Dickinson

(Emily/Sue)

One of my favorite watches of the past year. I am in love with the style of this show: the approachable modern feel of the characters and the straight up anachronisms, coupled with the lushness of the setting and the poetry. And that soundtrack? Hilarious and amazing.

And then there's Emily and Sue, the beating heart of the production and the thing that made it something more than an experiment in format. I love the ways that they understand each other, the obvious gravitational pull of the relationship even as they both struggle to be true to themselves. I want to believe that the fictional versions of these two women could and should make this relationship work.

Fanart

Words are so much a part of this relationship, and I would love to see them incorporated into your art! Whether it's a sea of surging phrases around the characters, your own interpretation of one of Emily's puzzle-like letters, or a visual rendering of a poem, a current song you find fitting, or even a specific emotion, I'm here for it.

Fanfiction

As mentioned above, I love the letters between these two and would relish any kind of epistolary fiction. If that's not your style, then sketching a moment when Emily and Sue found comfort nested together would also be lovely. This could be romantic, a mental exercise, or the kind of highjinx we saw in Volcanoes (by which I mean the girls exploring everything and anything they shouldn't, but if you want to write me crossdressing then yes please that too.)

I will be frank, though, and say that I'm not really interested in a story that's more focused on the external relationships in their lives (death a la Wiz Khalifa maybe excepted.)

As with art style, narrative tone is a difficult thing and I don't want to hem you in too much. But if you have any ideas about how to nod to the show's unique brand of era-blending, feel free!

DNW: Rape, Non-Canonical Character Death, Focus on Suicidal Ideation, Alternate Universe Settings

Midsummer Night's Dream (Bridge Theatre 2019)

(Demetrius/Helena/Hermia/Lysander, Helena/Hermia, or Demetrius/Lysander)

Fanfiction

I apologize, author, but I do not have a separate blurb for all of the pairings for this fandom. Basically I've been invested in the idea of the young lovers being all kinds of queer for each other for a very long time, and Bridge Theater gave me everything I could have wanted and then some. The foemance! The feeling that Helena and Hermia might have a history! The utter confusion on the part of these dumb boys! The very very physical attraction brought on by our flower! And then there's the way everyone acted during the mechanical's play.... by the end of it I was convinced these four were on their way to a poly relationship. However, if a love square is a bit much for you and you'd rather focus on two of them in a past or future relationship, that is completely fine.

I also just absolutely loved the hints that this Athens is a straight up dystopia, and would revel in any world-building that may have inspired. Just how structured is this society? Is it a regular thing to keep your partner under glass, or is Hippolyta just a war criminal? If the latter, what's it been like living through (and finding love in the middle of) this war?

Also while I didn't request Oberon/Titania, their dual roles are so, so interesting. I'd love a take where any or all of the four young lovers also had "fairy" counterparts or an exploration of what that really means.

DNW: Rape, Non-Canonical Character Death, Focus on Suicidal Ideation, Alternate Universe Settings

Sleep No More

For my general thoughts on the canon, please see my other recent sign-up letters in this journal. I have done this write-up . . . a lot . . . so suffice it to say this show has been my love for a good long time now, and I miss it terribly.

As per last year, I told myself that I was only allowed to add as many pairings as I could write specific requests for. So I'm going to tackle relationship dynamics and fanfiction prompts first, and follow up with a few fanart additions.

(Bargarran/Fulton)

Been a while since I requested this one! I have special a soft spot for Fulton as our everyman character and love the idea of Bargarran pulling him to stranger happenings by hook (which is to say, terrible and potentially murderous moments, fine with you going dark here!) or by crook (which is to say... terrible but somehow oddly charming taxidermy and mockery? One of my favorite Fulton/Taxi interactions was when Bargarran somehow turned his pre-fitting into a glorious parody of Fulton's fabric dance with Agnes. Love a Taxi who's enjoying himself a little too much.) These two characters are so down to interpretation that I would be happy with any combination, though I do enjoy a good opposites attract moment. But truly. Fulton can be anything from supercilious to earnest, Taxi can be harried to downright sociopathic. I will love this regardless.

(Macduff/Sexy Witch/Speaks)

I think this is the first time I've nominated a set of characters who don't actually have a single group scene together in canon. But I absolutely love Sexy with both of these fools, dominating the hell out of them -- her relationship with Macduff is a careful seduction, while what she has with Speaks is either something more honest? Or something less important? (It's all about perspective here.) I think about the scene where Sexy picks a member of the audience to take with her, and it is certainly in part to rile Speaks up . . . I'd be interested in a similar dynamic but with all canon characters. Alternatively, give me a prequel! What does a night at the bar look like when these three are involved? If your favored interpretation of Speaks is someone with more agency or, say, someone more seductive, I'd be into that too.

(Catherine Campbell | Danvers/Lady Macduff)

I think that the Rebecca story, with all of its extremely sapphic overtones, comes through most strongly in Catherine Campbell, and in this case in leading Lady Macduff astray. She is Ms Danvers to me, always, with all the creepy sublimated sex appeal that implies. I would love an exploration of her relationship with Lady Macduff— how did she choose her for a victim? Convenience, or hatred, or fascination? Does she have a pregnancy kink, or does that part of Lady Macduff repel her? And Lady Macduff? Is it just the drugs she's after, or does she feel Danvers' allure too? Finally-- though this may be a stretch, is there any point when Danvers pities the lady? Under other circumstances, might she have saved her?

(Agnes/Hecate)

The scene between Agnes and Hecate was one of my first loves in SNM. I would close almost every show with it. These two feel like complimentary contrasts: fair and dark, ingenue and femme fatal, lost and knowing. But there's a surprising strength in Agnes, a steel spine. While I'd be happy with a one-sided seduction story, I could see Agnes flipping the script, or even-- well, perhaps not winning a second round, but at least drawing blood. And then what?

I also wonder what that moment on high street would feel like in a more naturalistic world, or that final offer of a drink. I would like to know what Agnes remembers in the morning . . .

(Malcolm/Boy Witch)

I once saw a take on Malcom that made me feel as if he were deeply closeted, sneaking out for assignations with Boy Witch in the woods, and trying desperately to hide the whole thing from his father and the rest of the party. I am extremely into this interpretation and want to know more. Alternatively, if you aren't feeling this, tension in the ballroom would also fit the bill nicely.

(Bald/Sexy)

I think Bald and Sexy share a sympathy beyond the rest of the coven. There's so often a feeling of aftercare to their meeting in the woods, their ritual in the powder room. I would love to see that explored. What is the backstory for either or both of these characters, and how has her sister-witch helped her to overcome it (if negative) or realize and revel in it (if positive)? Is there joy in it? Loss? Revenge? I can see these two sharing confessions (doubts? fears? kinks?) with each other that no one else would ever understand, whether in some private space or out on the ballroom floor.

I also enjoy speculating about the more meta side of things in terms of how the characters perceive their audience and who is aware that they’re stuck in a looping story. In this context, or when it comes to their fellow residents, I feel that exhibitionism will never be out of place for witches.

(Boy/Porter)

Kind of my doomed OTP, if I'm honest. Boy and Porter clearly have such a history. I like it when they hate each other, when they hurt each other, when they want each other. I believe they secretly still love each other. Some Porters want to be Boy Witch, while others seem to wish he were still "the boy" from the past. Some Boys want to give in and take comfort from the Porter. Some are just straight up sadomasochistic together. So many interpretations! I adore them all and would be happy with a story that casts them in any light.

I would be interested to hear their history-- is "Is That All There Is" true fact, or is the song just a convenient tool? I love everything that was hinted at playbill, semi-canonical though it be, and want to share the inspiration. Or, you know. Just give these poor men a moment to pretend they could be anything other than what they are.

Fanart
For art, I honestly just love seeing what struck fellow fans while they were in the show! The whole thing is so cinematic that any moment could become a gorgeous still. But if you would like to take any of my thoughts above and distill them down to imagery, that would be wonderful as well.

I never want to dictate style to an artist, but noir posters, old photographs, creepy spilled tea or salt rorschach tests all come to mind. Mixed-media could be incredible, as could black and white video (or "video") footage.

DNW: Rape, Non-Canonical Character Death, Focus on Suicidal Ideation

For this canon, please note that I'm fine with (and would even look forward to seeing!) a power imbalance. Any character being tricked or coerced into sex and/or a relationship is OK, but I would ask that everyone give enthusiastic consent in the moment. I will still approve if they realize that was a terrible idea after the fact . . .

A Final Note: For this canon I am lifting my standard "No AUs" DNW. Keep the atmosphere of the original, please! But if you want haunted spaceships or a fantastical inn to be your location of choice for these characters . . . what the hell. I'm curious what might happen when this particular Macbeth story meets something other than straight-up Hitchcock. Heck, transpose it back to one of the time periods referenced by the show itself! Could be interesting.

Then She Fell

Another Immersive love of mine. This one officially closed in 2020, and I am feeling deeply nostalgic for the world of Kingsland Ward, so clearly not Wonderland, and yet a wonderment all the same; an exploration of the chambers of the heart. More than anything, I want a return to that atmosphere. If you've been to TSF, I think you'll know what I mean. The love of minutia, liminal moments, poetry that doesn't go anywhere. The gentlest haunting. It is a good night for ghosts.

Again, I'm going to tackle specific dynamics and fanfiction prompts first, and follow up with a few fanart additions.

Finally, I should note that I would be extremely happy to see you weave more than one of these relationships into a single story. Both because I'm happy to multiship, but also, I think that the conflict between all the characters and what they want is a big part of the canon.

(White Rabbit/White Queen)

Have I cried watching these two hold hands until the Rabbit falls asleep? Yes. It's an incredibly tender moment. But what are the participants truly thinking? Is this a singular moment of solace for these two, or are they the longstanding "secret kept." Is the Queen herself the girl who falls in love backwards, and how did that story go?

Alternatively, I've always gotten the sense that Rabbit works for the Red Queen and not the White. If so, what does that mean for them?

(White Rabbit/Red Queen)

An inverse to the above. I've never seen anything tender about this relationship— but is that true? I like this relationship sharp, but it doesn't follow that it's meaningless. Alternatively, explore whether the Queen is simply venting her appetites on the Rabbit, or is there something that she wants from him— some task, or favor?

It's also made pretty explicit that the Red Queen is Alice's mother in the "real" world (though in context of TSF it seems to to me it's all layers of story, not actual history.) But if you wanted to suss out who Rabbit might be in 1865 and how his story informs what we see in Kingsland ward, I'm very interested. (This goes for all the characters, really!)

(Hatter/Red Queen/White Queen)

Gonna be honest this one mostly comes down to thinking that Hatter and the queens clearly have some tension to sort out after that tea party! However if that is not your (bread and) jam I would also be down for a more comfortable, gossipy tea-table romance, or something set in the bedroom with the writing nook-- Hatter and White Queen both frequent it, after all. Bedtime stories for all, perhaps? Or go super silly and make the queens patrons of Hatter's shop.

Also need to note that I have no preference as to Hatter's gender.

(Hatter/Alice)

Love Hatter's jealousy of Alice, even if I don't think it's fully deserved. I am open to whatever you want to make of this, be it a genuine meeting of hearts or Hatter using Alice to get back at Lewis. You could write me Hatter setting Alice on fire — or deciding that they shouldn't and maybe they can take the boat out by themselves. Hatter warning Alice about the dangers of first love, while finding a second one for themselves? Alice as a new shop assistant?

And just to restate-- I have no preference as to Hatter's gender.

(Lewis/Alice)

Ok, I have to admit I have some qualms about asking for this one and would ask that you not take this pairing over PG-13 if you want to make me happy. There's a certain level of weirdness here due to the characters' real-world counterparts that I would prefer to avoid. However, I see Kingsland's Alice as a little older, more in control of her own life and choices, and a distinct person (character? concept?), not just her namesake. To that end, I hope you can avoid putting too much 1865 history into your story should you choose to write this pairing.

That being said, I love TSF Alice and Lewis too much to abstain entirely. Their staircase scene is so beautiful. I love the idea of Alice whispering through the bannister to Lewis the way she does to some of us later. Likewise, the letters! They're heartbreaking, which is honestly how I like this pairing. And the letter room? One of the most beautiful places in the world.

Of everyone in the ward, these two seem the most ghostlike to me. If so, how long have they been haunting this place, and how could they find peace? By letting go? Reconciling? Falling in love as their new selves?

(Alice/Alice)

And of course . . . saving the best of all Alice pairings for last. Why are there two Alices? What's the dichotomy here: older/younger? Wild/tamed? Start of love/end of love? or is it simply that Alice has been staring in the mirror too long and yet she hardly knows herself? The mirror scenes are so evocative, and especially the one that happens upstairs . . . such a sensory experience, and so exploratory. It's a linchpin of Alice's relationship with Alice for me. (I hope this is vague enough. If you know you know.)

(Alice & The Red Queen)

My one explicitly not-a-ship request. I do think it's pretty definite, baseed on the text of TSF, that Alice and the Red Queen are mother and daughter. I would love an exploration fo that relationship. Perhaps the Red Queen finally communicating her hopes and fears to Alice directly, instead of through a mirror to strangers? Or go dark-- give me one of the other of them bringing the other to Kingsland Ward to stay. This is Chocolate Box, so I do want th relationship to be loving . . . but love can be a pretty messy thing.

Fanart
As with SNM, when it comes to art I honestly just love seeing what struck fellow fans while they were in the show! The whole thing is so atmospheric that any moment could become a gorgeous still. But if you would like to take any of my thoughts above and distill them down to imagery, that would be wonderful as well.

I never want to dictate style to an artist, but medical journals, old photographs, the original John Tenniel illustrations filtered through a new lens, and of course miniatures and dolls all come to mind.

DNW: Rape, Non-Canonical Character Death, Focus on Suicidal Ideation, an Alice who is below mid-teens.