Monday: Letters

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

Hello, everyone. I’m sherlockian_syn and today's theme is Letters. Prompts can be anything from people writing letters to one another, letters of the alphabet, or lyrics/poems about letters. Just as long as it has something to do with letters, go wild!

Just a few rules:
No more than five prompts in a row.
No more than three prompts in the same fandom.
Use the character's full names and fandom's full name for ease adding to the Lonely Prompts spreadsheet.
No spoilers in prompts for a month after airing, or use the spoiler cut option found here.
If your fill contains spoilers, warn and leave plenty of space, or use the spoiler cut.
If there are possible triggers in your story, please warn for them in the subject line!

Prompts should be formatted as follows: [Use the character's full names and fandom's full name]
Fandom, Character +/ Character, Prompt

Some examples to get the ball rolling...
+ Stargate Atlantis, Team Sheppard, teaching Ronon the Earth alphabet
+ Marvel Cinematic Universe, Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes, Bucky writes Steve a letter before going back into stasis in Wakanda
+ BBC Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Letters from the Wasteland by The Wallflowers

We use AO3 to bookmark filled prompts. If you fill a prompt and post it to AO3 please add it to the Bite Sized Bits of Fic from 2018 collection. See further notes on this new option here.

Not feeling any of today’s prompts? Check out Lonely Prompts Spreadsheet 1 (not very current), Lonely Prompts Spreadsheet 2, or the Calendar Archives, or for more recent prompts, you can use LJ's advanced search options to find prompts to request and/or fill.

While the Lonely Prompts Spreadsheets and LJ's advanced search options are available, bookmarking the links of prompts you like might work better for searching for in the future.


tag=letters

Comments

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

Stargate Atlantis, Team Sheppard, teaching Ronon the Earth alphabet

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

Marvel Cinematic Universe, Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes, Bucky writes Steve a letter before going back into stasis in Wakanda

[daria234.livejournal.com]

Dear Steve,

I know it was hard for you to say good-bye. It was hard for me too. But my head is still a bundle of traps, and I could become him at any moment. I would make you less than you are. And to be totally honest, around you, even though it's always been an honor to fight by your side, I would rather be done with fighting. You would never run from a war, but I would. I figure after almost a hundred years, I've earned a break.


Bucky sighed and crumpled up the paper. He tried again.

Dear Steve,

All I want - all I've ever wanted - is for you to be happy.


Bucky immediately threw the paper away again. How do you tell your best friend that you left him to make him happy?

Dear Steve,

We've known each other since we were kids. You know that there's no one I would rather be with. But I just can't right now. I just can't.


Bucky let out a breath. That had been painful to write. Honest, but painful.

Well, if he was going to spill his guts all messy onto this letter, he might as well really do it.

Dear Steve,

I love you. I'm in love with you. The fact that I can't be with you- and I really, really can't, not right now - it hurts like hell. But I swear it's not because I don't love with everything I have. You're a loudmouthed kid with a chip on your shoulder and a crappy attitude, and I've never been able to get enough of you.

And I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry you gave up everything that matters to you, just to help me. After what I've done, what I am. It makes me sick, to be honest, to think about you giving up any more for me. So I think this should be good bye. And part of me hates saying that, part of me thinks I should say that when I wake up, I am going to take you to some remote island and we're going to make love around the clock for the rest of our unnaturally long lives. But I don't honestly think that's going to happen. I think, instead, that you're going to have to move on. But you should know that I've never loved anyone like I love you.


Bucky stared at the letter for a long time. It was cruel, to Steve, to finally speak that unspoken thing to him and then take away hope at the same time.

Nothing, even the truth, could make Bucky be cruel to Steve.

Dear Steve,

Don't do anything stupid until I get back.

Your best pal,
Bucky



Bucky folded the letter in half and put it in the envelope. He just had to trust that Steve would read between the lines.

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

BBC Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, Letters from the Wasteland by The Wallflowers

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

Any, any m/m, P.S. I Love You by The Beatles

Fill: MCU, IronStrange

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Tony was confused when he woke up and the bed beside him was empty and there was a little sticky note on the bedside lamp.

P.S. it read in shaky letters.

Where was the rest of the letter? P.S. meant post-script. Where was the pre-script? Or just the script. Whatever.

Tony didn’t recognize the handwriting. He pulled on a pair of boxers and found his glasses and poked around the nightstand in case the rest of the letter had fallen to the floor, but there was none to be found.

Finally, he gave up. “Jarvis, start some coffee.”

“Yes, Mr. Stark.”

Tony squinted up at the ceiling. Jarvis didn’t used to say his name like that. That was how Peter said it.

“Also, where did the letter go?”

“What letter, Mr. Stark?”

Tony headed for the bathroom.

“There’s a post-it with P.S. on the lamp. Where’s the - the S?”

“I am not aware of any letters left for you, Mr. Stark.”

Tony turned around and headed for the lamp and peered at the post-it again. He really didn’t recognize the handwriting.

And then he realized: shaky letters, no extended note.

He’d never seen Stephen’s handwriting before. The man dictated things into his phone or, more recently, to Jarvis, to send texts and emails and send reminders.

Stephen had played the piano, before.

People always joked about doctors and messy handwriting, but -

Tony picked up the note, realized it for the vulnerability it was.

P.S. I love you, it meant.

Peter had asked about the movie one night, because kids in his generation didn’t write letters.

Why not put it in the main part of the letter? he’d asked.

Sometimes the important pieces of information need to be separate and discrete, Stephen had said.

Tony tucked the note into his wallet, and he got ready to face the day.

Stephen was still far away doing whatever it was official wizards did when combating the forces of darkness and magic when Tony’s day finally ended, so Tony crawled into his cold, lonely, but very large and comfortable bed.

Before he turned out the light, he drew three little pictures on a sticky note, an eye, a heart, and a U. Then he put the note on the lamp, and he fell asleep.

He stirred briefly when the bed dipped beneath someone else’s weight, when someone warm and firm pressed up beside him.

“Hm?”

A hand smoothed over his hip. Stephen said, “Go back to sleep. I’m here now.”

Tony nodded and slipped back into dreams and wondered what he’d say to Stephen in the morning.

But in the morning, Stephen was gone, and a new sticky note had replaced the one Tony had left.

In shaky but careful letters, the note read, Will you?

Tony figured it was kind of hasty, but when had he ever been described as thoughtful and considerate and contemplative? He scribbled out a reply, I do, and then he called Wong.

“Hey, where’s Stephen today? And what’s his ring size?”

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

Star Trek AOS, James Kirk, See Me Now by The Kooks

[4bdnsn0wflake.livejournal.com]

Author's Choice, any character(s), spelling bee

[4bdnsn0wflake.livejournal.com]

Author's Choice, any character(s), receiving a postcard from a long-lost friend/lover/family member

Fill: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

Send You All My Love (https://archiveofourown.org/works/15623895)

[4bdnsn0wflake.livejournal.com]

Author's Choice, any character(s), sealed with a kiss

Fill: SGA/NCIS, Evan/Tony

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Tony stared at the letter, heart pounding. Heavy linen paper. Cream. Expensive. Sealed with a kiss.

It had appeared on his desk while he was out interviewing some Marines about someone stealing Sergeant Barroso's admittedly sexy pictures of his girlfriend. Since they were of his girlfriend and not just his favorite Maxim pinups, he was pretty upset about the whole affair.

Being the Agent Afloat on an alien city-starship was mind-boggling on the best of days. On the worst of days, Tony was pretty sure he'd gone mad.

Most days he didn't think of Earth, of the people who'd sent him away, left him behind.

This letter seemed like a taunt, a reminder of one of the worst times of his life, lying in that sterile hospital quarantine tent, waiting to die.

Tony set the letter down carefully, realized his hands were shaking. His name was written on the letter. He didn't recognize the handwriting, mostly because almost no one on Atlantis handwrote everything, digital files being a way of life and paper being a rare commodity.

This wasn't Earth. No one hated him. No one was going to try to kill him. Not over pilfered skin mags and wrongfully borrowed gaming consoles and other small things.

Tony opened the envelope very carefully, with the top aimed down toward the desk. No white powder exploded out of it. Tony forced himself to take a few deep breaths, and then he eased the letter out of the envelope.

He unfolded it, ready to read, only it wasn't a letter. It was a picture. Of him. Standing on a certain balcony, overlooking the ocean. He was wearing his Atlantis uniform - the civilian officer shade of red looked terrible on him - and his expression was thoughtful, pensive.

His wrist was angled just so, so he could read the watch face in the picture. That was a really specific detail. Tony squinted.

The date was today's date.

And the time was fifteen minutes from now.

There was a shadow in the picture, Tony realized. Someone standing in the doorway that led onto the balcony.

Someone was waiting for him.

Tony stared at the picture, burned it into his memory. Where was that balcony? The view off the balcony was the southeast pier.

Tony did know that balcony. He went there sometimes to decompress. Look at the ocean. He tore through out of his office and to the nearest transporter, jabbed the coordinates for the balcony overlooking the southeast pier. Who would have sent him such a picture? Who on Atlantis was capable of drawing it?

He stepped out of the transporter, dodged around a gaggle of Marines, and headed for the balcony. He swiped his hand over the door and it hissed open.

There was a small table on the balcony, set with a checkered table cloth and places for two, plus a candle and a small rose in a bud vase. Silver dome covers were on both plates. And Evan was standing at the balcony where Tony had been standing in the picture, looking out to sea.

He turned, saw Tony, and smiled. "Hey, you made it."

"Yeah," Tony said. "I made it."

Evan stepped toward him, flicked his wrist absently, and the door hissed shut behind Tony. "I've been trying to drop hints, but maybe I was being too subtle. So -"

"That picture was pretty subtle."

"But you're a very talented investigator."

Tony inclined his head politely. "Thanks."

"Have dinner with me?" Evan asked.

Tony nodded.

Evan leaned up on his toes and kissed him.

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Stargate Multiverse, any, writing that "just in case I don't come back" letter before shipping out

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Stargate Multiverse, any, writing/delivering a notification letter after someone is KIA

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Stargate Atlantis, any, teaching Torren to read and write

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Justice League (2017), Arthur Curry/Barry Allen, message in a bottle

[reeby10.livejournal.com]

Psych, Pierre Despereaux/Shawn Spencer, Shawn starts getting anonymous love letters

[reeby10.livejournal.com]

any, any, letter to the editor

[reeby10.livejournal.com]

any, any m/m or f/f, letters never sent

Leverage, established Eliot/Parker/Hardison

[daria234.livejournal.com]

Letter never sent:

Dear Parker,

I hope you never have to read this. Or at least, not for like 70 years. But if anything ever happens to me, I want you to know a few things:

1. I love you so much I feel like I could burst - always have, always will.

2. I love you exactly as you are.

3. Please give my money to my Nana and my computer equipment to a young hacker who seems to care about helping the little guy.

4. Eliot will try to take care of you right now. That's what he always does - take care of us when we need him. But you and I both know that Eliot needs taking care of as much as any of us. Maybe more. Look after his heart, mama.

5. More than anything, I want you to be happy and safe and loved. I know it's hard, but please, please do your best to make that happen, no matter how angry or sad you are.

6. My last wish is that you still something from the original Star Wars movie set and bury it with me.

With as much love as I have to give,
Alec

[reeby10.livejournal.com]

any sci-fi, any, learning the letters of an alien language

Fill: SGA, crack, surprise ship

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Even though Jinto and Wex were older, Cleo and Casta were definitely smarter. They worked hard at learning their Earth Letters every day. Doctor Radek had made them special cards so they could practice their letters and sounds and even Earth Words, and now they were on Atlantis itself to show Mr. Woolsey how much they had learned and how much they could help.

Only some alarm started to screech as soon as they came to the gate, and Doctor Radek sent them to the lab with very strict instructions to not touch anything or he would let Doctor Rodney babysit them.

So they sat at one of the tables and waited. And waited. And waited. Only all the doctors were gone and no one came to tell them anything.

And then Casta said, “Look. Letters. Words!” He pointed to one of the flat, shiny screens that Earthers used instead of writing tablets and chalk like normal people.

“We can practice our reading!” Cleo beamed. She scooted closer to the screen and peered. “Come on, sound it out.”

Together, they named off each of the letters, and then they tried out the sounds, and as they went they found some words they knew, like rope and collar and tie. They were pretty sure they were saying some new words right, like dom and sub, but other longer words, like d-o-m-i-n-a-t-r-i-x neither of them could figure out how to say.

“We should ask Doctor Radek when he comes back,” Casta said.

“Hey, look.” Cleo pointed to the screen. “M-i-k-o is Miko! Look, and arr-ruh-Ronon!”

“Ronon’s fun.” Casta grinned. “I like playing with Ronon. Look! This word is play.”

They kept reading and what was on the screen. Casta figured out how to make it move so more words appeared. They found a pen and paper and made two lists - of words they did know and words they didn’t know. It was fun, but then they got hungry, and they realized they hadn’t seen Doctor Radek or any other grown-ups in a long time.

“Should we go back to the Ring room and ask for food?” Cleo said.

Casta thought. “Maybe. But the Earthers call each other on radios. There should be a radio around here, right?”

“There should be, but we don’t know how to use one.”

Casta hopped off his chair. “We can figure out how to use it, because we can read the words now.” He started across the lab, but then Doctor Radek came into the lab.

He looked tired.

But he was carrying a tray of food.

“I am so sorry that took so long,” he said, and put the food down in front of them. In addition to food he had that very tasty sweet orange juice that Cleo really liked. “Here, eat, and then we can go see Mr. Woolsey.”

Casta dug straight into the food.

Cleo said, “Before we see Mr. Woolsey, can you help us with some new words?”

Doctor Radek nodded. “Yes, of course. What words?”

Cleo said, “What’s a dough-mee-nat-ricks?”

Doctor Radek frowned. “What? I do not know this word. Could be an English word I have never -”

Cleo pushed her list of new words toward him, pointed. “This word, here.”

“What - dominatrix?” Doctor Radek’s eyes went wide. “Where did you learn this word?”

Cleo recited proudly, “Miko is a dominatrix. Ronon is a sub.”

Doctor Radek choked on his juice.

Casta piped up, “Miko ties up Ronon and -”

“Stop! Stop.” Doctor Radek had turned very, very red. “Do not repeat those words to Mr. Woolsey, all right? Stick to the words on your cards.”

Casta and Cleo looked at each other. Doctor Radek looked upset, but words were words, right? Unless people were being mean.

Doctor Radek said, “Promise me,” so Casta and Cleo said, “Okay.”

Casta and Cleo’s hard work, paid off, though. They performed waaaaaay better than Jinto and Wex, knew all their letters and sounds and words. The grown-ups clapped for them, and they bowed, and they waved.

And then they saw Ronon in the audience, and Casta said, proudly, “Ronon wears a sub collar!”

[reeby10.livejournal.com]

Ocean's movies, Basher Tarr/Reuben Tishkoff, Reuben kept all the letters Basher wrote him

[geckogirl89.livejournal.com]

Frasier, any, monogrammed towels

[geckogirl89.livejournal.com]

Any, any, “If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put U and I together.” (from https://pickupline.net/)

[geckogirl89.livejournal.com]

Any, any parent-child relationship, teaching a child the alphabet

[geckogirl89.livejournal.com]

Hawaii Five-0, Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams, I'm sorry about those late night emails. I only said those things because I was too drunk to be afraid. (A Softer World, 579)

Hopefully email counts as a kind of letter?

Not a fill

[sherlockian-syn.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, emails and texts definitely count.

[geckogirl89.livejournal.com]

Angel the series, Angel/Cordelia Chase,
One of these days letters are gonna fall
From the sky telling us all to go free
But until that day I'll find a way
To let everybody know
That you're coming back, you're coming back for me
(Civil Twilight, “Letters From The Sky”)

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

Stargate Atlantis, John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, John finds an old letter written to Rodney from his mother

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

Hawaii Five-0, Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams, Steve embraces the idea of sexting

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

Any, any, writing a letter to someone who died

Fill: Sherlock Holmes (ACD), Holmes/Watson, Take note of the icon!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

My Dear Watson,

I was relieved to finally receive your last letter; I had spent the previous week looking out for the postman each day only to be disappointed when the mail did not contain the one missive I was hoping for. You do sound tired, but, like you, I am hopeful you will be relieved soon and can return to England. Your ceaseless labours on behalf of our injured certainly justify your retirement. I look forward to showing you the cottage I have purchased, and am confident you will be as entranced by its aspect as I am.

Cordially
SH

Message returned unopened, with a note addressed to S Holmes Esq, ‘I am sorry to inform you ..’