bedsharing, is great. I like one dreaming of the other dying and waking up frantic to grab ahold of him to assure himself he's okay. Lots of touching, holding, grabbing, that kind of thing. They're very handsy with each other, so more of that!
• One gets shot while they're on a case, and they can't get to help right away so the other has to take care of them until help comes.
• In any kind of danger situation, the whole "not him, take me instead" thing is fantastic both for the self-sacrifice of it but what it does to the other person. I like a lot of angst, as long as there's a happy ending. Also a fan of one being tortured to hurt the other in a hostage/kidnapping situation where they're trying to get information about something or just revenge, as long as the hurt one is rescued before it gets too bad.
• For a lighter story, maybe the guys get invited to some conference and though they have the opportunity to date a couple gorgeous women, they prefer to hang out together instead. Feel free to have Murray there, maybe he drags them to something they're not looking forward to, and end up going off alone to do the same kinds of things they'd do on the Riptide, and start to realize what that means.
• One getting jealous over the other is always great, as long as it ends up resolved with them together.

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These short novels aren't sold as ebooks, but many libraries might have them available. They're also both free to borrow and read on the Internet Archive.

I'm really looking for an exploration of the relationships and loyalties more than the politics and technical aspects, so if you're reading them to write for me (bless), and you find yourself getting slogged down with a lot of the philosophy (I understand the authors were Ayn Rand and Objectivism fans, which I am not), feel free to skim the long, long discussions.

The Price of the Phoenix

The Price of the Phoenix. A version you might find more readable, and I don't think it requires registering and borrowing.

The Fate of the Phoenix

If you read the first one but aren't interested in the second, I would be happy with something written based on only the first novel. I'd also be thrilled with a story that contains some sex or none at all as long as there's some obvious tension there between whichever pairing you choose.

I don't want formal BDSM, but Omne's variety of you will submit to me or else as dubcon, well, yes. Still, a story with no sex is perfectly fine too! Omne's admiration and obsession and how it affects Kirk and Spock would be fascinating on its own, as would Kirk and Spock in an Omne-less story, either during the events or after. The potential ramifications of Omne's device are also fascinating.

Omne's so very constantly "there's a price, what's your price, what will you sacrifice for each other?" He liked to keep Kirk naked and insisted on touching him enough, wanting Kirk to admire him and being willing to beat him to get that if necessary. He seemed to be on board for Kirk/Spock given some of the things he said, even my young brain reading this decades ago saw the writing on the wall. I don't want brutal non-con, but I do like the dubbiest dubcon of the absolute-no-no-yes variety and hurt/comfort, and these books are fat with potential for both.

• There are so many deep dives that could be taken into things like Spock's pain at thinking Kirk was dead then having to be parted from James, his desperation to save one or both, or even his rage in the beginning when he fully intended to kill Omne for murdering Jim. Exploring an aspect of any of those things would be great.
• Post-Omne beating hurt/comfort between Kirk and Spock. There's a lot of Spock devotion in these books, a lot of Spock watching Jim while he sleeps, etc. Handwave what actually happened and have Kirk rescued right after the beat-down with Spock the one spreading the healing foam all over him and then tending to him. Reverse it and write more Kirk comforting Spock after he's beaten down by Omne. Any situation like that at any point during either book would be grand.
• A situation where the price Omne demands is sex. Maybe he wants Kirk to willingly accept him as the price for him not killing or torturing Spock. Maybe he wants both of them to accept him to spare themselves and the others. And maybe he wants Kirk and Spock to accept each other to entertain him (and of course I'd prefer that while they're not happy about that, they've both been pining anyway so neither is totally horrified, they just would have preferred it not be for an audience).
• In Fate, there's the potential for Omne inside original Spock or in clone Spock getting close to Kirk, whether the intimacy is in dialogue, support or something physical, and the discovery of the deceit afterward. If Omne can't have him as Omne, he'll have him as Spock.
• In Fate, here's a point when Omne's in a Vulcan healing trance, but it'd be interesting to see him as Omnedon for a while and see more interactions between him and Kirk before he reverts back to Omne.
• Omne takes advantage of Kirk not remembering what happened near the end of Fate and Kirk has to play along and do whatever he wants not to blow his fake amnesia.

Any story that's more of the same in the books, no sex necessary, would be great. If you want to write something sexy, I will also read that will bells on.

Fandom-specific DNWs:

I'm okay with Peter being dead at the start of a story because it's canon, with later flashbacks to before his death. That doesn't violate my MCD DNW. But if he starts out alive in the story, please keep him alive. And if the story is shipping Peter/Mark and not just an ensemble story, please don't have him dead at any point.

Also, I'm aware that the second season will start airing not long before this exchange reveals, so just in case - if the second season that airs first includes the death of Helly, Mark, Dylan, Irving or Burt, please do not incorporate that into the story in any way and stick with S1 or your ideas about what happens after without any major character death. (If it's Cobel, Milchik, non-severed characters who die, that would be fine, just not MDR or Burt.) Thank you!

I love Severance so much. Feel free to include any characters.

Mark/Peter:

I would love to see flashes of Mark and Petey's friendship at Lumon, how they got so close and how they got closer than the show had them get. I'd love to see anything from secret pining to stolen moments at work to Petey and/or Mark remembering bits and pieces of those things while Peter is staying in Mark's basement. 

• Lots of possibilities while Petey's in Mark's basement. Did they have some kind of an affair when at Lumon? Did they want to? Does Petey remember the affair or the desire between them, or just flashes now and then? They could have had a thing before or not, but something's developing between them, and maybe that pushes against Mark's memory. Does he have dreams or flashes from his innie? Maybe Mark realizes he's trustworthy and not crazy and starts to question his beliefs about Lumon.
• Pete tells Mark they were lovers, and Mark thinks Pete's out to scam him or something, so Peter slowly convinces him by showing him that he knows exactly how Mark like to be kissed and touched reveals he knows other non-sexual secrets and quirks he has.
• Hurt/comfort can never go wrong. In caring for Peter, Mark starts to have feelings that seem oddly familiar and Peter reveals that they were lovers, or really anything that leads them to get together in this kind of a scenario. One of them comforts the other after he has to do the weird apology ritual or some other thing at Lumon.
• Mark accidentally sees Peter masturbating at work and that starts something between them. Or vice versa and Pete catches him. Or any kind of situation where feelings or desire are revealed, even if it's innocent.
• Pete is in a much better state than in the show and starts running into Mark on purpose and trying to attract his attention without Mark knowing he's from Lumon, and it works. He wants Mark, and he also wants to gain his trust so he can convince him to get away from the place.
• Petey lives and finds Mark when his innie is at the book party and they have an emotional reunion.
• Anything that plays into how touch-starved innies must feel, whether a scene of them at work or Peter trying to make Mark remember on the outside. It doesn't even have to be sexual (though sexual is fiiine, and could be something like Pete touching Mark's face, maybe like the first time they did anything together in the hopes it will break something loose, and it does. Or a first touch while at Lumon, the first time it was something beyond friendly pats and joking around.
• One thinks the other is in some kind of danger at Lumon and tries to find and help them, or they team up to try to find information or help someone else.

Burt/Irving:

Any moments between Irving/Burt, from stolen moments at Lumon to somehow seeing each other outside it and being drawn to each other in some way would be great. Any canon divergence that keeps Burt there or gives one of them (or both) memories outside, or even Burt being drawn in to the scheme with the rest to figure out what's going on and what the outside is like would be great.

• I'd love to see a continuation of the end of S1 and how that pans out when Irving gets his memory turned off. Is there some sense between them that they should know each other? Do they all figure out what's happened, or is just Irving who must realize, given all his research on Lumon? Does Irving have time to say anything before his outie takes over?
• Burt doesn't retire, so what are their future moments alone at Lumon like? Or they have another moment alone before Burt retires. More of the kind of things we already got!
• Their outies meet somehow and are drawn to each other, and maybe knowing each other that way causes some memories to start to bleed through.
• One thinks the other is in some kind of danger at Lumon and tries to find and help them, or they team up to try to find information or help someone else.
• I'm always down for chip malfunctions and shifting memories, and I love the idea that they'd be just as attracted to each other on the outside.
• I like idea like Burt's husband being a bad guy and part of Lumon's weird experiments or a good guy trying to bring them down, so feel free to make him whatever you want to serve your story (if you want to include him, of course).
• A happy ending for them would be great. At the very least, I want it to be a hopeful one that things might work out in the future, even if they're stil somewhat separated at the end.

Irving & Helly & Dylan & Mark

I loved them starting to really trust and rely on each other. They were so individual in the beginning of the season, and by the end the body language and even how close they stood together was so different. Give me all the friendship feels and deepening bonds and affection. (I really like Helly/Mark too, so you can include their growing attraction if you want, but please don't make the ship the focus of the story.)

• Any situation where they're working together would be great. Either post-S1 with them trying to fight their way back to be able to break free, or in some situation before the ending of S1, like one distracting Milchik while the others try to find files or information, or some plan that they're forming. Them scheming, planning and doing just about anything would be great.
• I'd enjoy more of Dylan's conspiracy-theory-like bent on speculating what it's like outside, and more lore and legends the employees talk about. The O&D <> MDR massacre story and how it played out was great, so anything along those lines, whether it's something clearly perpuated by Lumon or some idea Dylan or any employee in MDR got into their head and spun into a tale.
• Post-Lumon (and/or post-severance), do MDR meet? Do they know each other or start to remember things? Have they been integrated and see each other on purpose or accidentally, and what happens? It would be fun to see their different personalities interacting outside Lumon as a friends group, even if part or most of what keeps them together is trauma bonding. It would be fun to see that shift into true friendship, with their whole selves too.
• One of the MDR employees isn't at his or her desk. What do the rest do? I made a similar suggestion for the pairings, with one thinking the other is in some kind of danger, so they go in search of them. I'd like to see that with MDR too. What do they do, and what are they worried has happened? From asking Milchik to looking for clues, that could be fun (and worrisome, if it's set post S-1 or when they were starting to plan). You can put the characters through hell while they're worried and looking for the person, just please let them find the person and it all be okay in the end (even if bad Lumon things are looming in the future).
• Heck, just a day in the life at Lumon, in or out, would be great. Anything exploring things we didn't get to see!