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mustlovemustypages · 6 months

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Yuletide 2023 Letter

Dear potential writer,

I hope this letter finds you well, but if not, then I hope this year’s Yuletide gives you an extra dose of happiness to diffuse these chaotic times. I say that practically every year, and every year I'm referring something different that is shaking the world. That said, a great story can be the simplest way to turn around someone’s day and make life just a little bit brighter.

Thank you so much in advance for even taking the time to read this and consider writing for me. Due to the requirement of opting in for treats, know that I am open and grateful for any that you may choose to write.

Below are my desired fandoms/pairings and story ideas, but please don’t feel stifled by the prompts. I’ve also listed my general likes and dislikes at the very bottom if you decide to go a different route.

Daisy Jones and the Six (TV)

Characters: Karen Sirko, Graham Dunne

I was pretty much in love with all of the main characters in Daisy Jones and the Six. The book was amazing and regardless of how you feel about personal choices made in the show, I'm just so happy we got an adaptation. Look at Us Now and The River have become permanent editions to my driving playlist. Two characters which I was ecstatic to see on screen were Karen and Graham. They were impeccably cast and in my mind had some of the best chemistry. Despite knowing how their story ended from the book, there was still a sentimental part of me hoping for some changes in the show.

That being said, what we did get was amazing. Favorite moments were Graham being struck dumb the first time he saw Karen performing on stage, Karen seeing Graham in a new light and not just another dumb boy in the band, and Karen getting fed up with jokes about Graham's love life and just kissing him in front of everyone on the bus. They had a sad ending of course (no spoilers), but I think there is the potential for a reunion.

Story ideas:

Post-show reconciliation, either at a band reunion or at some other professional event.

Karen and Graham actively avoid events together after the band break-up, but a few meddling band members find a way to get them back together again.

Karen struggles after her decision at the end of the show but instead of pulling away and breaking up, they grow closer.

Scene of Karen seeing a new side to Graham and falling in love despite her trying to fight it.

We don't get much backstory with her but learning more about her past and how it influences her relationship with Graham (and how he helps her work through it) would be interesting!

Dark Angel (TV)

Characters: Max Guevara, Logan Cale

Dark Angel was a show I was not fortunate enough to watch live, but I discovered it years after the fact when scrolling through Jessica Alba's IMDb list and pausing on a two-season scifi show. Immediately after reading the description I ordered the season DVDs on Ebay (at the time, the only place you could watch it), and consumed them all in about a week. People say this about a lot of shows, but I really think Dark Angel was ahead of its time. Post-apocalypse, genetic enhancement, and a band of misfits. What more could you ask for?

All of the characters were interesting and I wish we had gotten more seasons to see them grow and to learn more about this intriguing version of Seattle. One of the main draws for the show was also Max and Logan's relationship. They were polar opposites when it came to their background, but at their heart they had a lot of similar passions which I think is what drew them together (outside of their insane good looks of course). I am interested in the little things, like the weekly side quests, as well as relationship development and worldbuilding. Seriously, it all interests me.

Story ideas:

Logan needs Max's help to investigate something and the two go on a mission together.

Max and Logan are at opposite ends with their stances on a story Logan is working on, but find a way to compromise.

I wouldn't mind seeing what a thrown together wedding looked like in post-apocalyptic Seattle. Or really any other type of common activity translated into this world.

Slice of life with mail deliveries, cyber journalism, and genetically-enhanced super soldiers.

The Darkest Minds Series - Alexandra Bracken

Characters: Ruby Daly, Cole Stewart

This series popped back into my mind recently when I was on a trip in West Virginia and saw a sign for Thurmond. Even though this series was fictional, I still got a chill thinking about Thurmond's place in the book as a rehabilitation camp. For such a heavy subject, I think Alexandra Bracken did amazing job of making it palatable for a teen audience. The addition of what was the equivalent to superpowers wasn't overdone and didn't feel inauthentic, rather it genuinely felt like this burden that the characters had to reconcile with and work to see in a new light.

Once again, there was an amazing cast of characters. I'm realizing from this Yuletide Letter that all of my favorites have amazing groups, as I struggled with who to pick on practically all of them. While I'm not mad about Ruby and Liam ending up together and think they made the most sense for the story set up, I am really invested in the idea of Ruby and Cole. From their first interactions we can see them that they just get each other in a way the others don't. They have similar ways of thinking and are also struggling in many of the same ways. They both are selfless and willing to out themselves in harm's way, but also due to the camps and their work with the Children's League, they have a lot of guilt and inner turmoil. They are not good at being objective about themselves, but they always tried to do right by the other. And their interactions just had this spark that made each scene with them just thrilling to read. I really did like Liam as a character so I don't want things to end poorly with him. I'd rather it be minimally addressed and handled in a way where they're not all astranged. Liam doesn't need to be a focus at all, but if Ruby and Cole get together, some acknowledgment of Ruby and Liam no longer being together would be appreciated.

Story ideas:

More scenes like the shower scene where Ruby and Cole slip away while at the Children's League to covertly talk. Tension and banter, of course, with some uncomfortable truths revealed and getting called out.

Ruby is frequently getting hurt, emotionally/mentally, and physically. Mentally after being forced to interrogate. Emotionally with the trauma still from the horrors of Thurmond, what she did to Liam, etc. Physically, she is always throwing herself into harm's way. Hurt and (some) comfort. Also some tough reveltations.

Cole is struggling with accepting his powers and past decisions. Ruby tries to console him by sharing as well but she has become so desensitized that she ends up horrifying Cole instead.

Going on a mission together and they grow closer.

No death at the end of book 3 (preferably in any story).

Gallagher Girls Series - Ally Carter

Characters: Cameron Morgan, Zachary Goode

This series is one of a few childhood favorites that I have reread multiple times. Boarding school + spy = best combination ever created. I think what made the books special is they went beyond just the fluff of teenage angst and some glossed over saving-the-world missions. The relationships were complex, the characters believable, and the enemies were nuanced. I loved unraveling the mystery of each book and also seeing how the main characters handled everything. The humor and comedic timing of Ally Carter's writing just elevated it to an instant favorite for me.

Cameron Morgan could easily have been a Mary Sue character in the books, claiming to be nothing special but simultaneously excellent at everything. In the world of spies, though, the chameleon, under the radar part really fit. And she wasn't perfect at everything she did. She made mistakes, people got hurt, both physically and emotionally. There was growth! Outside of her character individually, I loved her relationship with Zach. He saw past the chameleon, the Gallagher girl act, and really knew her. He saw brought a lot of trauma and baggage to the table to be worked out. There were also all of Cammie's friends, and what a fun and diverse friend group they were. I also can't forget the teachers, especially Joe Solomon and Rachel Morgan. Swoon. Really, there's nothing bad to say about this series.

Story ideas:

Instead of being found at the convent by her mother, Cammie is found by Zach. They don't escape as readily as they do in the book.

Mission together taking place during one of the books or post-series.

While trying to recover her memory with the operatives, they explore Rome and discover more secrets. I also loved Macey and Preston I this series, and how different they seemed initially. Showing interactions between them and Cammie/Zach as contrast would be interesting.

Post-series and they're in a settled/married relationship. PTSD, traumas, past memories come out and they seek counseling together. They learn more than they ever realized about the other's pasts.

Lizzie McGuire (TV)

Characters: Lizzie McGuire, Ethan Craft

My Disney Channel obsession. And call me crazy, but I think Lizzie and Ethan would be such an interesting pairing. As a kid, I definitely rooted for Gordo as the underdog (I rewatched the end of The Lizzie McGuire movie a ridiculous amount of times); however, as adults I feel like Lizzie and Ethan just make more sense. Ethan was someone practically always calm and collected whereas Lizzie was the definition of anxiety and being very in her head (we quite literally had a cartoon manifestation of this). I could see Ethan being a good balance to Lizzie's chaos. On the reverse side, as kids they wouldn't have fit because Ethan just didn't seem to have any deep cares or thoughts where as Lizzie cared deeply about a lot. I think as Ethan matured he found his niche somewhere and really thrived. And that is something Lizzie would find appealing in a partner.

I really want the focus to be on these two characters, but feel free to include others if you'd like. Lizzie and Kate becoming good friends later in life would be a fun twist. Obviously I'm interested in Ethan and Lizzie as a romantic couple, but if you prefer them just as friends, I'll have a prompt below for that as well.

Story ideas:

I'm really interested in post-canon for these two. Them meeting again randomly on the street, at work, or a coffee shop, reconnecting and realizing they have a lot more in common now. Maybe even at a mutual friend's party (Kate's) and being pushed together.

Lizzie struggling in New York City, not unsuccessful but feeling unfulfilled. She runs into Ethan and something lights that spark inside of her again.

Happy with work but stressed out of her mind, Lizzie takes up a creative hobby at the recommendation of her therapist. Gardening, pottery, hiking, etc. Ethan is the instructor and she's drawn to the peace he brings to her life.

Maybe not a main story, but incorporating Lizzie being surprised at how much Ethan has matured and how much more intellectually compatible they are now than in school.

Single mom Lizzie doing it all in the big city and not needing anyone else. Until a few old high school friends pop back into her life. Ethan, the surprisingly handy, intelligent, and good-with-kids guy she has long since ceased crushing on. Kate, the mean girl turned nice girl, settled with a husband and kids of her own, ready to teach Lizzie a thing or two about asking for help.

Things I don’t like:

Non-Con/Rape/BDSM/Sexual Violence/Graphic Sex – I like my characters to be happy and everything within ships to be 100% consensual, no question about it (mentions of non-con if it occurred in canon is fine). I also prefer plot over porn, especially with one-shots.

OT3s – Two people per romantic relationship, please.

Character Bashing - Unless a character is a bad guy in canon, I don’t want to read hundreds of words about how awful they are, especially if they are one of the characters that I requested. Don’t take it out on the characters. If you hate my pairings, just write gen.

Religious Persecution - References to religion or even some internal religious turmoil is fine if it feels organic to the story. Especially due to recent circumstances, though, I would prefer no outright religious hatred.

Things I love:

Hurt/Comfort – There is nothing I love more than one character comforting another. The hurt can be physical, psychological, or both.

Happy Endings – I’m all for the realistic endings… but if they could be plausible AND at least happy-ish, that would be amazing.

Expanded Scenes/Contorting Canon – Feel free to expand scenes and change up the canon to your heart’s content as long as it makes logical sense.

Humor/Banter/Snark – I thrive on this stuff.

Dark to Light - Seeing a character come out of a bad mindset or situation and get better is so satisfying.

Bonding/Building Relationships – Whether it be a friendship or a romantic relationship, I adore reading about two people growing closer together. When characters know each other so well that they can have conversations with just their eyes or anticipate the person’s next move (especially if it’s to the surprise/confusion of everyone around them), my shipper heart is thrilled.

Happy writing and I hope you get the Yuletide gift of your dreams!

- Maddy @mustlovemustypages (on Tumblr, Ao3, and FF.net)

#yuletide letter #yuletide 2023 #lizzie mcguire #daisy jones and the six #the darkest minds #dark angel #gallagher girls

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mustlovemustypages · 2 years

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Yuletide 2022 Letter

Dear potential writer,

I hope this letter finds you well, but if not, then I hope this year’s Yuletide gives you an extra dose of happiness to diffuse these chaotic times. A great story can be the simplest way to turn around someone’s day and make life just a little bit brighter.

Thank you so much in advance for even taking the time to read this and consider writing for me. Due to the new requirement this year of opting in with treats, know that I am open and grateful for any that you may choose to write.

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs:

Characters: Leah Cornick and Bran Cornick

The world Patricia Briggs has created with Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega is ever-growing and continues to astound me with its complexity. It feels so real and has such a lush history that every surprise revelation is both shocking and simultaneously feels very organic to the story. I think the urban fantasy/paranormal aspects are handled very well, especially the werewolf dynamics and rules that Briggs has created.

One of the biggest shocks to me from the Alpha and Omega companion series is how much I’ve come to love Leah. I, like most readers, absolutely hated her when she was introduced in the Mercy Thompson books. But as we’ve come to learn more about her backstory and her relationship with Bran, I have a new level of understanding of why she is the way she is. She is so much stronger and more nuanced than I would have ever believed her capable. And while I still like Bran, he’s also a much more flawed person than I'd originally thought. I realize there are a lot of books in this world, so don’t worry about spoiling anything with your potential story. You can include as much or as little of the newer books as you’d like. I’m also going to keep my prompts relatively simple for this pairing. I only ask that Leah and Bran are not broken up. If you’d like to just write them in an adventure story without any romantic elements, that’s totally fine. I would like them to remain together, though.

Story ideas:

What are the dynamics like between Bran and Leah now that he knows more about her past? How has his understanding of her personality and actions changed with these revelations

For a long time, Bran and Leah were together without really being “together” in the emotional sense. I’d love to see them learning more about each other and falling in love all over again.

Leah is constantly full of surprises. What is something that she does that surprises Bran and/or the pack (preferably for the better), and how do they react?

While some of the more recent books have focused more strongly on Leah and Bran than in the beginning, I’d still not consider them the main characters so we don’t always get to see the full fallout of all their storylines. Taking any of the major plots involving them and giving their perspective or showing what happens later would be wonderful.

Becoming Elizabeth (TV 2022):

Characters: Elizabeth I of England and Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester

There is so much that we don’t know about the inner workings of the Tudors. What we do know, though, is absolutely riveting. Who doesn’t love stories of royalty and betrayals and struggles for power? In a world that was dominated by men, Elizabeth I being a queen in her own right is part of what makes her so fascinating. Her refusal to marry just adds to the intrigue of what was going on in her mind during all of these important historical events that we only get glimpses of in books.

Becoming Elizabeth is the first show I’ve seen that dedicates so much story to the early years before Elizabeth even takes the throne. From feeling estranged from her only remaining family to being emotionally manipulated by a man twice her age, she is portrayed as such a flawed yet sympathetic character. The only ocassions where we see her actually act her age and be herself are when she’s with her friend, Robert Dudley, the only one who was truly on her side. We don’t know exactly what happened between the real life Elizabeth and Robert, but with the fictional show versions I wish circumstances were different and they could have found a way to be together. If you prefer them as just very supportive friends, most of the below prompts should still work, I would just ask little or no focus be placed on Robert's two marriages.

Story ideas:

I'm crushed we won't be getting future seasons to see Elizabeth take the throne. I'd love to see a story exploring the progression through her brother's death and sister's ascension to her finally becoming queen. How does Robert support her during any/all of these moments?

Even though I knew she was going to decline him, I still wanted to reach through the screen and shake some sense into our future queen when she turned down Robert's proposal. We know from history that Queen Elizabeth was plenty successful without a man at her side. But it doesn't make someone weak to want to be loved. What could have happened if the proposal was accepted?

I found the scene in episode 8 where Edward Seymour apologizes to Elizabeth for not stopping his brother's inappropriate actions very refreshing as we so rarely see in historical dramas any acknowledgment that these predatory behaviors are wrong. We even got an indirect acknowledgment from John Dudley when he was reading Kat's account of Elizabeth's treatment. It would be interesting to see how Elizabeth's perspective of Thomas Seymour and what he did shifts over time. We can assume that Robert knows some of what happened, but his realization that he may have gotten some of it wrong, reaction to the truth, and support to Elizabeth's emotional recovery would be a nice addition as well.

Political machinations and all of the scheming are part of what make these dramas so fun to watch! Departing from some of my more serious story ideas, I want to throw in a suggestion of just something bantery and tropey. Fake dating for political gain with ultimately friends to lovers! Throw in humorous exasperation from Edward Seymour and John Dudley who don't know how Elizabeth and Robert are so oblivious.

Fate: The Winx Saga (TV):

Characters: Riven and Musa

Despite this show’s flaws, I became instantly enamored with it. Season 2 was an improvement over season 1 in some ways, and a regression in others. One of the main positives that came out of the second season was more interactions between Musa and Riven. I was sold on them from their single (I think?) scene in the first season, and even though they still didn’t have a lot more screen time together, what they did have was *chef’s kiss*.

These two are so natural together and you can see that they genuinely enjoy being in each other’s presence. In season 1, they gave off more enemies-to-lovers vibes and I expected more of the same this season, which we got with their banter and butting heads over Musa’s specialist training. However, I was shocked by how soft Riven could also be with Musa from their discussion of Musa’s lost powers to the image of Riven carrying her prone form after battle. I’m so hopeful for another installment so we can get more relationship development and more of their insane chemistry!

Story ideas:

Episode 5 was a gift sent straight down from heaven. From Riven's pleased expression when we "saves" Musa from Terra's ministrations, to him trying to figure out what's bothering her when they're fighting, to him sitting down with Musa when she's stuck on the track and having a heart-to-heart... I want more soft Riven protecting Musa from her well-intentioned friends and having the serious conversations that need to be had. Whether it's about her not wanting her powers back in season 2 or her learning to cope with them next seadon (or something else entirely!).

It was no mistake the way the ending scenes of the second season were set up, with each fairy being comforted by a loved one. And of course Musa's comforter was in the form of Riven bring her the magic-supressing bracelets and them practicing together. We see you writers... Training sessions are practically their love language at this point. As they start to recognize their feelings for each other, what sorts of conversations do they have and what issues do they work out in the middle of a session?

I like to imagine Riven being the proud boyfriend when he hears of Musa's fighting skills coming in handy when reacuing Flora, while simultaneously being angry that she didn't have any back-up in a dangerous situation. Except, maybe as Sky has to remind him, Riven isn't Musa's boyfriend and perhaps he needs to stop being scared and avoiding the inevitable. This could even be set past season 2 when the gang getting Bloom back. There are a lot of opportunities for Riven to be the doting and overprotective not-quite-a-boyfriend.

Any type of enemies-to-lovers story you want to write would be welcome. There is so much potential here for some wonderfully angst-filled scenes! It could be reluctant allies as they work toward a common cause, fake dating to get information on someone, their friends trying to pair them up despite their protests, etc.

The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power (TV 2022):

Characters: Elrond Peredhel and Durin IV

To get this out of the way first, no, the first season was not perfect, nor was it even "good" at some points. There were many missteps with pacing and characterization. Still, I found myself sitting down each week to watch the newest episode, and I did become increasingly invested in the characters. In particular, I loved when the episodes focused on the dwarves. Durin was an immediate favorite of mine as I found him to have one of the most compelling storylines.

One thing I did appreciate with the direction the show took was the focus placed on Durin and Elrond's friendship. The actors were absolutely convincing in their portrayls of best friends that had been apart for years and were seeing each other again with a lot of history behind them. They were simultaneously heartwearming and hilarious together. Almost all of my laughs and cries were during their scenes, and each week my main wish was just to see more of their interactions and to hope they didn't become estranged. Durin and Elrond have so much going against them, but I think their bond of friendship is strong enough to prevail. I personally only see Durin and Elrond as friends so would prefer nothing overtly romantic between them. If you want to include a romance, I like all of the canon relationships (both within the show and in general Tolkien lore). I just ask that the main focus is on Durin and Elrond's friendship.

Story ideas:

All the backstory! How did their first meeting really go? It seems that Elrond was actually the one to save Durin, but the tale of the trolls sounds like a wild and hilarious time.

Durin was a better friend than I with how quickly he forgave Elrond for missing his wedding and the births of his children. I would have required a lot more groveling. Show me a Durin that is a little slower to forgive and makes Elrond do some crazy things to earn that forgiveness. Or if you want to go really off path here, change up history and have Elrond and Durin reconnect much sooner than two decades (late to the wedding perhaps?).

I truly have no predictions of how closely the show is going to follow canon given the contents of season 1. That being said, I think it would be interesting to see Durin's reaction to the rings being created, his conversations with Elrond about the rings (and perhaps Sauron), or just in general a scene(s) of Durin and Elrond conversing about the events that just took place. If you are familiar with the Tolkien canon and where the story may go, feel free to include pieces as you see fit without fear of spoiling.

All the times Durin and Elrond have supported each other over the years and have been more like brothers than just friends. Could be funny, serious, or both!

Things I don’t like:

OT3s – Two people per romantic relationship, please. Any more than that makes me uncomfortable.

Things I love:

Hurt/Comfort – There is nothing I love more than one character comforting another. The hurt can be physical, psychological, or both.

Happy Endings – I’m all for the realistic endings… but if they could be plausible AND at least happy-ish, that would be amazing.

Expanded Scenes/Contorting Canon – Feel free to expand scenes and change up the canon to your heart’s content as long as it makes logical sense.

Humor/Banter/Snark – I thrive on this stuff.

Dark to Light - Seeing a character come out of a bad mindset or situation and get better is so satisfying.

Happy writing and I hope you get the Yuletide gift of your dreams!

- Maddy @mustlovemustypages (on Tumblr, Ao3, and FF.net)

#yuletide 2022 #yuletide letter #yuletide #lord of the rings #rings of power #durin iv #elrond #fate the winx saga #fate rivusa #becoming elizabeth #elizabeth i #alpha and omega #mercy thompson #bran cornick #robert dudley #winx riven #winx musa

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mustlovemustypages · 3 years

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Let's talk about Shang-Chi and His Reversible Jacket

Spoilers for Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings are below the line.

In Vanity Fair's YouTube video "Notes on a Scene", Director Destin Daniel Cretton gave his breakdown of the now-iconic Bus Fight Scene in the movie. Destin gave his thoughts and revealed the processes of how they shot this absolutely insane fight scene. (And in my opinion, the best fight scene in all of the MCU.)

At the 4:20 mark, Destin explained the scene where Shaun used his jacket to fight off the goons, giving homage to Jackie Chan's fighting style. Destin was particularly emphasizing that Shaun's gray/red jacket was actually reversible.

Shown here as Destin pauses the moment where Shaun's jacket turned inside out, showing its Mustard Yellow and Blue inner lining. Destin then marks the jacket as "reversible".

After that fight scene and throughout the movie, Shang-Chi started wearing the jacket in its reverse side.

Why would Destin point this out in this breakdown video? In truth, I think not everyone, if no one, who watched the movie could have noticed that the jacket had that feature. Destin and the costume department might have made that conscious choice for a reason.

The reversible jacket is a subtle representation of Shang-Chi's double life and his character development.

The Gray/Red side represented Shaun's identity, the side that he wanted everyone to see. The mild-mannered, sweet, and carefree Chinese Immigrant who had no real direction in life besides parking cars for a living and hanging out with his best friend since high school (with an equally aimless life), Katy Chen. This was the identity he lived and wore for ten years.

However, he has another identity as Shang-Chi; represented by the Yellow/Blue side of his jacket. The Master of Kung Fu, a trained assassin at the tender age of 14, and would-be heir to his father's Ten Rings (both the magical artifacts and the organization). But this identity wasn't what he wanted to be so he ran away and kept this identity hidden.

Eventually, his past came back to hunt and haunt him.

When the bus fight scene happened, after the goon forcefully pushed Katy, Shang-Chi's other side came out in retaliation and all hell broke loose. While he was fending off the bad guys, we are given a peek of the reverse side of his jacket as Shaun used it as a defensive.

Notice how he shrugged his jacket after the first act of the fight?

It's like he's saying, "Okay, this fight is over. I'm going back to being Shaun now."

However, this revelation would not escape Katy, who is by now contemplating if her relationship with this dude she considers her best friend was potentially a lie.

"Holy shit! Who are you?"

Shaun's face fell a bit, realizing that their ten years of friendship could suddenly go down the drain.

And of course, in true MCU fashion, Razor Fist had to show up to make things more difficult for Shaun to handle. Thankfully, Katy was there to help him out as they instinctively work together as a team.

After the bus fight scene, Shaun hurries back to his garage apartment to pack up and fly off to Macau to warn his sister. Katy followed him, she wasn't letting go of what she just saw her "best friend" did.

"I've been by your side for half your life. I know you don't want to talk about your life, and I don't want to push. BUT A GUY WITH A FREAKING MACHETE FOR AN ARM JUST CHOPPED OUR BUS IN HALF, SHAUN! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?"

Shaun was hesitant at first to let Katy know what was going on, he might have been afraid that Katy would reject him if she knew who he really was. But to his surprise, Katy insisted on going with him to Macau so he could explain everything on the plane.

After revealing everything to Katy about who he was and his past on the plane (Well almost everything. He lied about not pushing through in killing his mother's murderer), Katy still accepted him and stayed by his side through the adventure.

Now he has the assurance that his best friend accepts him, he started wearing his jacket on its reverse side, showing the yellow/blue inlay. It could mean he somehow also had accepted his secret identity, and it was time for him to show the world who he really was.

However, this is Shang-Chi's hero's journey of rediscovery. He was still unclear of his true self. His auntie Nan in Ta Lo helped him realize that he was a product of all who came before him, the legacy of his family.

"You are your mother. And whether you like it or not, you are also your father.”

"Your mother knew who she was. Do you?

This made Shang-Chi realize that he hadn't accepted every aspect of who he was, especially the aspect that he had killed someone at a very young age. The very reason why he ran away and hid in America to live another life as Shaun.

During Shang-Chi and Katy's conversation besides the lake, he confessed that he did push through in killing his mother's murderer. Which made him realize what Wenwu trained him to become, a killer. Because of this, Shang-Chi was resolved to finally become what his father made him to be. In order to stop his father from opening the gate, Shang-Chi has to kill Wenwu.

But Shang-Chi didn't go through in killing Wenwu, instead, he showed love and compassion for his father. With this act, Wenwu gave his life for his son and gave the Ten Rings to Shang-Chi, which he used to defeat the Dweller-In-Darkness.

When Shang-Chi and Katy returned to San Fransisco, he was wearing a new jacket. A reflection of who he has become, a product of both the good and the bad, working together within him to become the worthy wielder of the Ten Rings.

Shang-Chi's character arc was metaphorically shown by a simple reversible jacket.

If this is what Destin was trying to convey, that's a really cool touch that I didn't realize while watching the movie.

Or I'm just looking at this too much and Shaun just hadn't had enough money to buy another jacket so he went for a reversible one, so . . . . (surge)

Anyway, it's fun to speculate. Thanks to Director Destin for pointing this out.

(Note: Sorry if my grammar is a bit wanky. English isn't really my first language. I keep adding some thoughts here as I go. But the premise of this meta-analysis is the same.)

#Shang chi and the legend of the ten rings #shang chi

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mustlovemustypages · 3 years

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shang-chi: who thinks i can fit 15 marshmallows in my mouth?

xialing: you're a hazard to society

katy: and a coward. DO TWENTY

#shang chi and the legend of the ten rings #shang chi #katy chen #xu xialing

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mustlovemustypages · 3 years

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#shang chi and the legend of the ten rings #shang chi #katy chen #shaun x katy

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mustlovemustypages · 3 years

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shang-chi to katy on the plane: yeah and after she died, he trained me for YEARS and it was so brutal that I learned to ignore and take on a shit ton of pain, and then he sent me on a hit at just 14 so I ran away and changed my name to Shawn and—

the other passengers:

#shang chi and the legend of the ten rings #shang chi #katy chen #haha #humor

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mustlovemustypages · 3 years

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Yuletide 2021 Letter

Dear potential writer,

I hope this letter finds you well, but if not, then I hope this year's Yuletide gives you an extra dose of happiness to diffuse these chaotic times. A great story can be the simplest way to turn around someone's day and make life just a little bit brighter.

Thank you so much in advance for even taking the time to read this and considering writing for me.

Below are my desired fandoms/pairings and story ideas, but please don't feel stifled by the prompts. I’ve also listed my general likes and dislikes at the very bottom if you decide to go a different route.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021):

Characters: Shaun (Xu Shang-Chi) and Katy Chen (Chen Ruiwen)

I truly think this is one of the best Marvel movies to have come out in several years. There was a wonderful blend of lore, action, and humor. The characters were all so interesting and complex. In particular, I loved the characters of Shaun and Katy. Both were living ordinary and underwhelming lives, but for very different reasons. Shaun was trying to escape a dangerous and brutal childhood while Katy couldn't find her calling and was afraid of failure. By the end of the movie, both had conquered some of their obstacles and were no longer hiding but really living to their full potential.

While their individual journeys were compelling, their journey together was even more so. They had a hilarious dynamic as friends that was played up so well by the actors. They were supportive but also weren't afraid to call the other out. Also, I'll admit that in some of the end scenes, especially when Katy puts her head on Shaun's shoulder and then the whole dinner scene in San Francisco, I felt some potential couple vibes. I'm completely fine if you keep this pairing as friends but am also 100% on board for a romantic relationship.

Story ideas:

Katy's reactions as she found out more about Shaun's true identity and past dealings were hysterical. It would be neat to read some expanded scenes from her perspective (example: bus fight, fight club, meeting his sister/father, etc.) or even in some imagined "missing scenes."

I am always down for outsiders' POV of relationships. Getting the perspectives of several or even just one character on Shaun/Katy would be great.

While there were definitely some freakout moments during the movie where the characters reacted rationally to some pretty crazy things, all in all, they remained fairly calm. I'd love to see either one or both of the characters break down under the weight of all the pressure and see how they help each other come out of that. This could be during canon or even post-canon.

That ending leaves room for so many things to happen. Any type of post-canon story is welcome exploring the aftermath of the movie, what they do next, and/or even what a simple slice-of-life day looks like for them. Really, I'm interested in almost anything as long as they're doing it together!

The Queen's Gambit (TV):

Characters: Beth Harmon and Benny Watts

This miniseries is a lesson in character exploration done right. There were dark moments as we explored grief, depression, and addiction. I liked that the showrunners didn't shy away from these very real topics but also knew how to balance them out with lighter moments and not dwell too long in the dark. Beth Harmon was such a fully-fleshed-out character and was both flawed but immensely likable. I wanted her to succeed so much, especially seeing all that she'd gone through.

The connections she made along the way were some of my favorite parts. In the most unexpected of places, she made these ever-lasting friendships that forever impacted the trajectory of her life. That scene toward the end where it showed all of her friends supporting her actually made me choke up. Of course one of the best of these friendships/relationships was with Benny Watts. Neither was perfect and yet they also worked so well together. They had similar ambitions and truly seemed to get each other. I understand why they broke up, but their sort-of reconciliation phone call at the end has me hopeful that they would have found a way to make it work offscreen. I'm really open to reading anything about the two of them, as long as it has a happy or hopeful ending.

Story ideas:

While I loved that at the end of the day it was Beth alone that won her last match, it would have been interesting to see how things would have gone differently if Benny had gone to Moscow with her.

In my head, Beth and Benny got back together after their phone call in Moscow. However you imagine this happening, I want to read it.

If you like all the tropes as I do, I'm up for an AU with these characters - soulmates, roommates, regency, sci-fi, etc. As long as the chess plot point is still there, write them into whatever universe you want.

I mentioned loving all of the different relationships she formed throughout the series. It would be interesting to see how Benny would interact with some of her friends like Mr. Shaibel or Jolene (just as examples).

Fate: The Winx Saga (TV):

Characters: Riven and Musa

This show was better than it had any right to be. I know it has its detractors but as a whole, I found it very enjoyable despite its flaws. It had a dark academia feel without getting too dark. It also was pretty short with its episode count and I need to know more about some of these characters and this world they live in.

Is it possible to ship two characters who only interact on screen (I think) once? Well, it has to be because I full-heartedly ship Riven and Musa. Their one scene together sold me. As with all of these fandoms, if you only want to write them as friends, that's fine. I just think they would have the best chemistry and such an interesting dynamic with their different personalities and roles at the school.

Story ideas:

It seems like one of the main reasons that Musa likes Sam is because things are quiet when she's near him. I don't necessarily think that's the only reason why she's with him, but I also think it could result in her staying with him longer than she should because of how he mutes everyone else's thoughts around her. Please no outright Sam bashing, but I'd like to see how Musa tries to manage the side effects of her powers without Sam and how Riven may play a part in that.

Out of all the fairies, I think Musa is the one I'd most like to see training with the specialists. Maybe it's because her powers are vastly underutilized (in my opinion), but I think she could have a lot to offer. She would have to convince Silva and Farah during canon (or someone else post-canon if you'd prefer) to join those practices. Seeing her train with Riven and become partners would be wonderful, especially having them go through missions or practice scenarios with the Burned Ones together.

Riven makes a lot of mistakes during the first season and will have to do a lot to earn back the trust of his friends and instructors. I'd like to see how this could play out and how Musa may help him see his potential for redemption.

Free Guy (2021):

Characters: Millie Rusk and Walter "Keys" McKeys

Video game movies are so much fun to watch and Free Guy was no exception. The back-and-forth from the real world to Free City was well done, allowing characters in both settings to have their own storylines and become people we were rooting for. While Guy was my favorite character because he was so endearingly kind-hearted and pure, it was Millie and Keys that I was most invested in. From their first scene together showing their interview for the game they created, Life Itself, I wanted to know more about their backstory.

It's not something I think much about when playing games, but the creators put in so much time and effort that they can't help but put some of themselves into the games as well. This can be reflected in different ways, but I loved that Keys basically put himself into what ended up being used for Guy's character, and that's why Millie fell so hard for him. I loved seeing her realize that it was Keys and not Guy that she cared for. It was also very satisfying to see Millie and Keys working together on games again along with Mouser after having to overcome so many difficulties with their work being stolen.

Story ideas:

While I love the movie's ending, I would still love to read more about Millie realizing that Keys has feelings for her. What happens after they cross the street?!

Millie and Keys obviously have a long history together, which we only get to hear about briefly in the movie. It would be neat to see how they first met, what they were like working together on Life Itself, what happened when they sold the game, interactions through the years, and then when they came back together again to save the Guy/the game. Essentially, give me some scenes throughout their history together and how their relationship ebbs and flows.

Post-canon, what are Millie and Keys up to? What new projects are they working on (maybe with Mouser) and what new challenges do they face?

It's hard to believe that someone as self-centered as Antwan gave up so easily. I would love to read an alternative take of the server room scene with both Millie and Keys there. Or even something set after the movie where we find out Antwan lied and then Millie, Keys, and Mouser have to work to get their rights back (through espionage, courtrooms, etc.).

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs:

Characters: Leah Cornick and Bran Cornick

One of the biggest shocks to me from the Alpha and Omega companion series is how much I've come to love Leah. I, like most readers, absolutely hated her when she was introduced in the Mercy Thompson books. But as we've come to learn more about her backstory and her relationship with Bran, I have a new level of understanding of why she is the way she is. She is so much stronger and more nuanced than I would have ever believed her capable. And while I still like Bran, he's also a much more flawed person than I originally thought. I realize there are a lot of books in this world, so don't worry about spoiling anything with your potential story. You can include as much or as little of the newer books as you'd like. I'm also going to keep my prompts relatively simple for this pairing. I only ask that Leah and Bran are not broken up. If you'd like to just write them in an adventure story without any romantic elements, that's totally fine. I would like them to remain together, though.

Story ideas:

What are the dynamics like between Bran and Leah now that he knows more about her past? How has his understanding of her personality and actions changed with these revelations?

For a long time, Bran and Leah were together without really being "together" in the emotional sense. I'd love to see them learning more about each other and falling in love all over again.

Leah is constantly full of surprises. What is something that she does that surprises Bran and/or the pack (preferably for the better), and how do they react?

While some of the more recent books have focused more strongly on Leah and Bran than in the beginning, I'd still not consider them the main characters so we don't always get to see the full fallout of all their storylines. Taking any of the major plots involving them and giving their perspective or showing what happens later would be wonderful.

Things I don’t like:

OT3s – Two people per romantic relationship, please. Any more than that makes me uncomfortable.

Things I love:

Hurt/Comfort – There is nothing I love more than one character comforting another. The hurt can be physical, psychological, or both.

Happy Endings – I’m all for the realistic endings… but if they could be plausible AND at least happy-ish, that would be amazing.

Expanded Scenes/Contorting Canon – Feel free to expand scenes and change up the canon to your heart’s content as long as it makes logical sense.

Humor/Banter/Snark – I thrive on this stuff.

Dark to Light – Seeing a character come out of a bad mindset or situation and get better is so satisfying.

Happy writing and I hope you get the Yuletide gift of your dreams!

- Maddy @mustlovemustypages (on Tumblr, Ao3, and FF.net)

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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Yuletide 2020 Letter

Dear potential writer,

I truly hope all is well with you and yours. No matter what state you find yourself in, my wish is that Yuletide boosts your spirits and gives you the extra jolt we all could use to usher in the new year.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and thank you in advance if you decide to write anything for me!

Below are my desired fandoms and pairings along with story ideas that I would love to see written. Please don’t feel stifled by my prompts; I’ve also listed my general likes and dislikes at the very bottom of this letter if you decide to go a different route.

Little Women (2019):

Characters: Amy March and Theodore “Laurie” Laurence”

The main reason I adore this adaptation is because it made me see why Amy and Laurie ended up together. They had very similar worldviews and fit so well what the other needed. Both deserved to be with someone that valued them for who they are. With Laurie, Amy was not just financially secure but with someone who encouraged her to express herself creatively, politically, or however she chose. With Amy, while she grounded Laurie in reality and challenged him to be the best version of himself, he didn't have to fundamentally change to make her happy.

Story ideas:

These quotes really show how Amy's perspective on life was different than her sister's: "You are your family's hope." (Aunt March) "I’ve always known I would marry rich." (Amy March) That's a lot of pressure on someone so young. We heard some of Laurie's thoughts, mostly that he didn't think Amy should feel ashamed for wanting that. How would some of that pressure continue even after she got married, and what would Laurie say to make her realize they were in life together as a team and she didn’t have to suffer the weight of the world alone?

The conversation between Amy and Laurie in the painting studio showed just how level-headed and intelligent she was. Laurie, while not wholly agreeing, was respectful and didn't discount her thoughts. It would be interesting to see the impact on their story if Vaughn hadn't arrived, and this had played out more. Would the proposal have happened earlier and/or how would later scenes be altered as a result of further conversation?

What did the other characters think of Amy and Laurie's relationship, and how did it change after seeing them interact more as a couple? It would be interesting to read about Meg, Marmee, John, or some of the other characters realizing they were genuinely a good match for each other.

Post-canon, I'd love to get a glimpse of what kinds of conversations they had. Did Amy encourage Laurie to pursue a career and find what he was passionate about (music perhaps as Laurie mentioned writing an opera)? And similarly, did Laurie encourage Amy to pursue her art? Did they continue to have in-depth conversations about societal pressures and expectations of gender in certain economic classes?

Tenet:

Characters: The Protagonist, Kat, and Neil

Tenet is the first movie I've seen in theaters since Star Wars IX. There have been some mixed reviews, but my love for Christopher Nolan sci-fi films combined with the experience of stepping foot in a theater again made it a wonderful experience for me. Sure, the plot could be confusing at times, but it was fun trying to fit certain puzzle pieces together and oh so thrilling when things just clicked into place in the most satisfying ways.

I adored the dynamic between Neil and the Protagonist. The easy friendship, the banter, the suits... everything. I also loved the relationship between the Protagonist and Kat. It started off as each using the other but transformed into one of genuine care on both sides. Ever the romantic, I definitely saw something more than just friendship between the two and was slightly disappointed the movie didn't explore that aspect more.

For pairings, I’m interested in friendships between all of the characters. I’d be interested in seeing a romantic relationship between Kat and the Protagonist if you’re up for that, but not between Neil and Kat, nor Neil and the Protagonist. If you really want to give a romantic partner to Neil, I'd be fine with Laura (or an original female character if she’s not the focus of the story), but please, no slash. While I’d be ecstatic to see all three characters together, if you can only find a way to fit in two, that’s wonderful as well!

Story ideas:

Even though Andrei Sator is gone, there are still other players in the game, some like Priya, who want to eliminate Kat or even abduct her with the delusional idea she can continue her husband's work. The Protagonist (and Neil, if you so choose) ensures no harm comes to her, and he realizes that keeping her at a distance may not have been the best idea.

I personally don't buy into the fan theory that Neil is Kat's son Max; however, I do find the idea intriguing and would be up for reading about how that worked. The Protagonist breaks his rule and sees Kat, helping to raise her son Max/Neil and eventually teaching him about inversion.

The Protagonist doesn't have to wait quite as long as he'd thought to see Neil again. It can be the Neil who had already met him and knows about Tenet or the Neil who knows nothing about inversion.

What conversations did Neil and Kat have while the Protagonist was asleep after almost freezing to death? Maybe Neil explained the finer workings of Tenet and inversion more in-depth. Perhaps they discussed the Protagonist.

Clueless:

Characters: Cher Horowitz and Josh Lucas

This movie set the bar high for teen romantic comedies. How can anyone ever beat 90s Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd? Plus, the relationship between their two characters is fantastic. Josh and Cher just bring out the best in each other. Cher shows Josh that he doesn't need to be so serious all of the time and that people are more than their outer appearances. Josh makes Cher want to be a better person, and he believes that she's not just a pretty face. Their banter and playful moments always make me smile.

Story ideas:

Knowing Josh and Cher end up together, this brings a heightened awareness to rewatches. They have so many casual touches and exchanged glances (when did Paul Rudd's eyes get so blue?) that it's hard to miss their natural chemistry. It may take quite some time for Cher's dad to notice anything has changed because they don't act all that different from before. Is there something that makes him finally take notice? How does he react?

Sort of related to the last prompt, there's a moment where Josh decides to go to the dance to keep an eye on Cher and Christian, and you can tell by Mel Horowitz’s smirk he realizes Josh has a crush on Cher. Does he do anything to push it along or play matchmaker just like his daughter?

I've always been curious about whether or not Josh believes Cher's story about being assaulted in the car by Elton and then held at gunpoint. We skip over Josh pulling up to the phone booth and go straight to Cher already being in the car. How did Josh react when she reiterated the story, and does he instantly believe her, or does it take some convincing? I'd like to see if he comforts her and if they both go together to tell Cher's dad what happened.

Cher is obviously very intelligent socially, if not always so much academically. When it comes time to apply for college, what does she major in? And how is Josh a positive influence in Cher's life, encouraging her to be ambitious and not letting negative comments from guidance counselors or teachers dissuade her?

Things I don’t like:

Alternate Universes – For the specific fandoms that I picked, I really like the universes as they are. I’m definitely okay with deviations from canon, but please don’t make Little Women into a supernatural werewolf story or have Tenet take place in a mundane coffee shop setting. (I don’t mind Soulmate AUs or something similar because those can be incorporated into canon with little change to worldbuilding).

OT3s – Two people per romantic relationship, please. Any more than that makes me uncomfortable.

Things I love:

Hurt/Comfort – There is nothing I love more than one character comforting another. The hurt can be physical, psychological, or both.

Happy Endings – I’m all for the realistic endings… but if they could be plausible AND at least happy-ish, that would be amazing.

Expanded Scenes/Contorting Canon – Feel free to expand scenes and change up the canon to your heart’s content as long as it makes logical sense.

Humor/Banter/Snark – I thrive on this stuff.

Dark to Light – Seeing a character come out of a bad mindset or situation and get better is so satisfying.

Happy writing and I hope you get the Yuletide gift of your dreams!

- Maddy @mustlovemustypages (on Tumblr, Ao3, and FF.net)

#little women #little women 2019 #amy x laurie #theodore laurence #laurie #amy march #tenet #the protagonist #neil #kat #clueless #josh x cher #cher horowitz #josh lucas #yuletide 2020 #yuletide letter #yuletide

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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Yaaasss

Insp. by Pete Wentz after he called The Last of the Real Ones a reylo anthem on Twitter ✨

#reylo #star wars #ben solo #rey #kylo ren

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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I think about this at least twice a day

#i wasn't but i sure am now #star wars #kylo ren #ben solo #gif rec #han solo

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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Source

Video of Tama

Follow Ultrafacts for more facts

#cats

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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And, as a woman, there’s no way for me to make my own money. Not enough to earn a living or to support my family, and if I had my own money—which I don’t—that money would belong to my husband the moment we got married. And if we had children, they would be his not mine, they would be his property so don’t sit there and tell me that marriage isn’t an economic proposition because it is. It may not be for you but it most certainly is for me.

— LITTLE WOMEN (2019) dir. Greta Gerwig

#little women #can't wait

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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Was somebody here or were you talking to the cows again? — That was Lex Luthor from another Earth.

#smallville #arrowverse #tom welling #lois x clark #i dont even watch arrowverse much anymore but i may have to just for these two precious people

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mustlovemustypages · 4 years

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The Mandalorian x God of War (aka Dad of Boy)

#star wars #the mandalorian #baby yoda #this is great #pic rec #pic

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mustlovemustypages · 5 years

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Yuletide 2019 Letter

Dear potential writer,

I’m so incredibly excited that it’s Yuletide season again and I hope you are as well. Thank you for reading my letter and also thank you in advance for anything you decide to write for me!

Peanuts:

Characters: Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt

This is my most unusual request, so I figured it best to put it out there first. I grew up both reading the Peanuts comics and watching the various Charlie Brown movies/television specials, so this is fueled by pure nostalgia upon seeing the nomination in the tag set.

Even as a kid before knowing what shipping was, I wanted desperately to see Charlie Brown and Lucy get together. Their back-and-forth banter with Lucy’s sharp remarks and Charlie Brown’s wry sense of humor is perfection. I don’t often request things too far from canon, but I would love to see a story with them as adults and how even though they didn't see eye-to-eye as children, over the years they have become just what the other needs.

Story ideas:

It's their high school class reunion, and it's been years since the Peanuts gang have all been in one place. Charlie Brown and Lucy are either already together, surprising the other characters by how well they get along and know each other, or everyone at the reunion sees how perfect they would be together except for them.

Lucy becomes a psychiatrist (although she charges way more than 5 cents for advice now) and Charlie Brown a child social worker. They run into each other by coincidence while they're both dealing with difficult cases and help each other cope.

Charlie Brown has recently broken up with the Little Redhead Girl and Lucy with Schroeder right before the holidays. Both disillusioned, they run into each other in the big city and decide that what they need is a road trip back home. Amazing banter ensues.

Similar to the last prompt, both Charlie Brown and Lucy have recently broken up with their respective partners. Not wanting to go back home for the holidays single, they decide to give the ridiculous, we'll-never-fall-for-each-other fake relationship thing a go.

The Boys (TV 2019):

Characters: Starlight|Annie January and Hughie Campbell

Just when I thought nothing new could be brought to the superhero genre, Amazon comes out with this smashing success. It reminds me of X-Men in a way due to the social commentary made by several of the plotlines. I especially appreciate how the show comments on celebrity status and social media.

Aside from that, far and away one of the best things about the show is the relationship between Annie and Hughie. Even in the midst of so much corruption, these two characters somehow remain so earnest and pure. The fact that they formed a connection on that bench before even knowing the other's name speaks volumes about their respective characters and chemistry.

Story ideas:

Despite being integral to the plot, it was crushing to see the moment Annie realized Hughie had been using her to enact revenge. Canon divergence where Hughie tells her the truth almost right from the get-go and Annie immediately is onboard to help would be really fun to read!

Another fun twist would be if Butcher approached Annie instead of Hughie for help, and she agreed to act as a double agent. The scene at the bench still goes down as does the one where Hughie realizes Annie is Starlight (although he's a real photographer). Perhaps Annie sneaks off to do some double agenting and Hughie follows. Annie almost gets caught and pretends to be dating Hughie as a cover.

After the explosive conversation with her mother and finding out she wasn't born with her powers like she thought, Annie tracks down Hughie to rant.

Season 2 can't come soon enough. I would be interested in speculation of what could happen next as long as it includes Hughie/Annie!

Impulse (TV 2018):

Characters: Henrietta “Henry” Coles, Lucas Boone, Jenna Hope, Townes Linderman

This show became a surprise favorite of mine in 2018, mostly because it’s on YouTube Red and I haven’t given most of their original shows much thought. Also because it tackles rape and recovery in such a raw and interesting way, especially in the context of a sci-fi show.

I just need more Henry Coles. If you want to do a romantic relationship, I’d prefer seeing something explored with Lucas Boone or her canon love interest Josh (who was only in 2 episodes but really seemed to “get” Henry). Otherwise, gen stories between Henry and any/all of the tag set characters would be great. Season 2 is just now coming out as I write this, so feel free to ignore or include it as desired. I tried to keep the prompts general enough that they can apply to either season.

Story Ideas:

Henry will never be fully “recovered” in the sense that one can never truly recover from rape. It will always have an impact on her life. The other characters get that and try to help her in any way they can.

While Lucas is aware of what his brother did to Henry, he has no idea of the real impact. I’d love a story where he learns more about her seizures and the way her anxiety/fears manifest themselves as teleportation.

Hurt/comfort in all forms because Henry has been hurt enough for a lifetime, but she could do with a whole lot more comfort. Either within the confines of season 1 or imagined opportunities for comfort in season 2.

We get the story from mostly Henry’s perspective, but I’m sure a lot is going on in the minds of Lucas, Jenna, Townes, and Anna as the events of season 1 play out.

The Folk of the Air

Characters: Cardan Greenbriar and Jude Duarte

Holly Black is an evil genius and I bow down to her greatness. Starting off the first book in this series, I never would have imagined that by the end I’d be rooting for Jude and Cardan to be together, but here we are.

They are the ultimate enemies-to-lovers and I can’t wait to see what happens to them in the third book coming in November.

Story ideas:

Maybe I'm unrealistically optimistic, but despite Jude’s betrayal at the end of the first book and Cardan's at the end of the second, I think these two can work it out. Perhaps Jude helps Cardan cope with the stresses of being king and he is able to move past what she did. Or maybe they each realize how impossible their respective situations were and come to accept the questionable decisions the other made.

Madoc is a horrible father. Jude basically knows this from the beginning. Still, she was genuinely upset in discovering what he had done. I’d love to see her finally release all of that pent up anger - either her using Cardan as a sounding board for her rants or even having her completely breakdown under all of the stress and him comforting her.

We get the perspective of Jude throughout the entire book, but I would really enjoy seeing some of the scenes from Cardan’s point of view as his feelings for Jude change.

There is no way that Jude’s sister, Vivienne, wouldn’t be alarmed when finding out that Jude and Cardan kissed. Jude having to explain her changed feelings for Cardan and Vivienne, realizing that Jude is in love would be hilarious and heartwarming.

With the third book coming out soon, feel free to either include or not include elements from it. As long as there is Jude/Cardan, I will be happy.

Nancy Drew (TV 2019):

Characters: Nancy Drew and Ned "Nick" Nickerson

Only one episode in and I was impressed by this show. Up until now, I hadn't seen or read an iteration of Nancy Drew that I didn't enjoy, but I'll admit I was scared as sometimes the CW makes questionable choices with their adaptations. They have done a fantastic job with casting, though, and updating things just enough for the modern era without taking away the charm of the original.

When it boils down to it, Nancy Drew appeals to me because she is unabashedly herself, not ever pretending to be something that she's not to get others to like her. And although it's just getting started, so far the interactions she has with Nick and her father, Carson, are my favorite.

Nancy is a guest on a true-crime podcast featuring amateur detectives. Nick tags along and watches from outside the recording studio in amusement, or perhaps the hosts bring up Nick's criminal past on-air and Nancy gets defensive.

Maybe Nick and Nancy start a true-crime podcast of their own and it's an unexpected hit.

Carson Drew is not 100% onboard with Nancy and Nick's not-so-secret relationship. When Nancy suddenly stops shutting down Carson's attempts to connect with her and Carson finds out it was due to Nick's influence, he changes his tune about his daughter's boyfriend.

The gang goes to an escape room for fun. Nick is amused by how seriously Nancy takes it.

We haven't gotten very far into the season yet, but any speculation fics about where the mystery goes would be interesting as well!

Out-of-left field request: If you're not a fan of Nancy/Nick in the new show, I'd be open to a story where the Hardy Boys arrive in River Heights (I'm not so secretly hoping the CW makes this a TV show if Nancy Drew succeeds). Although I love Nick and Nancy together, I have always loved Nancy/Frank stories as well.

Things I don't like:

Alternate Universes – For the specific fandoms that I picked, I really like the universes as they are. I’m definitely okay with deviations from canon, but please don’t make Peanuts into a supernatural werewolf story or have the fantasy/sci-fi canons take place in a mundane coffee shop setting. (I don’t mind Soulmate AUs or something similar because those can be incorporated into canon with little change to worldbuilding).

OT3s – Two people per romantic relationship, please. Any more than that makes me uncomfortable.

Things I love:

Hurt/Comfort – There is nothing I love more than one character comforting another. The hurt can be physical, psychological, or both.

Happy Endings – I’m all for the realistic endings… but if they could be plausible AND happy-ish, that would be amazing.

Expanded Scenes/Contorting Canon – Feel free to expand scenes and change up the canon to your heart’s content as long as it makes logical sense.

Humor/Banter/Snark – I thrive on this stuff.

Dark to Light – Seeing a character come out of a bad mindset or situation and get better is so satisfying.

Thanks again and happy writing!

- Maddy @mustlovemustypages (on Tumblr, Ao3, and FF.net)

#yuletide 2019 #the cruel prince #nancy drew #the boys #charlie brown #impulse #yuletide

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