Every Woman Exchange Letter

[deemoyza]

Dear Every Woman Exchange Creator,

Apologies for the late letter! Time just kind of got away from me. Anyway, thank you so much for taking the time to create something for this challenge! In this letter, I've put together my likes and DNWs, as well as a few ideas I like for each of the requested characters. The theme of these ideas is a question: who are these women, independent of their relationships to other characters in their respective canons (and, in the case of groups, what is their dynamic independent of other characters)? I'd love to see these characters as full-fledged individuals and not simply wives, mothers, significant others, etc. This is a chance to let these women shine, and I'm really looking forward to it! :)

That said, I really like all the women I've requested here, so as long as you steer clear of my DNWs, I'm confident that I'll love whatever you create for them!

Happy writing, and have fun! :)

AO3 Username: Dee_Moyza

General Likes | General DNWs

Fandoms: Transistor | Final Fantasy VI | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy X | SaGa Frontier

General Likes

♪ missing scenes
♪ found family
♪ character backstories
♪ gen fic
♪ worldbuilding
♪ character studies
♪ established relationships
♪ first kisses
♪ fluff
♪ humor
♪ angst with a happy ending
♪ hurt/comfort
♪ friends to lovers

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General DNWs

× explicit sex/smut (implied sex/fade-to-black is fine)
× dark fic
× animal abuse/non-canonical death
× non-canonical character death
× excessive angst/melodrama
× love triangle
× hurt without comfort
× infidelity
× kid fic (as in, the characters being parents)/pregnancy/baby fic
× miscommunication
× fake relationship
× arranged marriage
× rape/dubcon/non-con
× underage (18+ for anything beyond kissing, please)
× hateful content (racist/homophobic/transphobic/etc.)
× amnesia fic
× character/ship bashing
× unrequested AU

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Transistor

Fandom DNW: Recursion

Red - Even though we only see her on the worst day of her life, so much in the game suggests that Red is a spirited, confident woman. I'd love to see something pre-canon focusing on her developing career, or on her developing distaste for the sameness in Cloudbank. What caused the riot at her concert, and was she aware she was being "subversive" at the time? What are the stories behind some of her songs? What was it like for her to spearhead an artistic program in a school known primarily for science and civil engineering? (It seems she always had a bit of a rebellious streak! ;) ) Red is one of my favorite video game characters, so I'm sure to love anything you write about her!

Sybil - From her position and influence in Cloudbank, it's easy to assume that Sybil is a sharp, shrewd woman with excellent social skills. I'd love to see her in her element, doing what she does best, forming and manipulating social connections to her advantage. How long was she at this before her obsession with Red developed? How did it develop? How did she end up joining the Camerata? How did she feel sitting at the Empty Set, realizing that her plan had gone horribly wrong, and being processed all the while?

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Final Fantasy VI

Daryl - Who is this high-flying, thrill-seeking woman of whom canon only gave us the briefest of glimpses? From what we see of her, she seems so full of life, confident and competitive. I'd really like to see something of her backstory—how she got into flying, the places she visited, the people she met on the way. I adore her independent, pioneering spirit, and if you can incorporate that anywhere, even in regard to things outside of airships and flying, I'd really appreciate it.

Celes - There is so much great fic potential in Celes' entire arc, as well as pre- and post-canon speculation. Anything from the canon timeline is fine from me, as well as exploration of how she rose through the ranks of the army, and how she deals with a world without magic after Kefka's defeat. No matter what approach you take, Celes is sure to make for a great story!

Relm - I've always had a soft spot for Relm, especially because of her brash personality. She doesn't get enough attention in fic, in my opinion, and I'd really like to see any kind of fic featuring her, but particularly pre- or post-canon. How does she develop her magic painting powers? When does she discover them? How does she handle the disappearance of magic after Kefka's defeat? Does she ever find out the truth about Shadow? Does she still interact with the others from her journey, maybe travelling to see them every once in a while? Seriously, anything about this spirited artist is fine with me! :)

Maria - I love the mystery around her. Who is she, and how did she become a signer? Is Setzer the only one who's fixated on her, or does she have to deal with many overzealous fans? When she runs away from Setzer, where does she go? Does she survive the apocalypse? If so, how does she rebuild her life in World of Ruin? Does she return to singing after Kefka is defeated and the world begins to rebuild?

Group: Daryl and Celes - An AU or canon-divergence fic is necessary here, obviously, but I wonder how these two would interact. Their personalities are quite contrasting, but each seem to respect hard work and dedication. It would be very interesting to see how they handle the events of canon—anything from Daryl being present during the kidnapping attempt to helping Celes find her friends in the World of Ruin to them taking on Kefka together—and how they each influence the other along the way. I am fine with either a platonic or romantic relationship between these two.

Group: Daryl and Maria - I like to think of Daryl and Maria having been a casual item before Setzer even entered the picture, and I'd love to see a dynamic based on the contrasts between them: a woman who won't (can't?) stay in one place too long and a woman who stays put to develop her art and career. I am fine with either a platonic or romantic relationship between these two. I'd just like to see how they interact, and what might form the basis for any relationship they have.

Group: Celes and Terra - Another dynamic built on contrast. I love Terra's warm inquisitive nature, especially when contrasted with Celes' cold efficiency. If anyone can melt Celes' icy exterior, it's Terra, and I'd love to see their interactions at any stage of the story, but particularly pre-canon or post-canon. Celes' dialog in the GBA script suggests she and Terra knew each other before the events of the game; how did they meet? What was their relationship like? As for post-canon, where do they go after the events of the game? Does Terra go back to Mobliz? Does Celes stay with her? Or does one or both of them travel the world? I'd just like to see some sweet moments between these two, no matter where or when they are. Either a platonic or romantic relationship is fine with me.

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Final Fantasy VIII

Julia - I'd really love to see Julia's backstory, or her time in the spotlight. What drove her passion for music? Was she a Deling City native or did she move there to pursue a career? How did she react to being offered a record deal? How did she compose her songs, and how much of them did she draw from her own life and experiences?

Rinoa - One of my favorite video game characters, period. I love her rebellious, independent spirit, and I'll love pretty much any fic starring her. Of particular interest to me, though, are her backstory (especially how she got involved with the Forest Owls) and her future as a sorceress. Does she hide her powers or embrace them? What does it take for her to learn to control them, and how does being a sorceress change her personality/outlook, if it does at all?

Edea - I'd really love to see a fic touching on Edea's past as a sorceress. She practically grew up with powers; how did she manage them? How did she learn to control them? Did she hide them, and if not, how did she avoid persecution? Did she avoid it at all? How/why did she end up opening an orphanage, and how did she feel about her powers in relation to the children's safety? Did Ultimecia's possession occur slowly or all at once, and did Edea actually communicate with her beforehand? So many possibilities arise from the little we're told of her in canon!

Ultimecia - Who is this time-bending sorceress, and why did she do what she did? I'd love to see a story give her the motivation that the game neglected to, and maybe delve into who she is as a person: what her past was like, and just how she came to get the idea of Time Compression.

Selphie - I love Selphie in all her moods, from the ray of sunshine to the mourning friend to the slightly unhinged violence machine. She really has a mood to match any tone of fic, so just run with whatever direction she takes you in! ;)

Ma Dincht - There's a certain hardiness that underlies Ma Dincht's cheerful demeanor. She seems like a hard-working, independent woman, and I'd just love to find out more about her!

Group: Rinoa and Quistis - Their wildly different personalities create an interesting dynamic, and I'd love to see it applied to something other than Squall. I firmly believe that Quistis' initial jealousy of Rinoa had more to do with Rinoa's worldview and confidence than with romantic rivalry, and the game hints that they've moved past that awkwardness (Quistis is the first character to run to Rinoa when Rinoa collapses after receiving Edea's powers, and she is visibly angrier than the others that Squall rescued Rinoa from space and immediately turned her over to Esthar). I'd like to see more of this development, whether during the canon timeline or afterward. I welcome either a platonic or romantic relationship for these two.

Group: Rinoa and Quistis and Selphie - Whether it's in the canon timeline or afterward, whether its for a mission or for leisure or just hanging around Garden, I'd love to see these three being good friends. I would prefer the relationship remain platonic.

Group: Rinoa and Edea - I'd really like to see Rinoa consulting Edea about being a sorceress—what to expect, how to control her powers, etc. I'd like to see Edea take her under her wing and become her mentor, perhaps sharing her own experiences as a sorceress along the way. I would prefer the relationship remain platonic.

Group: Edea and Ellone - What kind of relationship do these two have? While it's easy to imagine that they might find solidarity in their supernatural powers, Edea also was responsible for sending Ellone to live on the White SeeD ship. While it was for her protection, Ellone was still quite young at the time, and might have had a difficult time coming to terms with her new living arrangement. How does she view Edea, especially in light of Edea eventually falling into Ultimecia's control? Did the trust and goodwill between Ellone and Edea continue unwavering, or will they need to reestablish it after the events of the game? I would prefer their relationship remain platonic.


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Final Fantasy X

Group: Lulu and Yuna - I love the sisterly dynamic between these two, and I'd love to see it explored further. Anything from how they met to missing scenes during canon to adjusting to the aftermath of Yuna's pilgrimage. It's clear that Lulu is committed to always being there for Yuna; it would be nice to see Yuna echo that sentiment, as well. I would prefer their relationship remain platonic.

Group: Lulu and Ginnem - We're only really told how the story ends, and very little leading up to that. There is so much possibility here to explore what kinds of people both Lulu and Ginnem were at the time. [Side note: feel free to ignore the Ultimania's timeline of Lulu's pilgrimages; it makes all the events feel incredibly rushed]. I'd love to see how they met, and how Lulu convinced Ginnem to make her a guardian, as well as scenes during the pilgrimage. I would prefer their relationship remain platonic.

Group: Yuna and Rikku - Rikku's concern for Yuna is so touching, and while Yuna's intended sacrifice hangs over much of their canon interaction, I also think that Rikku's sunny and resilient personality brightened Yuna's day. I'd love to see them just being teenagers for a while, reconnecting after years of apart, and just generally being good friends. I also really like how Rikku's attitude tends to embolden Yuna in X-2, so I wouldn't mind some foreshadowing of that in post-FFX-canon. Considering they're related, I definitely want this relationship to be portrayed as platonic only.

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SaGa Frontier

Emilia - Oh, where to start? This poor woman ended up being a spectator in her own story, robbed of agency at almost every turn. I would love to see her reclaim some of that agency, whether it's by investigating the Joker on her own, or simply taking a firmer stance against Roufas' assignments. This may require some canon divergence, so go right ahead!

Doll - Such wasted potential. A cool character concept, but we never really get to see her shine. I'd love to know how she ended up joining IRPO, and where she fits into the agency.

Asellus - Out of all the female characters in this game, Asellus is the only one with any real meat to her story. I'm especially interested in her continued development post-canon. While I prefer half-mystic Asellus, any of her ending states will do. I just want to see her coming to terms with her powers and her new identity, whether she ends up embracing them or not.

White Rose - White Rose is interesting in that she remains so gentle despite her fate at the hands of Lord Orlouge. I'd really like to know who she was before she became an arch princess, and how she reconciles that past (if she even remembers it) with the life of captivity she leads now.

Princess Lion - Princess Lion fascinates me in that she's such a fierce fighter and imposing personality, but still blindly devoted to Orlouge. I liked that she respected Asellus and company's battle skills the first time you encounter her in the game, and wonder what kind of woman she would be if freed from Orlouge's charms. Even though she disappears when defeated the second time, the fact that she appears in the ending CG suggests she isn't dead; how does she change under Asellus' leadership in Facinaturu (half- or full-mystic ending), and does she ever learn to use her strength for herself, rather than in service to someone else?

Liza - Liza is an intriguing character, fighting alongside her female companions in Gradius, but so besotted with Roufas that she doesn't hesitate to betray their trust to serve his needs (after all, she gave Emilia the spiked drink so that Roufas could sell Emilia to Trinity). So the question with her is, who is she, really? How did she join Gradius, and why? Was it toward an end of her own, or was Roufas the reason all along? How does she view the other women in the organization, and how does she view herself, as an agent and as a woman?

Annie - I really like Annie. A tough exterior masking a fun personality and concern for her loved ones. I'd really like to see a fic of her pre-canon, with her family, and what drove her to join Gradius, or post-canon, with her reuniting with her siblings, somehow, even if not permanently.

Group: Emilia and Annie and Liza - I think these women's personalities would make for an interesting dynamic. I'd love to see them helping Emilia train, or bantering on the way to missions. I'd also like to see them outside of the context of battles and investigations. Perhaps just having a girls' night out, or even throwing Emilia a bachelorette party (something tells me Annie would be great at that ;) ). I would prefer this relationship remain platonic.

Group: Asellus and White Rose - I really loved seeing Asellus' shock at realizing that she loved White Rose, and it would be great to see her work through her confusion and pursue the relationship wholeheartedly. Especially considering Asellus' early comments that nobody should be forced to stay with someone they don't love, it would be interesting to see her and White Rose build and navigate a relationship based on mutual attraction, respect, and trust.

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That wraps it up! I just wanted to thank you again for taking up this challenge, and I hope you enjoy creating something for it. I know I'll enjoy reading it!

💕 Dee Moyza