Valiant Barnes

Bleach

as each of these pairings involves Ichigo, i'm changing up the format of my letter slightly to start of the Bleach section with this:

I have. SO many thoughts about no powers Ichigo and how he was - from his perspective - abandoned for (a year??? i think) so long by everyone he loved/trusted/respected and how this significantly and negatively impacted his relationships with all of them. (How this should have had long term effects on how he interacted with them.) Regardless of the reason why, regardless of the justification they gave themselves and then later to Ichigo... that doesn't just go away, you know?

Aizen Sosuke/Kurosaki Ichigo/Urahara Kisuke

Never thought about this pairing before I saw it in sign ups tbh. I'd love to see how this could work in some sort of altered canon, or darker timeline or even a complete au! No thoughts about this at all but I'm keen to know whatever thoughts you have! I just love poly relationships having to balance strong personalities and clashing motivations and how they either overcome that or splinter under the pressure.

Hirako Shinji/Kurosaki Ichigo

I've loved their interactions from the very first time Shinji sauntered on screen. I love the instant distrust on Ichigo's part, the slowly growing trust, the teasing, the way it slowly unravels that the entire world + situation is even more fucked than Ichigo thought it was. Their hollows! Feral hollow bullshit, hollow instincts; learning entirely new social cues, physical cues. Ichigo figuring out how to work with Zangetsu, how to navigate the host of new feelings and impulses he has, only to discover that the Vizards don't do any of that because they're all about repression.

Hirako Shinji/Kurosaki Ichigo/Urahara Kisuke

I love the weird, not quite push and pull between Shinji and Kisuke over Ichigo and his training. The tension between the two ex-captains, their past and how it bleeds over every interaction they have even when they don't want it to. Throwing Ichigo into that would be really interesting, especially when all three have such differing motivations. (Still cannot believe the Vizards wanted to go back to the Soul Society and were happy to keep working there but that is an entirely different matter.) As with A/I/K, I'm very interestde in the way these three could navigate the varied pressures influencing their relationship.

Kurosaki Ichigo/Sado "Chad" Yasutora

THE O.G!! This was my very first Bleach ship and I still love them so much. Ride or die friendships are absolutely ruinous to me. I love thinking about how their relationship could evolve/change as they grow, as they fight battle after battle after war together. Battle partners even before Ichigo got powered up, knowing each other so well, so intimately. I would love something cute or valentine-y - but I would also love some angst as well (or instead, hehe.) Taken verbatim from a different letter:

Ichigo no powers all alone angst. Ichigo alone and in pain - emotionally and physically, he's lost so much of himself, the empty space in his head, his heart, his soul never fades into the background, he's always aware of it and he has no one. Maybe Chad comes to his senses and supports him, maybe he never leaves. Maybe they get together after that but Ichigo can never quite stop thinking 'you left, you left, you only came back when I could do something, when I was useful' and they can never address it because Ichigo won't talk about it, brushes it off like it doesn't even matter.

Kurosaki Ichigo/Urahara Kisuke

Hades

Achilles/Patroclus/Zagreus

Let Zag be the tiny god filling in a Myrmidon sandwich! I like the complexity, especially in canon where Achilles has already rejected Zagreus. I also like thinking about what could happen if Achilles did accept Zag before his reunion with Pat, or if Pat and Zag had started up their own relationship before Patrochilles sorted everything out, and how this could play out with their relationship dynamic. Three different relationships trying to figure out how to merge into one, confident and unsure by turns, the quiet pleasure and excitement as everything starts to come together.

I also like Zag being unsure of his place in their relationship - unsure if he's actually in the relationship, or if he's just a friend they hang out with and sometimes fuck (this can also go hand in hand with Achilles already having rejected Zag's romantic affection before.) Insecurity in any of the three, really. Effective and sincere communication is the lifeblood of poly relationships and I can really see that being an area where the three of them would struggle.

Achilles/Zagreus

The way Achilles turned Zag down!!! The potential for years long pining, from both of them. Achilles also has the cultural background of erastes + eromenos, which would really complicate things if you threw that in there as well. (I'm of the opinion that Z was already more or less grown by the time Achilles became his tutor, though play around with that as you will with respect to my dnw's.) Achilles falling more and more in love with Zagreus, knowing that he could never allow it to go anywhere despite the pain you can see in Zagreus's eyes. Or worse, perhaps - giving in and having and loving and feeling as though you've betrayed the (other) love of your life. SO many delicious options for Achilles to rake himself over the coals.

The heartache of loving someone you know will never love you back, unable to change your own feelings and unwilling to try and press the issue so you just - do your best to make them happy, to give them happiness. The amount of love and affection overflowing in Zag's every word, every action, towards Achilles. He's so willing to take what he can get, lovesick and longing and so very used to never having what he wants.

Chaos/Zagreus

I love Chaos. I love the way they interact with Zagreus, the way we're able to see their relationship grow. I, personally, always take the Chaos gate - even when it leaves me with fuck all health. I like to think that Zagreus is the same, more than willing to sabotage his own run for the chance to interact with Chaos. I don't particularly see Zagreus worshipping any of the greek pantheon. I don't think Chaos wants to be worshipped by Zagreus, either, but I think if Zag were to show anyone that level of reverence it would be Chaos. Could definitely be an interesting element to play with!

Hypnos/Zagreus

They would be very cute together. I love Hypnos's attitude, his irreverence; he's really the only other person in the house who has a similar approach to working in the Underworld as Zagreus. Hypnos's reaction to Zagreus getting him a couch? Both of them making use of the couch, Hypnos helping Zagreus get to sleep, something something somnophilia? Hypnos and Zagreus both very clearly need hugs so they should simply hug each other.

Merlin

Gwaine/Merlin

Honestly, if you give me anything for this pairing without so much as hinting at Arthur/Merlin, I will be so over the moon.

I love the way they meet, the instant connection between Gwaine and Merlin. Big into both complete au's and canon alterations like: what would've happened if Uther hadn't banished Gwaine, if he'd disgused himself to re-enter Camelot after the Fisher King. He shaves or grows a ridiculous moustache and disguises himself as Merlin's husband from Ealdor. !! They have to go undercover for some ridiculous reason and it quickly turns into a fake relationship. What if Gwaine and Merlin met before Merlin went to Camelot? Fuck, what if Gwaine really is Merlin's long lost husband from Ealdor?

Naruto

Haku/Uzumaki Naruto

No thoughts, head empty, I just think it'd be neat. How would it happen?? Idk. Zabuza and Haku defect to Konoha after the wave mission? The live and keep travelling and Naruto keeps bumping into Haku over the years? Modern AU? I have literally no idea I just love Haku.

Haruno Sakura/Uchiha Madara

Time travel? Dimension travel? Absolutely off the hook unhinged edo-tensei'd Madara? Lots of stories have Sakura as good but still not good enough to go toe to toe with either Founder, even when they're still in their late teens/early twenties despite Sakura being an absolute fucking powerhouse. Please, let Sakura beat the shit out of Madara. It's what they both deserve.

Hoshigaki Kisame/Uchiha Itachi

He's a shark man! Non-human quirks, anatomy, world views; sharp teeth and shark dicks! What is his skin like (smooth), what does it feel like against Itachi's? Are they travelling between missions? Having some down time? Fighting together, training together? How does their friendship and relationship play out, with Itachi being so deeply unstable and also a spy? Does Kisame figure out there's something off with Itachi? Does he think it's just that the Uchiha so clearly needs therapy or does he suspect there's something else afoot? Does he decide to keep Itachi close by any means necessary in order to make sure he stays loyal to Kisame, if not the wider organisation.

Some sort of AU wherein Itachi's able to introduce Kisame to his family? To Sasuke? Itachi utilises rough sex with Kisame as a coping mechanism, as self punishment? So many options!!!

Inuzuka Kiba/Uzumaki Naruto

Feral!! Boys!!!! The Inuzuka clan makes sure their members are able to act decently enough for wider society. Naruto, equally as animal based, has no such training. Kiba's the only person in their friend group to understand the weird shit Naruto does sometimes? Naruto decides to ask Kiba out but he's not stupid enough to try something from an Icha Icha book and someone advises him to follow his instincts so... gifting fresh, dead prey to Kiba? Inuzuka clan genetics or physiologies? Kiba could have a knot, is what I'm saying. Kiba realising that Naruto is mostly feral and deciding that, if no one's going to teach him how to behave, then he'll do it?

Oh, something applicable to all these Naruto prompts: they're undercover!! Doing missions together!!!

Nara Shikamaru/Uzumaki Naruto

Shika really deserves to have a devoted himbo bf. The only thoughts I have for this rn are wildly different. One is dark or dark-ish Shikamaru, doing his best to manouver and pull strings and manipulate Naruto until he has the other man right where he wants him - that is, with Shikamaru. The other is cute valentines cloud watching date.

Sai/Uzumaki Naruto

Sai switching his loyalty to Naruto, ride or die for Naruto and the power dynamics which could grow from that. Sai twisting himself into whatever he thinks Naruto wants or needs, determined to be useful. Naruto being equally ride or die! Trust and loyalty and devotion, to potentially unhealthy levels. Two badly socialised career killers figuring out how to come together, how to communicate and support each other and how being in a relationship works for them.

Oh, oooh, Root!Naruto and Team 7!Sai. Both of them in Root and still somehow coming together, despite the danger. Because of it, maybe, because it's the only way, the only time, they're able to feel. Sharp edges and toxic and burrowed so deep in their bones that they'd never be able to give each other up.

Senju Tobirama/Uchiha Izuna

Enemies to still enemies but they definitely fuck on the side. Sometimes they're in the same area for a mission and it's better to have your enemy close than out of sight and in the shadows. Deaing with the intimacy that comes from knowing so much about another person, whatever the reason for the knowledge; knowing how soft they look under the sunset, fucked out and content, a slight curve to their lips. Realising that you could have had something, maybe, in a life so far removed from this one that it's not worth thinking about. The constant knowledge that the next time you meet might be on the battlefield once more. That, eventually, one of you will kill the other.

Does Tobirama pull what would have been a killing blow? Does he realise as he goes to strike, that he wants Izuna to live. What happens then, blow pulled or averted, Tobirama moving too fast to stop the fatal move so he drops his sword instead. What happens if people notice? What happens if Izuna reacts before he can think, before he realises, and it is Tobirama who is run through instead?

Senju Tobirama/Uchiha Madara

First up, think of the ANGST if set post Izuna death. How would they even get there, if Tobirama has killed Izuna? Hatefucking? Tobirama thinks that perhaps Konoha will run better if Madara has a way to express his hatred and rage towards him in a place that isn't the council room or official meetings. Madara and Tobirama end up on a mission together and have to deal with their shit. Izuna lives and Tobirama quickly decides that he prefers dealing with Madara in any official or unofficial capacity.

Madara and Tobirama somehow fell into a relationship, despite the enmity and active hostility between their clans. Enforced civility and diplomacy at court (Tobirama sent in his brother's place plot reason), having to spend time around each other as well as civilians. Reluctant commiseration over how much they'd rather be anywhere else. Having a few too many drinks, or being drugged, or anything which lowers their inhibitions and then they have to deal with the fallout of fucking. Of having spent days or weeks together and realising that they're almost friends and apparently they can have great sex, too. Do they indulge, while they're at court, with the strict understanding that it ends when they leave? (Does Tobirama still kill Izuna? !! Does Tobirama hesitate, because Izuna is Madara's last brother. A single moment of hesitation in a battle is deadly, though. Izuna lives, Tobirama dies, and Madara has to live with the knowledge that it was because of him.)

Modern AU where Tobirama has the worst, most embarrassing crush on his older brother's annoying and hot friend.

Uchiha Itachi/Uzumaki Naruto

Look, I gotta be upfront: I love the idea of Itachi/Naruto as something that starts purely to spite Sasuke, on Naruto's part. Maybe Itachi thinks it'll be the perfect way to show Sasuke that he should focus more on his own plans and less on Orochimaru's. A physical relationship that grows into more by accident. Naruto's incapable of keeping Itachi at a distance when they spend so much intimate time together; Itachi is desperate for touch, for affection, for the the sunshine of Naruto's company. How would this work with the whole 'capture the bijuu' thing? I don't know. Does Naruto accidentally give Itachi a life changing pep talk? Are they both henged and have a one night stand with a hilariously awkward morning after? No massacre AU?

Uchiha Shisui/Uzumaki Naruto

Time or dimension travel shenanigans! Shisui landing a decade into the future and having to adapt? Naruto makes a fuuinjutsu mistake and pops into existence just in time to save Shisui? They both fuck up and end up in the warring clans era and stick together trying to figure out a way back. Naruto and Shisui are assigned mission partners, they're neighbours, Naruto makes a bet with Sasuke and decides the best way to win is to seduce Sasuke's cousin. Even if he loses, he wins, you know?

Ouran High School Host Club - All Media Types

Fujioka Haruhi/Kasanoda Ritsu

I haven't watched or read Ouran for years but I saw this in the tagset and I couldn't resist. I've loved them for so long! I love Kasanoda's character and how respectful he is of Haruhi and I love imagining the ways in which their relationship could have flourised. What if Haruhi had said yes when he asked her out (or.. if he actually finished asking her out? I think she cut him off at the knees lmao). What if they met outside of Ouran? They run into each other a decade after school ends and they slowly fall in love. I definitely see Haruhi has genderqueer +/or trans but ymmv.

Pet Shop of Horrors

Count D/Leon Orcot

Speaking to me about these two is guaranteed to have me foaming at the fucking mouth. I will never get over the end of the series. I will never get over Leon searching for D for fucking years. He left his entire life behind to chase D!! And, as far as we know, never sees him again????? Bullshit. Chocolatier, please fix it. Leon goes with D on the flying ship at the end. The whole hubub at the end of the series never happens and they continue to live their lives together.

I love the little family they built, with themselves and Chris. I love their banter, the way their relationship grows. The way Leon's unable to give up on the guise of suspicion until it's too late, despite the way he's so ride or die for D. What would have happened if he'd trusted D more? If he'd let himself hear the animals? Would it have changed anything? AU where Leon's a pastry chef instead of a cop.
 

人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

Original Luò Bīnghé/Original Shěn Qīngqiū

Look. I love me some absolutely fucked up characters and relationships. These two are just *chef's kiss* so fucked up. They've already ruined each other! I want them to keep ruining each other, want them so tangled up in each other than they can't breathe, you know? But like... lovingly.

Some sort of fucked up modern au? Canon au where LBH keeps searching for that nice shizun but can only ever find SJ and he starts to wonder if he's the problem; LBH keeps ending up earlier and earlier in the timeline and slowly starts to unravel SJ's fucked up backstory. SJ does some sort of time loop. SJ and LBH end up in a time loop together and work through some stuff - or don't.

Original Luò Bīnghé/Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū

Look I love OG!LBH. What a pathetic, fucked up man. So many wives and lovers and he is still so undone by a single afternoon's kindness from a man with the face of his abuser. Ruin him. LBH manages to kidnap SQQ but flip the dynamics. Sure, LBH is a violent, intimidating demon lord, ruler of the combined realms, unbeatable and SQQ would step very carefully but - what if he figures out how easily LBH will bend, for affection from him. For acknowledgement from his kind shizun. Absolutely just fuck me up, to be honest.

Original Shěn Qīngqiū/Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū (SVSSS)

I love every possible way this could happen. I especially love the idea of SJ being so wildly possessive over SY. Maybe they grew up together, maybe they met at the Qiū's, maybe SY somehow managed to get into SJ's good graces after that. SJ desperately needs someone, anyone. I think SY could genuinely help him. I also think they could make each other worse :D

陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)

Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Lán Jǐngyí

Sometimes you fuck your best friend's hot Uncle and that's okay!

Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

God the angst, the miscommunication, the POTENTIAL. All three men are so inclined to ride or die. Loyalty kink to the max or twist it, let them make each other worse. Or better! They could grow together. What happens when you take demonic cultivation out of the picture?

WWX torn between two people he loves and really fucked up about it. Alternatively, WWX comes back from the dead and JWY and LWJ have to pretend they haven't been hate fucking for a decade+. Any two of them having an already established relationship and figuring out how to bring in the third. LWJ falls in love with JWY instead and WWX refuses to step aside so JWY's just gonna have to use both hands. WWX and JWY make a joint effort to seduce LWJ.

Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Wēn Zhúliú

Just fuck me up fam :D

Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Nie Mingjue

I think dual cultivation would've helped da-ge to chill tf out and live a bit longer (not factoring in the murder). Maybe they fell into bed together during the war. Maybe during an intersect conference. Idk how it could happen or work or anything, I just think these two very intense, very emotional men could have some smoking hot sex and maybe help balance each other out.

Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

I love them. I love them. They could have had it all! If WWX hadn't pushed JWY (+JYL) away after the golden core transfer, if JWY had been more willing to listen/better prepared to lead a sect/not so insecure in his position (both in WWX's life and as a sect leader). Twin prides of Yunmeng, forever caught in each other's gravity.

No golden core transfer? JWY gives up his core? JYL gives up hers instead? JWY hates the demonic cultivation but there's something so alluring about sharper than usual, unhinged WWX and their relationship suddenly gets so much more complicated. Somehow, in an unprecedented act of god, they actually fucking communicate.

Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo/Niè Míngjué

f

Lán Huàn | Lán Xīchén/ Niè Huáisāng

Cute if before NMJ's death. Super fucked up if after! Especially after NHS figures out who murdered his brother. I want NHS full of anger and resentment and love that's curdled like off milk. I think there's the possibility for NHS to hate LXC more than he does JGY. What happened between LXC and JGY in the time after the cloud recesses burned, that LXC suddenly valued JGY's voice and opinion more than that of his long time friend NMJ? NHS wonders if knowing would make him hate LXC more, or less. He hates LXC because he loves him, because he's known him for so many years, because he has a kind heart but refuses to believe anyone could possibly know better than him. Because if LXC had been able to hear a bad word about JGY, maybe NHS would've have had to do everything himself.

I think LXC would definitely dote on NHS, whatever their bedroom dynamics; he'd be full of affection and gifts, indulgent of NHS's flighty nature, always willing to spend time with NHS. I also love dark!LXC! Dark LXC with any type of NHS is great. LXC/NHS post guayin temple is just... painful. Delightful. All the cards are on the table and it turns out neither of them has ever had a winning hand.

極主夫道 | Gokushufudou | The Way of the House Husband (Manga)

Masa/Miku/Tatsu

They absolutely make each other better! They could be so happy together! Any way you can put these three together would make me happy. Accidentally falling into a relationship, Masa needs a place to crash for a while and they're all catching feelings, a weird semi-regular sex only threesome that keeps muddying the waters until they're all tangled up about it. Tatsu's life lessons get a bit more hands on? Miku notices Masa's hero worship of Tatsu is not exactly the idolisation she'd thought it was? Masa gets to be the one teaching something this time! Miku decides it's her turn to teach them both something! They're just really cute and I love them!!

여주인공의 오빠를 지키는 방법 - 킨 | The Way to Protect the Female Lead's Older Brother - Kin

This series is so fucked up and I love it. I love every twisted moment of it. God, the Agriche's are fucked and Roxanna leans into it without hesitation. She's as delightfully twisted as the rest of her family and does not seem to care. I love her. Girlboss, gaslight, etc. I literally only just thought of this as I'm typing, and ofc it's not requested so feel free to ignore but - Cassis/Roxanna/Dion??? How would that work. How quickly would Cassis and Dion try to kill each other? I was gonna say 'what if love angle' as though that's not literally canon lmao. And the way Roxanna has her father's trust? How much he likes her, how much he sees himself in her? If she isn't named as his successor I will flip a table.

Cassis Pedalian/Roxanna Agriche

I really, really, really want Cassis to be so fucked up from his time in captivity and the (dubious) kindness shown to him by Roxanna. Anything about Cassis's time in the Agriche estate. When Roxanna acts on her plan to make him look more like a pet (the hickeys), does it go further? Does Cassis misunderstand and try to make his situation better by trading sexua favours? What happens in the years they're apart? How much time did he spend thinking about her, obsessiving over what happened. How distorted is his view of her? Is he disappointed by the reality of her cruelty, by how well she fits in with Agriche, or does it make him feel... special, almost, that he's one of the few people she's kind to. Does he feel treasured?

I love the idea of extended captivity, actually. How does he cope? How dependent does he become on Roxanna? Does she bring him treats, bring him things to decorate his room? Does he grow so sick of the sight of the same four walls that he practically begs to be let out and she takes him for walks, so long as he understands that he must act like a pet when others can see him. I just really want Cassis kneeling at Roxanna's feet, resting his head against her knee, playing docile pet as she runs a hand through his hair - probably while Dion and [younger brother. what is your name. fuck.] watch, kill bill sirens playing in their minds.

Cassis tries to court Roxanna in the regular, romantic way. Roxanna reciprocates in some fucked up, Agriche way. They figure it out. (Yes, Roxanna would know about regular romantic stuff and dating from her previous life. Maybe she's simply out of practice. Maybe she knows exactly how to reciprocate 'properly' but thinks it's much funnier to lay the corpses of Cassis's enemies at his feet with, like, a whole rose bush blooming from their broken apart chest. She's giving him flowers! It counts!)

Dion Agriche/Roxanna Agriche

He is so fucking twisted up over her, I love it. Obsessed. They're both obsessed, in their own ways tbh. I'm sure that this will come as no surprise if you read the rest of the letter, but: they could and do make each other worse. He wants to see her cry so bad; I think she should harbour a similar goal and make Dion cry. I love their alliance. I love the idea of Dion slowly figuring out that he wants more than just Roxanna's tears and trying to figure out how to get what he wants, in a way that would satisfy him. Dion trying to figure out how to court her. Dion killing their dad because he thinks that will make her happy (and it definitely would, so... good work on the patricide?) And he's so jealous of Cassis! We love to see it.

Roxanna working through her own feelings about... everything. The fine balancing act of maintaining power in their house, of keeping some sort of leash on Dion, on their power struggle. I want them to ruin each other. I want Roxanna to ruin him, to be torn between hatred and pity and the horrific, detestable realisaiton that mixed into all that she... likes him. Appreciates him, sometimes. Would miss him if she ever managed to kill him. Wants to bind him so tightly to her side that he can never betray her, never leave her; Roxanna is terribly aware that this is what passes for love, in their family. Sex as yet another mind game between them.

I love the idea of Dion's mother trying to matchmake them for some reason? I just think that has unlimited comedic potential. ALSO what would happen if [their younger brother, URGH, what's his NAME] found out they were together. As the number one member of Roxanna's fanclub, he would lose his entire mind. !!! 'fake' marriage for the purpose of unifying their alliance and securing their place in the succession.