Alternate Universe Exchange 2021 Letter

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Hello AUE2021 creator! Thank you for gifting, here are some things that work (and don’t) for me (for this exchange, anyway). I am all about the MLM romance, and I would be pleased with anything that fits in my general likes. I love smut, but I would also be happy with a no-smut story.

Soulmates is my #1 favorite trope of all time. I only nominated the generic "soulmate AU" tag from this exchange, but I'd be happy with ANY soulmate tag in the AU list that ends happily. This also includes soulbound - marks, no marks, fated, found each other later - go nuts; I'll love it.

Likes
General Likes: Tension building, Characters being clever/competent, cheesy rom-com plots, Emotionally centered stories, Getting together, Domesticity, Shop AUs, Everyone would fuck everyone, Fluff, Hijinks, Humor, People taking care of each other (including hurt/comfort), Worldbuilding, Friendly banter and teasing, Hurt/Comfort, Friends to lovers, Misplaced jealousy, Trans, aro, ace, polyam, etc. are all good. I enjoy Austen-type historical AU’s, all variety of modern AU’s, futuristic, and I LOVE AU’s with magic.

Dynamics I like: Enemies to Lovers, Established Relationship, Found family, Family of Choice, Friendship, Friends to Lovers, Friends with Benefits, Reunions, Roommates, Secret Relationship, Soulmates, Closeted characters convinced they hate the person they have a crush on, A/B/O, Sex Pollen, Misunderstandings & mistaken identities, Sneaky & spontaneous semi-public hookups

Smut-Specific Likes: In general, BDSM, D/S dynamics with Gentle doms, women dominating men in het ships, laughing, both people just having a good time, Marking/claiming a partner; grabbing and pulling hair, Sex scenes focusing on foreplay/aftercare/afterglow, For M/M, I’m fine with anal, frottage, rimming, blow jobs, hand jobs, etc. - as long as it’s not on my DNW or edges close to that.

 

DNWs
General DNWs: 1st or 2nd person POV, Harm or violence against animals, Religious imagery, general religious themes (though I am fine with it as a part of the world-building, just not a central theme of the fic), Bestiality, Gay-bashing/violent homophobia, Gore / Graphic violence, Infidelity, Major character death

Dynamics I DNW: Breakup fic, Incest, Possessive behavior, Stalking, Underage sex (younger than 16), Teenagers (~under 18) having sex with adults (~over 21)

Smut-Specific DNWs: Rape / Non-con, blood / scat / piss, pain inflicted during sex, humiliation during sex

The Magicians is my die-hard fandom. My favorite pairing is Queliot, but I would be happy with any pairing from this list, including a fic where Margo and Todd are forced together and Margo has to stop herself from killing him daily.

Quentin Coldwater/Eliot Waugh (The Magicians TV)
Fen/Margo Hanson (The Magicians TV)
Margo Hanson/Alice Quinn (The Magicians TV)
Kady Orloff-Diaz/Julia Wicker (The Magicians TV)
Quentin Coldwater/Margo Hanson/Eliot Waugh (The Magicians TV)
Margo Hanson & Todd (The Magicians TV)
Quentin Coldwater & Margo Hanson & Eliot Waugh (The Magicians TV)

ALL: Pride and Prejudice AU – You could go nuts on this and include several pairings on my list, or only focus on one pairing. I love the quick banter, and the instant tension. You can do a regency fic here, or keep it modern era; I’ll love it either way.

ALL: Accidental marriage through unintentional magically binding action – Magic is real in this universe, and this could easily happen in Fillory! Maybe Queliot accidently gets themselves married in some kind of ritual meant to make laptops work in Fillory, or maybe Alice and Margo kiss in the perfect spot in the castle that makes the old gods consider them married. You could go for the triple with Eliot/Margo/Q as well.

ALL: Co-owners of a shop AU, ALL: Coffee Shop AU, ALL: In-universe coffeeshop AU, ALL: Library AU, ALL: Florist AU, ALL: Tattoo Parlor AU - I LOVE shop AUs. I don’t care what kind of a shop – Tattoo wasn’t on my tag list but I’m into it; I’m also into a book shop. You can make it in-universe or not, but I love a smooth talking Eliot barista nursing a crush on a nervous Quentin that has So Many Allergies, or Margo repeatedly visiting the library to get another glimpse of hot librarian Alice.

ALL: Alternate First Meeting--Woke Up Married – With magic in this universe, could happen. Maybe Julia and Kady meet at a hedge bar one night, hook up, and wake up married the next day. Or Quentin starts at Brakebills, Eliot doesn’t greet him, and Quentin wakes up in the Cottage married to Eliot. Or maybe there’s a future glimpse spell where Eliot wakes up married to Quentin.

All: Arranged marriage to bring peace between two countries/species on the verge of a war – With Fillory, can make this work beautifully. Eliot is still High King of Fillory, and ‘forced’ to marry Prince Quentin or Loria. Or High King Margo is arranged to marry commoner Fen to please the populace. You could also make Margo and Alice (both as Queens of Fillory) marry each other to please the realm. OR you could go some kind of soderetu/Fillorian magic route and have Q/Eliot/Margo/Alice all have to get married to keep peace.

All: Marriage Arranged Because of Matching Soulmarks – Soulmates! Maybe when the group arrives in Fillory, the soulmarks appear? I’m down for anything you wanna do with this trope.

ALL: Artist/Model AU – Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Eliot takes an art class and model Q comes in and drops his robe and Eliot is in love. OR you use that Eliot Waugh’s Canonically Huge Dick tag, and Size Queen Quentin loses his shit when he gets a glimpse of Eliot’s cock. Maybe Kady is working on her sculpting and nude model Julia comes in and DAMN. Or if you think I am way too thirsty, could also so a clothes-on picture where they just talk and get to know each other and fall in love over art.

ALL: Canonically Dead Character Survives – Well this is tailor made for Quentin. Keep this bb alive in any fic you write for me. Write a fix-it, an alternate S5, idc, just let the boy live. And preferably immediately rejoin with Eliot.

ALL: Character A Marries B to Save Their Life – Again with the Fillorian stuff here. Maybe High King Eliot is going to get beheaded, until Prince Quentin of Loria steps in to marry him, save his life, and also take over Fillory. Perhaps Kady gets in trouble with the hedges, and Julia, head of a rival coven, steps in and marries her to save her life and take her under her protection.

ALL: Character Journeys To The Underworld to Rescue Their Dead Friend – Again, made for Quentin. Eliot or Julia or the entire group goes to the Underworld and brings their friend home.

ALL: Character was Stolen by Fairies as a Baby – Fairies exist in the Fillorian universe, and it would be interesting to see how Alice or Fen or Quentin would be if they were stolen by fairies, and then meet the rest of the group when the Children of Earth arrive in Fillory. Maybe some love at first sight? Or maybe they rebelled against the fairies all their life, and now have the chance to make peace with Fillorians/humans. Also I would love if you keep the typical appearance of kidnapped person – aka let the eyebrows live.

ALL: Characters who knew one another long ago unexpectedly reunite for an adventure – This could be a great one for resolving angst. Maybe Q/El were together at Brakebills, but broke up – and are later reunited in fillory to go on a quest and recapture that flame. Or Julia and Kady were always friends but never took that extra step – and when they are brought back together years later to deal with a hedge crisis, they finally realize they never stopped thinking about each other.

ALL: Different First Meeting - Mistaken for a Hooker and Goes With It – Ah, this feels made for Eliot or Margo. Perhaps more-than-slightly-slutty Eliot is hanging out at a bar, and Quentin comes up to him, nervous and babbling about meeting his escort – and Eliot is like “well he’s cute so I can do this and make some money,” and then BAM FEELINGS. Same with Margo and Alice.

ALL: Roommates AU – Any kind of roommates would go here. They could be forced roommates at Brakebills. Roommates in a modern setting.

ALL: Soulmate AU (no mark) – As I said earlier, I LOVE soulmate AUs. ANY trope will fit here, as long as there’s destiny and connections. I’m fine with someone resisting the soulmate bond, as long as there is a happy ending.

Clint Barton/Phil Coulson (Marvel CU)

This pairing is a new discovery for me and I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I love the possible age difference, the power dynamic, Phil’s sizzling confidence and Clint’s snarkiness. I love secret husbands, the rest of the Avengers having no idea, business in public and cuddling in private – love it.

I do want a happy ending here – you can have Phil “go to Tahiti” if you wish and deal with their angst while they are separated, but I do want the story to end with them together.

I don’t care if you include other background pairings – my other faves are Steve/Natasha and Sam/Bucky, but I’m down for whomever. All of the prompts here are just suggestions, you can let your creativity fly here as long as you keep my DNW in mind.

ALL: A and B are secretly married the whole time, ALL: Characters in Longtime Secret Relationship – My bread and butter for this ship. They’ve been married the entire time! You can have Natasha and Fury know, but that’s it! Tony is flustered! Captain’s eyes get wide!

ALL: Characters pretend to be a couple/married to solve cases so often that they catch feelings – Ugh, this makes me salivate. Clint and Phil keep getting put together case after case where they have to attend marriage getaways or pretend they’re on their honeymoon or wtf ever, and there’s just one “only one bed” too many and somebody breaks. In the best way.

ALL: Accidental Marriage AU – With magic in the universe, and different alien cultures, you could have it where Clint/Phil are considered married by doing a spell together, or walking across sacred ground while holding hands or something. And they have to commit or offend the locals. Or something mundane like they get so drunk they get married and have to deal with all the feelings.

ALL: Alternate First Meeting--Woke Up Married – You could do this in-universe, with the multi-verse, or maybe Clint is knocked unconscious and has a crazy dream where he wakes up married to Phil. When he comes back to reality, he has to make THAT life he saw a reality. You could also do that these two are strangers that meet in Vegas, have instant chemistry, and BAM marriage and then “wtf did we do last night?” I’m very flexible here.

ALL: Character A Marries B to Save Their Life – This would be great with an AU in a medieval setting, where Clint or Phil is about to be executed, but the other steps in to marry them and save their life, since the husband of <whatever title they hold> is protected. And then fun discussions of feelings and things ensue.

All: Pride and Prejudice AU – I love Pride & Prejudice. You can do this in a historical setting, or make it modern and keep up the same storyline. Perhaps Clint and Phil butt heads at the start, there’s some misunderstanding around some mission that makes one of them think less of the other, but then! A confession in the rain! Maybe Clint just cannot accept that Phil loves him! Idk but I’m down for any way you can spin this.

ALL: Coffee Shop AU, ALL: In-universe coffeeshop AU, ALL: Library AU, ALL: Co-owners of a shop AU – I LOVE Shop AU’s. Not including in tags, but would love – florist/tattoo parlor AU – any kind of shop, I’m down! I don’t care who is the shop owner and who is the customer; I just want those meet-cutes and them not able to keep their hands off each other.

ALL: Soulmate AU (no mark), ALL: Red String of Fate AU, MCU: Soulmates Decided by Goose the Angry Flerken – As I said above, I love soulmates. I will happily take any iteration of this trope, but these are intriguing – ESPECIALLY Goose the Angry Flerken deciding soulmates. How does Goose decide? How does Goose let them know they are soulmates? And what happens after?

ALL: Characters Run Off to a Farm Together Instead – Let’s cut out Laura and the kids, and after Phil comes back to live in Avengers, he and Clint run off to the Barton family farm for some downtime. This could be full of fluffy farm goodness, or include some angst as they work out some issues. There can also be chickens.

ALL: Characters who knew one another long ago unexpectedly reunite for an adventure – This could be fun! Maybe after Phil comes back to life, with unresolved feelings between he and Clint, they are reunited for a mission somewhere. It’s awkward and tension filled – until it’s not.

ALL: Different First Meeting - Met Via Matchmaking Service – Yesssss, a fun AU where they both sign up to the same matchmaker and are paired. Maybe Clint has been doing this for years and they just can’t find a match for him. Maybe Phil was signed up by a friend and he’s there grudgingly. And when he meets Clint – all the chemistry.

All: Hanahaki Disease AU – I love this trope. I bet they would both suffer, and hide it, unwilling to believe the other reciprocates.

ALL: Roommates AU – Avenger tower roommates, or more mundane roommates. Anything goes, especially inadvertent instances of seeing each other naked.

ALL: Different First Meeting - Mistaken for a Hooker and Goes With It – I had to nominate this. I mainly picture Clint, who’s hanging out at a bar he doesn’t normally frequent approached by Phil, who mistakes him for his escort – which, he’s never done the escort thing before and he’s just desperate for some companionship. And Clint thinks, “Well he’s hot and I could make some money” so he goes along with it. And BAM feelings.

Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov (CA Movies)
James "Bucky" Barnes/Sam Wilson (CA Movies)

All: Pride and Prejudice AU - I love Pride & Prejudice. You can do this in a historical setting, or make it modern and keep up the same storyline. You could even combine both couples – make Steve and Natasha Darcy and Elizabeth, and Sam and Bucky Jane and Bingley. I do not need a full-fledged full-cast AU – but I’m fine if you want to take that on.

ALL: Accidental Marriage AU – With magic in the universe, and different alien cultures, you could have it where the pairs are considered married by doing a spell together, or walking across sacred ground while holding hands or something. And they have to commit or offend the locals. Or something mundane like they get so drunk they get married and have to deal with all the feelings.

ALL: Coffee Shop AU, ALL: In-universe coffeeshop AU, ALL: Co-owners of a shop AU, ALL: Florist AU - I LOVE Shop AU’s. Not including in tags, but would love - tattoo parlor AU – any kind of shop, I’m down! I would LOVE tattooist Natasha. Especially if her BFF Clint is in the shop with her and just gives her all kinds of shit for blushing when she tattoos Steve. Or maybe she’s lusting over Steve, the florist next door. I don’t care who is the shop owner and who is the customer; I just want those meet-cutes and them not able to keep their hands off each other.

ALL: Alternate First Meeting--Woke Up Married – You could do this in-universe, with the multi-verse, or maybe Bucky/Nat is knocked unconscious and has a crazy dream where the wakes up married to Sam/Steve. I think this would be pretty cool for Natasha, to “live” that life she never imagined she’d ever get to have. You could also do that these two are strangers that meet in Vegas, have instant chemistry, and BAM marriage and then “wtf did we do last night?” I’m very flexible here.

ALL: Character A Marries B to Save Their Life - This would be great with an AU in a medieval setting, where Steve or Bucky is about to be executed, but the other steps in to marry them and save their life, since the husband of <whatever title they hold> is protected. And then fun discussions of feelings and things ensue. I would really love this if the two had never really spoken before, and the person that is saved is left wondering why the other stepped in to save their life.

ALL: Character Journeys To The Underworld to Rescue Their Dead Friend- Please save Natasha. You can do an “underworld” however you like, in any kind of universe. I’d love to see one of these pairings on a journey to save the other, denying their love for them the entire way. “They’re my friend, I’m journeying into Hell to save my friend that’s it.”

MCU: Natasha doesn't die and Steve stays in the present, MCU: Natasha Romanov Lives – I would love ANY take on this. Bonus if you have an AU where they were grief-banging during the snap years, and we have that background after everyone is back.

ALL: Characters in Longtime Secret Relationship – I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. The comedy potential, and the shock of their friends finding out. Love it.

ALL: Characters pretend to be a couple/married to solve cases so often that they catch feelings - Ugh, this makes me salivate. The pair keep getting put together case after case where they have to attend marriage getaways or pretend they’re on their honeymoon or wtf ever, and there’s just one “only one bed” too many and somebody breaks. In the best way. This has great potential for Natasha/Bucky constantly denying their feelings, thinking they aren’t good enough for their partner.

ALL: Characters who knew one another long ago unexpectedly reunite for an adventure - This could be fun! Maybe everyone goes their separate ways for one reason or another, and are brought back together to tie up some loose ends on a mission. It’s awkward and tension filled – until it’s not.

ALL: Different First Meeting - Met Via Matchmaking Service - Yesssss, a fun AU where they both sign up to the same matchmaker and are paired. Maybe Steve/Sam has been doing this for years and they just can’t find a match for him. Maybe Natasha/Sam was signed up by a friend and he’s there grudgingly. And when they meets the other – all the chemistry. I don’t care what kind of matchmaking service, go crazy. And can keep the superhero angle, make it ordinary, whatever you like.

All: Hanahaki Disease AU – I love this trope. I bet they would both suffer, and hide it, unwilling to believe the other reciprocates.

ALL: Red String of Fate AU, ALL: Soulmate AU (no mark)  - As I said above, I love ANY soulmate trope here. I didn’t request it, but I would be PERFECTLY HAPPY if you wanted to use the tag MCU: Soulmates Decided by Goose the Angry Flerken.

ALL: Roommates AU - Avenger tower roommates, or more mundane roommates. Anything goes, especially inadvertent instances of seeing each other naked.

All: Character Tries to Woo and Honorably Marry Their Fellow Sex Pollen Victim - I feel like this just has Steve Rogers written all over it. He and Natasha get hit with some sex pollen, stuff happens, and Steve feels like he has to Do The Right Thing. But Natasha ain’t having it, even though she wants a repeat just as bad as he does.

Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter (HP - JKR)
Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (HP - JKR)
Luna Lovegood/Harry Potter (HP - JKR)

ALL: Coffee Shop AU, ALL: Library AU, ALL: Florist AU, ALL: Co-owners of a shop AU - I LOVE shop AUs. I don’t care what kind of a shop – Tattoo wasn’t on my tag list but I’m into it; I’m also into a book shop. You can make it in-universe or not, but maybe Draco owns a potion shop and deals with Harry/Hermione coming in frequently, or Draco/Harry repeatedly visiting the library to get another glimpse of hot librarian Hermione or Luna.

ALL: Alternate First Meeting--Woke Up Married - With magic in this universe, could happen. Maybe Draco and Harry meet at a pub one night, hook up, and wake up married the next day. Or maybe there’s a future glimpse spell where Hermione/Luna wakes up married to Draco/Harry.

All: Arranged marriage to bring peace between two countries/species on the verge of a war – Mainly looking at Hermione/Draco or Harry/Draco here – they have to marry to bring peace to the wizarding world. Or go full medieval AU with princes and princesses, idc. This can also be used with the tag HP: Marriage Law AU - Ministry of Magic law requires marriage between Muggle-borns and Purebloods for Hermione and Draco.

ALL: Soulmate AU (no mark), All: Marriage Arranged Because of Matching Soulmarks - As I said earlier, I LOVE soulmate AUs. ANY trope will fit here, as long as there’s destiny and connections. I’m fine with someone resisting the soulmate bond, as long as there is a happy ending.

ALL: Artist/Model AU – Ugh. Give me Artist!Draco! or Artist!Harry! Painting, sculpting! Doesn’t have to be nude models, but I’m all for that too! Make it a magical piece of art! Anything you want. Rolling around in paint! Clay! I’m here for it!

ALL: Character A Marries B to Save Their Life – DRACO MARRIES HARRY/HERMIONE SO VOLDEMORT WON’T KILL THEM! I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT WOULD WORK BUT I AM HERE FOR IT.

ALL: Character Journeys To The Underworld to Rescue Their Dead Friend – I could see Luna journeying through the underworld, charming all the undead demons as she finds her way to Harry. Or Draco being the only one that can bring Harry back (maybe for soulmate reasons?).

HP: Draco is/becomes a spy for the Order – This has been done 800 times and I will read 800 more.

ALL: Characters in Longtime Secret Relationship – YESSSSSSSS. Draco and Harry/Hermione are on doing each other in secret! For years! No one knows! And then people find out and are AMAZED.

ALL: Characters pretend to be a couple/married to solve cases so often that they catch feelings – PERFECT for any of these pairings that work at the Ministry.

ALL: Characters who knew one another long ago unexpectedly reunite for an adventure – Great for all three pairs – after Hogwarts graduation, they lose touch and then are brought back together for reasons. Hidden feelings come up and stuff happens.

ALL: Different First Meeting - Met Via Matchmaking Service – Oh god. An AU after Hogwarts where they didn’t meet each other in school, maybe Harry had an ordinary life, and they meet via a matchmaker. Love at first sight? Hate? Lust? Here for it  all.

All: Hanahaki Disease AU – Love this trope. Can set it during HP years or after. Or maybe one pair has suffered from it for years and kept it a secret, controlling it with potions. Until one day they run out, and cough up some flowers in front of whomever they are in love with.

ALL: Married with cats – You could give me 1000 words on Draco bitching about being covered in Hermione’s cat hair and I’d be here for it.

ALL: Roommates AU – YES. Forced into it during Hogwarts. Or after Hogwarts, they have to get a flat together for Reasons. Or during work, they have to share while on a mission. Or during the war, they share a room in safe houses.