dontstophernow

These are my general thoughts on my favorite relationships in the Locked Tomb series. If you've arrived here, it is probably from an exchange! Hello, and thanks for considering writing for me!

Frequent DNWs (superseded by the sign-up box)
Violence more than canon-typical
Non-canonical pregnancies, babies, and children
Unrequested AUs
Pregnancy, Adoption, Babies and Toddlers, non-canonical Children
Incest Between Blood-relations (Tridentarius twins okay), Unrequested Underage, Major Character Death
Zombies (classical zombies, BOE referring to necromancers okay), Vampires
Cervix Penetration
Religion/Religious Themes
Omorashi, Golden Showers, Piss, Scat
Police, Interactions with Punitive Criminal Justice Systems
Caves and especially cave-ins (Drearburh okay)

For any Solo characters, I just like to see their perspectives! Canon-adjacent stories are great!

Anything involving Noodle -
- Noodle is a good boy! Such a good boy!
- Does Pash have to walk Noodle sometimes? Or other BoE members?
- Does Aim have to deal with Pash being an a-hole about Aim walking Noodle?
- A Day In the Life Of Noodle The 6-Legged Dog
- Nona would spoil Noodle if she could, probably.

 

Everyone and anyone with Nona - She deserved everything good in the entire universe. Just be so incredibly nice to Nona. She got her party, and her gifts and everyone loved her more than they could express but they still tried.

Solo Aim - What is the deal with Aim The Angel? She's a message in a person and a doctor and a dog owner and a strategist(?!) and suddenly Nona is not just a traumatized child, but also a lyctor. She's BOE, but somehow more than BOE, and at the end of Nona's book, she's in the heart of the empire and I just want to know everything about her!

Aiglamene & Gideon Nav - Aiglamene is like, the one person who saw the value in Gideon pre-canon. I would love to see anything about their relationship. In so many ways, Aiglamene is Gideon's mom more than anyone else.

Nona & Pash - Nona has a little crush on Pash, but also just thinks Pash is a badass. If Pash ever noticed this, how would she feel about the lyctor having a crush on her?

Ortus & Abigail & Magnus are in an impossible situation in Harrow's mind-bubble, but despite the nightmarish qualities, they seem to be doing alright. How do they all get to know each other, and how do they figure out remotely what is happening? What is it like for Ortus to finally have friends close to his own age? What is it like for them all to basically know they're already dead?

Ortus & Harrow - Boy, Harrowhark cannot catch a break, even in her own head, huh? Chill hangout with Ortus Nigenad? Just a nice quiet vibe for Harrow in her time of need. They were necro & cavalier for some time before the events of GtN, and I love their dynamic in HtN. I'd love to see them be as close to friends as they can be with, you know, all of the Ninth situation.

Cam/Pal/Pyrrha - I think they're bone-meltingly hot because they are all so controlled in everything they do, what happens when they let go? Pyrrha is a desperately passionate person and a hyper-competent badass both with people and as a weapon. Camilla and Palamedes cannot be together, but they can both be with Pyrrha, and they can share as many words as they want. That little apartment was a pressure cooker in many ways, and I think one of those ways was sexual.

Cam & Pal & Pyrrha - They had to take care of Nona and not get killed for a LONG time. How did their collective adjustment take, and how much did they all step on each other's toes about everything? Pyrrha hadn't had that kind of relationship in about 10,000 years. Cam & Pal were best friends and couldn't talk to each other. They were all so messy with history, and that last week was just ONE WEEK of all of their lives with Nona.

Cam & Pal - They're just IN THIS together. Ride or die in a thousand ways. They are a team who respect each other so intensely, but there's also a generosity in their friendship that includes others outside just them. I love them in any way, whatever form their relationship takes.

Cam/Pal - They seem pretty clearly in love in NtN. Sharing a body is so incredibly intimate. I would love to know if they ever consummated their relationship, or if one of them never realized they were in love until it was impossible to touch. There's so much angsty romantic potential!

Gideon & Nona - They really don't seem to like each other, but Nona is fascinated by Gideon despite their mutual aversion. I'd love to know what all of their NtN interactions were like from Gideon's perspective! This is the body of Harrow with the mind of someone else! Gideon has literally been in there herself. What is any of that like?

Gideon & Pash - I feel like there's really big "Who's that other dog" energy between them. They're both the tank, and that could go one of many ways. Pash is pissed to be going anywhere in Dominicus, and Gideon is pissed about everything. How hard do they engage in a strap-comparison?

Hot Sauce & Nona - Who among us didn't have that one bad friend as a kid? Who among us doesn't still remember that one bad friend with such fondness it hurts? That's Hot Sauce to me. Tell me what Hot Sauce remembers about Nona as she grows into a badass BoE agent.

Jeannemary & Gideon and Jeannemary & Isaac - Oh the teens are just so teenaged. I love them in all their rebellion attempts! They're both so in awe of Gideon, and Gideon seems pretty baffled by the whole thing.

Palamedes & Juno Zeta - I loved the affection between them in NtN! What's their relationship like? What was it like for Juno to learn about ANY of the lyctor trials and know that Palamedes was living in first Cam's and then Naberius's body?

Pyrrha & Gideon Nav - I just think Pyrrha would feel deeply protective of Gideon, as someone accidentally named after her best friend, and the daughter of her lover. If not for the John experiments, Gideon might have literally been G1deon's child via Pyrrha. Probably they both have a lot of feelings about this and other than Gideon's "eww" I'd love to read just about anything about these two being badasses together.

Abigail/Magnus - I just love their love! They are unusual in that their necro/cav bond is also a marriage! That's apparently taboo, and I would love to know why, and how they navigate the taboo. Tell me any cozy, weird, joyful story you like about them!

Gideon/Harrow - They want to fuck so badly it makes them look stupid. Also, they are really mega assholes to each other, and they will need to figure out how NOT to do that if they ever want to be together. Neither can die at the moment, though, which should be interesting!

Ortus/Abigail/Magnus - I think the Fifth flirted with Ortus constantly for months, so they should really get to have some fun between all the nonsense that was happening in HtN. Inexperienced Ortus being initiated into the joys of love and sex with Abigail and Magnus can't go wrong. Abigail probably runs the fuck and gets everyone what they want. Magnus is very into Ortus's epic poetry and probably would like to show Ortus how much.

Ortus/Matthias - This could just get so weird since Ortus has been writing the Noniad for years. Matthias reading the Noniad and annotating it would be absolutely incredible. Or, Matthias falling in love with Ortus through reading how much Ortus loves and idolizes him. Ortus Nigenad needs more love. Give Ortus Nigenad more love than he knows what to do with. Mathias Nonius is such a specific dude. Probably Mathias and Ortus should make out. Or, Ortus recites Matthias some of the Noniad and Matthias gives notes on the historical accuracy between kisses.

Pyrrha/Paul - You know this got weird REALLY FAST and despite how much Pyrrha loved Cam+Pal, Paul is both a whole new person and also both of the people she loved. Show me how absolutely bonkers it gets! Paul wants to experience everything again? Pyrrha seems best placed to volunteer as tribute!

Pyrrha/G1deon/Wake - Good lord, how messy. I love it. Wake/Pyrrha when Wake is chased by G1deon?! How the fuck did any of that work? And, WHY on earth did G1deon join in? What's it like for Wake to be with two different people in one body, as fucking BoE?! She knew she was fucking a lyctor, surely!

Pash/Coronabeth - Pash is established in BOE, and Corona seems to want to do well in the organization. Corona is one of the hottest people in any room, but also Pash doesn't trust her, so what's that tension like between hot and distrust? And for Corona, what's the tension like between wanting approval from someone established and knowing they'll never really accept you?

Coronabeth/Ianthe - No one has ever been as good to Corona as Ianthe is, and that's the most believable thing in all of the sexual relationships in this series. Give me the mutual manipulation and Ianthe exerting her necromantic will on Corona so hard that Corona doesn't even think about it most of the time.

These are my general thoughts on all my favorite relationships in the Goblin Emperor series. If you've arrived here, it is probably from an exchange! Hello, and thanks for considering writing for me! I don't nominate every ship in every exchange, but these are my general thoughts about all the relationships I like.

An overarching idea I love in this fandom is the idea of the Emperor's Dav. I like the idea that Maia brings together all of the people in his household to become that canonical idea of blurring the lines of status between the people in the dav. Maia needs a place where those lines can be blurred, and I'd love to see that explored in any way.

Frequent DNWs: (superceded by anything in the sign-up box)
Unrequested genderbending
Violence more than canon-typical
Focus on pregnancies and babies (Csethiro getting/being pregnant okay to mention)
Unrequested AUs
Incest Between Blood-relations, Unrequested Underage, Major Character Death
Omorashi, Golden Showers, Piss, Scat
Police, Unrequested Punishment Themes
Caves and especially cave-ins
Polycule characters not attracted to some members of the polycule (everyone should be happy to interact with everyone else)

I prefer that whoever you pair Maia with, that Csethiro be treated with kindness and respect by everyone involved. I would especially like if she is happy for Maia even if they don't have a romantic connection in the story.

For any Solo characters or Groups not specifically mentioned, I just like to see their perspectives! Canon-adjacent stories are great!

Maia & His Nohecharei & Secretary
ships include
-Cala Athmaza & Deret Beshelar
-Cala Athmaza & Deret Beshelar & Maia Drazhar
-Cala Athmaza & Kiru Athmaza
-Cala Athmaza & Kiru Athmaza & Deret Beshelar & Maia Drazhar & Telimezh
-Csevet Aisava & Cala Athmaza & Deret Beshelar & Maia Drazhar
-Kiru Athmaza & Telimezh
-Edehasivar VII's nohecharei

I love Maia's relationship with the people who work in his household. I would love to see how everyone's individual relationships interact. How Csevet fits into the dynamics that Maia doesn't see. How the Firsts relate to the Seconds and vice versa. The Soldiers and The Mazei. Maia and each of his nohecharei as they guard him in the night.

Then, what do the nohecharei see that others don't see, and how do they handle the extremely private information they have about the emperor. Or, what do the edocharei know that the nohecharei don't? How do the nohecharei and edocharei handle each other?

How long does it take each member of Maia's household to realize they don't know Telimezh's given name?

Maia & His Younger Cousins
ships include
-Maia Drazhar & Idra Drazhar
-Maia Drazhar & Idra Drazhar & Ino Drazhin & Mirean Drazhin

I love Maia thinking he's bad with children and then his young cousins are absolutely obsessed with him. He doesn't understand familial love, and I would love to see him find the love of his family with these kids. I especially would love to see something set later when they're nearly grown up where they can tell him what he meant to them through and after their parallel bad time that winter of canon.

Maia & Nemolis
ships include
- Idra Drazhar & Maia Drazhar & Nemolis Drazhar (TGE)
- Maia Drazhar & Nemolis Drazhar (Goblin Emperor)

It's the brotherly bond he can't ever actually experience, and that he can't even really conceive of. When I request this, there should also be some sort of freeforms in my sign-up to guide what sort of AU puts Maia & Nemolis into proximity with each other. I just like the idea that Maia got to see his brother be a father, and with the difference in their ages maybe got to experience his older brother as more of a father than Varenechibel was to him. I like the idea of Nemolis being protective of Maia, and encouraging Maia to be friends with his cousin Idra. These relationships feel like they're all about someone finally protecting Maia properly and giving him a childhood or teen years where someone cares about him and what sort of person that would make him, especially if he's one step removed from being emperor.

Maia Drazhar & Vedero Drazhin - Who can blame her for not really trusting him at first? And, who can blame him for wishing she'd just not be standoffish? I was so glad that by the end of the book, she was finding ways to invite him into her life. He wouldn't ever make her do something she doesn't want to do, and she's used to being forced into things she doesn't want. What happens if/when Maia finally does need her marriage? How do they continue on as siblings when he has to be the emperor?


Csevet Aisava & Csethiro Ceredin & Maia Drazhar - I think they'd be a powerful group with each of their unique skills. Maia already has a strong relationship with them by the end of TGE, and I'd like to see how Csethiro & Csevet interact, knowing they're both so close to Maia. How do these three rely on each other for the years to come? How do these three work through the trauma and enforced ignorance of Maia's childhood?

Csevet Aisava & Maia Drazhar - They're just so loyal to each other from so early in their acquaintance! They just Get Each Other in a way that feels so good to read! They seem to want so badly to just be themselves with each other, and it's all I want to see.

Nurevis Chavar & Maia Drazhar - The scene at the end when Maia and Nurevis say goodbye guts me! I love Nurevis trying to pull Maia out of his shell, and it only kind of works. I love Nurevis giving Maia an introduction to so many things about how the Untheleneise court works. They're just actually friends, and by the time they realize it, they can't be friends anymore, and it's a travesty! #JusticeForNurevis

Thara Celehar & Maia Drazhar  - Are they friends? I mean, they're not, but aren't they? Thara doesn't seem to have any sense of when people are his friends. Maia wants very badly to have Any Friend. Maia extends friendship and kinship many times and Thara just seems baffled by the whole thing. I think anything you tell me about that fundamental misunderstanding of their relationship would be great!

Csethiro Ceredin & Csoru Drazharan - They hate each other, and now they're in the same family, but it's neither of their fathers' houses. Surprise! Their fathers got their wishes! They still hate each other, though, and I just want to see them Mean Girls-ing each other into their old age. Maybe Csoru has to ask Csethiro's imperial permission to remarry? How many more times will Csethiro slap Csoru? How many times has she already slapped Csoru?

Evrenis Bralchenar & Atho Narchanezhen & Aina Shulivar - They changed the Ethuveraz. Moreover, they changed Maia's life. How much did they each know what they were doing? How much did they each think it was real before it happened? What's the culture like in the Curneise, really? These three really fascinate me!

Cala Athmaza/Deret Beshelar - They spend half their lives with Maia, yes, but they also spend that time with each other, and have some relationship with each other outside Maia's presence that I am SO curious about. By the end of canon, they're all clearly close, and Deret has relaxed very slightly, but how long would it take for him to fully relax and accept Cala in all his messy emotionality? Or, is Deret just always going to appear that way to Maia and off-shift, is he a touchy-feely teddy bear with Cala? They're just each other's equals and opposites and counterparts. They have to have such intense loyalty to each other and to their emperor, I don't know how they don't fall in love about all of it. They literally hold each others' lives in their hands. How do you spend fully half your life and more with someone and not fall in love with them a little? Maybe they first fall in love with Maia and need someone to fuck about it, so they fuck each other and then fall in love together, too?

Csevet Aisava/Cala Athmaza/Deret Beshelar - Who has time to leave the Alcethmeret for dating/fucking/love? Certainly not these three workaholics! Remember when I said Cala/Deret first fall in love with Maia and need someone to fuck about it? What if they fuck Csevet about it! Or, maybe Csevet notices they want Maia and seduces them both as their Maia-proxy. What if two of them bully the other one into finally relaxing with a nice threesome?

Csevet Aisava/Cala Athmaza/Deret Beshelar/Maia Drazhar - Remember when I said Cala/Deret first fall in love with Maia and need someone to fuck about it and what if they fuck Csevet about it? What if Maia finds out about it and gets sad they didn't think he'd fuck them! No one wants Maia to be sad! I also think a lot about how incredibly repressed Maia is, and how much he doesn't want to be in charge of everything. But, with Csevet, Deret, and Cala (during the canon period), he has the most intimate and trusting relationships of his life so far. With these men who he loves and who love him, he could finally let himself relax and submit in ways that seem like they would be a comfort to him.

Csethiro Ceredin/Maia Drazhar - Csethiro is finally the no-nonsense guide to the Court Maia needs. He doesn't want to be everyone's duty, and she would like to choose her duties. By the end of canon, they're falling for each other, and I would love to see them realize they are fully actually in love. Also, although I don't love to read about pregnancy and babies, I do think they'll be good parents, and I would be interested to see them further along into raising the next generation (or two?) of Drazhada.

Csevet Aisava/Csethiro Ceredin/Maia Drazhar - One thousand kisses for Maia from the man and woman who are the most clearly in love with him. Probably Csevet and Csethiro bond over how much they love Maia and then Maia is like, yeah, but have you seen the two of you?! and then they look at each other and are like, oh yeah! And then One Thousand kisses between Csevet and Csethiro as well.

Csevet Aisava/Maia Drazhar - Csevet has seen Maia go from half-asleep and confused to being the confident Edrehasivar the Bridge Builder. At every point, he wanted to stay with Maia. Maia has seen Csevet go from prostrating himself, using "Serenity" to him first, to being the surely-perpetually-exhausted hypercompetent badass secretary of the emperor. At every point, he wanted Csevet by his side. I lose count of the times in canon I just want them to kiss or say they love each other.

Maia Drazhar/Telimezh - There's something very sweet about how Telimezh is intimidated by Maia and Maia is almost casually like, no you belong in my service. I just like the idea that they each have at least one person who understands what it's like in the far western marshes while they live in extreme opulence at court. I think their relationship is very quiet and subtle and that they're a soft place in all the intensity of the court.

Halezh/Nedaö Vechin - She loved him so much, she very nearly prostituted herself for his goals. From her last scene, it seems like their love is requited. I would love to know how *gestures* all of that worked itself out. How do an opera singer and a clocksmith fall in love? With what we know about opera culture from Thara's books, what will their future look like? Does Halezh feel as sweetly reverent about Nedao as she feels about him?

Vorzhis Gormened/Nadaro Gormened - What is it like for them to be Barizheise in the court of the Ethuveraz? Was his posting a good or bad thing? What did happen when Nadaro could only light candles for Chenelo, or any other way their culture dictated what was appropriate for a wife? With Maia's coronation, what changed for them?

Setheris Nelar/Hesero Nelaran - He fucked up SO Badly. He could have had it ALL, and all it would have taken was not being an unrelenting dick to a child. Obviously she had always seen a different version of him, but what was that version? When he returned from relegation, was he any different than he had been before relegation? What the fuck did he tell her about his relationship with Maia? And, after she learned the truth about his abuse of Maia, could she forgive him? I genuinely think it's interesting if she CAN forgive him, since he's Not that person with her. Their relationship in any phase is interesting, and I'd love to see a nuanced take on how they function!

Thara Celehar/Iäna Pel-Thenhior - Thara cannot remotely see himself. Iäna cannot remotely keep his mouth shut. They take almost two full books to thou each other. Thara has been thirsty for so long, he knows he'd drown in the cool pool of Iäna's affection. Iäna seems to understand he has to treat Thara like Thara treats the feral cats. They're falling in love so gently, I don't know if they'll know they've landed until they wake up one day in a bed with cats.

Csoru Drazharan/Varenechibel IV - They Suck! I love their toxic bullshit! Why did Csoru KNOW she wasn't pregnant?! Did Varenechibel ever fuck her in a way that could get her pregnant?! He's the Worst! She's the Worst in a different way! He's the most privileged man in the Ethuveraz and everyone who knew him kind of thought he was a tool! She's been slapped Some Number Of Times by Csethiro! Show me all their bullshit, messy, cringey, assholish glory! Did they EVEN LOVE EACH OTHER?! Probably not! It's awesome and I love them! They Deserved Each Other!