Dear Rare Pair Fest Writer

[sathinfection]

I am so psyched that we got matched up, so please forgive the excitement leaking all over this page and crawling up the walls. I recognize my letter's a little lopsided, what with 7 pairings requested for Silmarillion and only 1 pairing each for the others, but there's also about 500 characters for that fandom, so don't be worried if you're not into writing about Elves.

When it comes to fic rating, I'm cool with anything you want to throw at me. If you're inspired to write something that's perfectly G-rated, that's rad. If you'd rather write a PWP that's just about my favorites fucking, that's also rad!

I don't use my DW, but I engage fannishly as sathinfection on Tumblr. 

Here’s a few basic wants and DNWs:

 

Wants: character studies, humor, sadness, angst, honor, doom, missing scenes, canon divergence AUs, intrigue, fealty/loyalty, 3rd person POV, amnesia!fic is always welcome, UST that resolves by the end of the fic, canon setting

 

DNWs: 1st or 2nd person POV, dubcon, noncon, kidfic, most AUs (particularly mundane AUs, i.e. college/coffee shop etc), crossovers/fusions, fluff, issue!fic, a/b/o, mpreg, self-harm, unrequested non-canon pairings, infidelity (outside of loveless political marriages), polyamory, underage

Particular likes and dislikes for sexy stuff (if you're so inclined, and I'd prefer you go with whatever works best for the fic rather than try to hit kinks you don't care about):

Likes: breathplay (particularly choking), emotionally fraught sex, anal, cunnilingus, deepthroating, strap-ons

Dislikes: rough nipple play, humiliation, watersports/scat, fisting, kink negotiation, BDSM, D/s

And now for the endless list of prompts! If you're coming into this with a story you're already burning to write, go ahead as long it doesn't hit my DNWs. If you don't have any ideas and my prompts leave you cold, I never get tired of reading missing scenes or PWPs. 

The Lord of the Rings: Berúthiel/OFC

Sculpture, cats, and Númenor are way up there in terms of what I love, and Berúthiel combines all three. I see two main strategies for writing her: either she was exactly as bad as historians said she was (or worse!), or she was recorded in the histories as an evil woman because it was politically expedient. I'd be delighted to read either one of these scenarios. The story could be framed as Berúthiel reflecting on her life in Osgiliath while she was at sea which she'd always loathed, though I'm not picky in the least for how the fic is approached.

Any and all worldbuilding for Númenor would be hugely appreciated, and the Black Númenoreans more so. Tolkien's alternately described Gondor as being like Italy, Byzantium, and Ancient Egypt, so feel free to draw on whatever region/period gets you going as long as that inspiration is prior to the 19th century. 

As for what kind of woman to pair her with, I'd prefer a social equal - perhaps even a close relative of Tarannon's. Or maybe she fell in love with her favorite sculptor? I think this description of her is fascinating: "She hated all colours and elaborate adornment, wearing only black and silver and living in bare chambers, and the gardens of the house in Osgiliath were filled with tormented sculptures beneath cypresses and yews." - Unfinished Tales, notes to the Istari. It's such an arresting image which calls to be filled out - why did she live this way, and why did it please her? 

If you go with the evil!Berúthiel route, please don't include graphic descriptions of cat torture. Also, spend as much time on the OFC as you want - I love developed OCs!

The Silmarillion:

If you somehow matched on only one of the pairings I requested, that's completely cool because honestly I couldn't pick a favorite if I were forced to. Please don't be intimidated by the length - I'm requesting mostly super-rare or non-existent pairings, so I'm doing some legwork in recruiting people to my banner. 

Ar-Pharazôn/Sauron

The lines which launched the ship for me: "For [Sauron] perceived that the power and majesty of the Kings of the Sea surpassed all rumour of them, so that he could not trust even the greatest of his servants to withstand them; and he saw not his time yet to work his will with the Dúnedain. And he was crafty, well skilled to gain what he would by subtlety when force might not avail. Therefore he humbled himself before Ar-Pharazôn and smoothed his tongue; and men wondered, for all that he said seemed fair and wise." - the Silmarillion. 

So yeah, take 'humbled' as dirtily as you want. This is a pairing where elements of D/s are very welcome (I just don't like the vocabulary/scene components of it, whereas master/willing servant is a kink of mine). Dubcon would also be fine for this pairing. Also here's a reference for the sort of carpet they might've fucked on!

I imagine Sauron slowly convinced Ar-Pharazôn that he was completely surrendered to the power and might of Númenor, and won over to the side of  its king because of his nobility and sagacity. Sauron's POV would be great, since it'd be filled with scheming (probably very self-congratulatory and contemptuous), but I'd be equally interested in Ar-Pharazôn's - what would have made him suspect Sauron? What would have made him trust Sauron? How would either of them internalize the king of Númenor bedding Morgoth's second-in-command? There's an interesting note in Peoples of Middle-earth which describes Ar-Pharazôn as "a man of great beauty and strength/stature after the image of the first kings, and indeed in his youth was not unlike the Edain of old in mind also, though he had strength of will rather than of wisdom as after appeared, when he was corrupted by the counsels of his father and the acclaim of the people."

 

Azaghâl/Maedhros

May I present to you height difference kink, the pairing? On a more serious note, I'd like to see Maedhros's relations with the other peoples of Middle-earth more fully developed. Azaghâl was the one who gifted the Dragon-helm to Maedhros as thanks for saving him from Orcs, so it seems that there was some friendship and respect between them. How did this happen? What did they talk about or do together? I don't see any great romantic love between them - just a mutual affection and friends-with-benefits arrangement, though if you want to write an epic Dwarf/ridiculously tall Elf romance, I'd be into it. Although I mentioned unrequested non-canon pairings as a DNW, if you'd like to write Maedhros as in love with Fingon (whether they're in a relationship or just friends) while Azaghâl pines unrequited after Maedhros, go for it! I'd just want Azaghâl and his feelings to be the focus of the fic.
 

Beleg Cúthalion/Túrin Turambar  

 

There are less than 30 fics for this pairing on AO3, and believe me, I have pored over most of them. I adore tragic, epic hero Túrin and steadfast-sometimes-grumpy Beleg. Túrin is one of my all-time favorite characters, and here's what I think describes him best, from The Children of Húrin: "He was dark-haired as his mother, and promised to be 

like her in mood also; for he was not merry, and spoke little, though he learned to speak early and ever seemed older than his years. Turin was slow to forget injustice or mockery; but the fire of his father was also in him, and he could be sudden and fierce. Yet he was quick to pity, and the hurts or sadness of living things might move him to tears." One of the things I like most about Túrin's dynamic with Beleg is that despite all of Túrin's pride and general refusal to take anyone's counsel, he actually listens to Beleg and apologizes for being a prick, though he sadly doesn't go back to Doriath. 
 

As for prompts, I'm really fond of the time just before Túrin left Doriath and I would read at least 500 fics of Túrin discovering he's in love with Beleg and (successfully, but probably also disastrously) getting Beleg into his bedroll while Beleg overcomes various sensible objections, like "he's mortal and barely of age" and "but I'm like a parental figure to him." Okay, to be even more honest, I would read 1000 fics of this. 10,000 fics Alternatively, you could write about either Beleg or Túrin figuring out their feelings for each other through the jealousy of Andróg and/or Mîm. I'd also be thrilled with a 5+1 fic about Túrin and Beleg screwing up at sex or somehow cockblocking each other (naturally the +1 would be an amazing experience for both of them). 
 

Elrond/Maglor

I’m a bit of a medieval nerd, and the hostage/fostering tradition during that period made me go “ah-ha!” when I read about Maglor taking in Elrond and Elros and raising them. I never get tired of reading about how Elrond and Maglor negotiated their feelings towards each other, particularly since Elrond was only 6 when Maglor attacked Sirion. I prefer to think of Elrond as holding on to a lasting grudge against Maglor, because of the high value in the Sil on kin ties and revenge (I don’t think Maglor’s post-Nirnaeth Arnoediad bank account could’ve handled the weregild needed for razing Sirion), which always made him feel guilty for growing to love Maglor later. 
 

The scenario I’d love to read for this pairing would be Elrond seducing Maglor in order to get him to lower his guard enough that Elrond would be able to kill him. There’d be so much potential for internal (and external!) conflict between their desire for each other, the transgression of the foster relationship, and the seemliness of having a sexual relationship after Sirion. Maglor would probably have suspected Elrond’s motives, or at least felt he’d deserve whatever Elrond wanted to do with him. 

If that prompt doesn't interest you, I'm easy to please with anything that examines their conflicted loyalties (including Maglor's suffering from the Oath) and the fostering bond. In Fellowship of the Ring, Elrond does not let any of the Fellowship swear an oath, and says, “Let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” I cannot see this line informed by anything but Elrond's time with the sons of Fëanor, so that's always something to mess around with.
 

I know that Tolkien hints that Maglor was married in Peoples of Middle-earth, but since it’s such a small note and there’s lots of contradictions between the Sil and HoMe anyway, I’d prefer Maglor be unmarried (or have his marriage go unmentioned) due to my general infidelity squick. 

 

Fingon/Húrin Thalion

Tolkien gives us a lot of tantalizing scraps about Húrin’s personality, and I really want to read more about him. Tolkien mentions that of all the Men on Middle-earth, Húrin knew the most of the counsels of the Noldor, and that he was “often long away from home with the host of Fingon that guarded Hithlum's eastern borders, and when he returned his quick speech, full of strange words and jests and half-meanings, bewildered Turin and made him uneasy.” – Children of Húrin. Húrin seemed to have as much (if not more) kinship towards Elves as he did towards his own race, particularly considering his time spent in Gondolin. Christopher Tolkien describes Húrin as “quick, gay, and sanguine,” which is a pretty unusual description for someone in the Sil (and who made a totally metal last stand). 
 

Hopefully that got you interested enough in Húrin to write about him with Fingon! There’s a lot of room to write about Húrin/Fingon prior to Húrin’s marriage to Morwen. Was Húrin happier in Barad Eithel than among his own people? Lord/vassal relationships built upon loyalty and fairness are a major narrative kink of mine, so anything along those lines would be great, whether it’s more along the lines of a plot-heavy fic or a PWP which boiled down to “Húrin physically expresses his devotion to his liege lord.” Exploring differences between Elves and Men is also a huge draw for me about this pairing, and if you want to put in lots of foreboding hints about Húrin’s horrible fate or Fingon’s horrible death, I’d love it. 

 

Gil-galad/Maglor

Like most of the fandom, I can bust out into the Fall of Gil-galad at any time. The stanza I liked best was always, “But long ago he rode away, and where he dwelleth none can say; for into darkness fell his star in Mordor where the shadows are.” Now, I know that Gil-galad’s official death was by being burnt up in combat with Sauron (hence “fell his star”), but what if he really moved on like in the song – riding off somewhere unknown? I love the idea of Gil-galad and Maglor as fellow disillusioned wanderers from the First Age meeting up in some distant land (or even not so distant, like Gondor) and finding some temporary comfort in each other’s company. Another tasty option would be to write about them getting together prior to the War of Wrath.

If you decide to discuss Gil-galad's parentage, I'm in the "son of Orodreth" camp. 

Tar-Míriel/Original Female Character

If there’s a Númenorean character who deserves fix-it the most, I’d say it’s Tar-Míriel. Not only was she forced by her cousin to marry him, she gets drowned with the rest of the island, despite being one of the Faithful. Tar-Míriel having a lover who was also an ally (so, another Faithful noblewoman) would be a great starting off point for a story about court intrigue and Tar-Míriel outmaneuvering Sauron and her husband. There’s no need to go the full fix-it route and write a full canon divergence for the Akâllabeth (though you’d be a hero if you did) – just a fleshed out episode of Tar-Míriel exercising some power in court would be awesome. Feel free to combine her storyline with Ar-Pharazôn/Sauron, but that’s entirely optional. 
 

Although it’s highly plausible, please don't write Tar-Míriel as being in a domestic abuse situation. 
 

What We Do in the Shadows: The Beast/Vladislav the Poker

Or as she prefers to be called, Pauline. 

Here's where the medieval nerdery hits again, because I am all about 800 year old vampires terrorizing Eastern Europe while having an incredibly tempestuous and hilarious relationship. I loved the tone and humor of What We Do in the Shadows, and the reveal of "the Beast's" true nature was one of my favorite parts. I'd like to see something exploring their past, whether it's their first meeting, or some sort of misadventure while eating people/poking. Epistolary fic is very welcome, as is a narrative told with historical records and other evidence. My only caveat is that this is one pairing where a PWP wouldn't interest me very much, unless it was played 100% for comedy.