Rietta89

Dear Lovely Airdrop Author,

Thank you so much for writing for me! I really hope you’ll have fun with your assignment, but please also know that there will be no hard feelings if you need to default for any reason; sometimes life gets in the way or the words just won’t word, and that’s okay <3

What I’m craving at the moment is Squadron Feels, Minor Character Love, and my new ship obsession (Erich/Marie marriage AUs). I’ve subdivided my requests on AO3 into roughly these three things, plus a bit of miscellany in the last one, but here I’ll split it further to give prompts and likes for all requested ships. I know there’s a large and varied selection of relationship tags here and you almost certainly didn’t offer all of them, but I personally love a lot of options in an exchange – more prompts to spark inspiration! – and I can honestly say I would be delighted with a fic for any of these tags; I love this exchange for its scope to explore more niche, less frequently written relationships. (If the variety in my letter is all a bit overwhelming, you can navigate to my main journal page and use the cut links to only view the prompts for the tag(s) you're interested in! I tried to format it in a nice orderly manner using cuts, but sadly that apparently only works from one's full journal and not in the individual post - very helpful!)

Anyway, on with the prompts!

Wilks & Anyone; Wilks &/ Biggles
Wilks is one of my very favourite minor characters! The WWI stories where Raymond is playing Biggles and Wilks off against each other are my favourite of the era, especially ‘The Balloonatics’. I love how passionate and determined Wilks is, and the way he and Biggles bring out each other’s competitive side makes for wonderful stories. I would love a gift that focused on Wilks at any point in his life (whether it’s a time that Biggles was present or not). If you do choose to write about the relationship between Biggles and Wilks, I’d be equally happy with either gen or slash, though my one ask for slash is for an HFN ending not an HEA; I love the chemistry between them and I think they’d have a lot of fun together but I don’t see them ultimately ending up together.
A few vague suggestions for a fic about Wilks (though please do feel free to ignore these if you have another idea you think would be fun!)

- WWI fic set at 287 Squadron: more of Raymond playing Wilks off against Biggles, but from Wilks’ POV? Introspective fic about his friendship with Biggles - did he ever feel not quite good enough, and if so, how did that colour their relationship? Did he also fly special missions for Raymond? (He certainly had the personality for it, and Raymond won’t have gone to 266 every time.) Or just any kind of canon-typical WWI story with Wilks as the main character instead of Biggles.
- Interwar fic about Wilks’ time in Bolivia, or about his early endeavours with Arctic Airways
- WWII fic set after 1940; did Wilks’ squadron get posted to far-flung places like 666 did? When did he take up the posting in Africa that he held at the end of the war (per Sergeant Bigglesworth, C.I.D.)?
- WWII fic set in Kent, but centring around Wilks’ home aerodrome rather than Rawlham. What was his relationship with his squadron like? How did he deal with the odious Bitmore? What was his approach to helping new pilots develop their skills?
- Post-war fic: how long did he stay in the RAF after WWII? Did he make a career out of it until retirement, or did he resign his commission and do something else?
- Letters or visits between Biggles & Wilks during the SAP era


Marcel & Anyone; Marcel & SAP
I love Marcel! His introduction to us in Works It Out is so vibrant, and he’s such a fun addition to the team whenever he joins them on cases. He’s clever and very determined, but knows when to ask for help, which are all admirable qualities, and he has an easy-going side that makes him very likeable. I’d be happy with pretty much anything for this request, as long as it respects my DNWs – please note, I have not read Foreign Legionnaire, so no fic set around that, please!
I’ve included a few prompts below in case that inspires you. They are lifted directly from my FiaB sign-up, so some do invite longer fics; in those cases, I’d be equally delighted by just a scene from a casefic, so please don’t stress about writing a huge plotty thing if that isn’t fun for you – if you want to just throw me into the middle of a case for a dramatic excerpt or whatever, that’s absolutely fine!

- A fic set entirely in France, dealing with a French Air Police case. (If you wanted to bring in one or more of the British SAP, that’s cool, but I’d also love a fic that is just about Marcel and his team)
- A fic concerning Marcel’s day-to-day life in France: casefic would be fun, but I realise that’s a big ask for a small exchange, and I’d be equally happy with a fic about his home life or his relationship with his father, as mentioned in Works It Out. (I know it’s in my canon-specific DNWs that I don’t want romance between major canon characters and OCs, but in the sole case of Marcel, I would welcome a suave and charming Parisian male partner OC, because Marcel is adorable and deserves someone nice to go home to.)
- A fic wherein Marcel is seconded to the British SAP for a case, with the story following Marcel throughout rather than one of our British lads as in canon.
- Fic set during his teenage years, adding to his backstory
- Fic detailing his experiences during WWII (focusing on military action/interpersonal relationships with fellow Frenchmen or English or American allies rather than on ideology, please!)
- Any kind of hurt/comfort fic with Marcel at the centre, whether as the comforter or comfortee


Any Member(s) of 666 Squadron; Bertie & Angus; Bertie & Ferocity & Tex; Bertie & 666 Squadron
What I’d really love from this set of relationship tags is a fic focusing on the bond between the members of 666 Squadron. I’d be delighted by a fic about any members of the squadron, but especially the non-SAP members who don’t get an awful lot of page time – if you want to write about one of them and one of the SAP, that’s fine! I’d just love to see Angus, Tex, Ferocity, Henry, Tug and/or Taffy get a bit of fic time. I’ve requested a couple of specific relationships in here as well – my favourite chapter of Spitfire Parade is B Flight’s first patrol, and I’d love a fic that focuses on them at any point in the war, whether it’s at Rawlham or abroad on one of their special assignments. I’d also be thrilled with a fic about the friendship between Bertie and Angus: it’s clear from their reunion in Takes A Holiday that they’re good pals, and it makes sense when you consider that they’re senior to most of the others in rank, but on the outside of the family trio of Algy, Biggles and Ginger. I’d love a fic that focuses on the development of that friendship, or on their enjoyment of it.
A few prompts in case they inspire you (but really, if you choose this option, just write whatever is fun for you and I’m sure to love it!)

- Any kind of Rawlham-based fic featuring B Flight out on an eventful patrol
- Mess-based Rawlham fic centring on any of the squadron bonding as individuals or getting into scrapes due to their impulsive personalities and low boredom threshold
- More on Tex’s personal journey from judging Bertie unfavourably when they meet, to becoming deeply fond and admiring of him by the end of 1940
- A fic that focuses on the non-SAP members of the squadron during any kind of desert or Far East based mission from the latter days of the war, when 666 Squadron were frequently stationed abroad
- Missing scenes from Biggles in Borneo set back at Lucky Strike aerodrome whilst Biggles, Algy & Ginger are off on their side quest to Telapur
- WWII-set outsider POV on the family trio could be fun! What did the others think about the bond between Biggles & Algy & Ginger, and the history they had together? Did it cause any kind of rift or resentment in the squadron at the beginning?
- A 666 Squadron Christmas!
- Alternatively, if WWII fic isn’t your thing, I would also very much enjoy a fic set during the postwar era featuring Bertie interacting with any of his old squadron mates outside of the SAP – maybe running into Taffy or Henry at the Aero Club, for instance, or hosting Tex and Ferocity at Chedcombe?
- A post-war 666 Squadron reunion at Chedcombe


Any Member(s) of 169 Squadron; Captain Mapleton & Mardell
I adore Mabs and will forever be heartbroken over his fate! So any fic that features him as the main character would be a delight, especially if it centres around his friendship with Mardell. Pilots and their observers had a special bond, and I’d love to see that explored for Mabs & Marble. Alternatively, I’d welcome fic about any member of 169 Squadron named in the canon, especially Captain Rayner or Major Paynter.
A few prompts in case they help (but again, please write what seems fun for you!):

- Mabs & Marble’s first meeting or first flight up together. Which joined 169 first? How much experience did they each have? Had either been deployed elsewhere beforehand?
- Introspective fic surrounding/after The Dawn Patrol. How hard did the events of that story hit Mabs? How difficult was it to hold it together? Did it affect his relationship with his next observer?
- A canon-typical WWI adventure but with Mabs & Marble as the focus rather than Biggles & Mark
- Fic about Mabs’ experience being Biggles’ very first Flight Commander – what did he make of Biggles?


Erich/Marie
My newest ship obsession! What I would really love for this request is fic set in an alternate universe where Erich & Marie did get married; I’ve always thought that Erich was a much better match for Marie than Biggles, and I love the idea of them being happy together somewhere in an alternative reality. I’d be delighted with a fic that is full of warm affectionate togetherness/teamwork feels, showing the strength of their marriage, or alternatively at the other end of the scale, some hurt/comfort where they face a hardship together or where Erich comes home injured and Marie (who trained as a nurse after WWI as per canon) lovingly patches him up. For this ship I’d be happy with any rating from G to E, and any setting except WWII.
A few prompts in case you want them:

- A fic set during their courtship
- Marie POV on the proposal, as she weighs her potential future with Erich against her lingering feelings for Biggles
- The early days of their marriage in Weimar Berlin
- Scenes from an & Co AU wherein Erich’s wife and children are also living in the castle. Was it Marie who brought the homemade cake to Biggles? Erich returning to Marie’s side after seeing Biggles again for the first time in years. Perhaps one of the children wanders in when Erich is questioning Biggles or Algy, and he is torn between being the suave interrogator and being Papa? Or Biggles, while running through the castle looking for somewhere to hide, accidentally runs into the nursery and wakes up the little ones?
- A Hatchet AU where it is Marie who is sent to Sakhalin, and a desperate Erich turns up on the doorstep of his oldest enemy, begging for help to rescue her
- A fic set at any point in canon except WWII wherein Marie & Erich are engaged on intelligence work and sent on an undercover assignment together. (If you want to set this during WWI, before their marriage, I’m good with that – maybe the assignment is actually the start of their courtship?)
- Context: After WWI, Marie trained as a nurse as per canon. Fic: An injured Erich comes home to be lovingly patched up by his wife.
- Fic that shows how marriage to Marie might have changed Erich’s path in life – did he still end up working the same jobs for the same people? If not, what did he do instead? If so, was Marie in it with him, and did that change the outcome of any of the times he was pitted against Biggles?
- Fic set in the far future, wherein Marie and Erich are growing old together after a lifetime of happy marriage, and looking back on their years together.
- This is Airdrop, so Christmas or other festive fic would be most welcome!
- Fritz visiting Erich & Marie (and his cousins?)
- Any kind of sensual smut you want to write for this pairing


Fritz & EvS
Fritz is such a brilliant character, with his grit and determination, his youthful naïveté, and his obvious admiration for his uncle. It’s very clear in Buries a Hatchet that Fritz’s presence is the deciding factor in Erich ultimately submitting to his rescue; he cannot bring himself to let his nephew down. I would really love a fic set prior to Hatchet, especially featuring Fritz as a younger child, and focusing on his thoughts and feelings about his uncle.
A wee note for this relationship tag: In my head Erich’s sister is named Hanne, so if you are including her in your fic, please use that name =)
A few prompts, if you’d like:

- Onkel Erich telling Fritz Biggles stories!
- Children can be extraordinarily perceptive, even when they don’t fully understand what it is they’re experiencing; I’d love a fic where a young Fritz (maybe 7 or 8 years old) can’t sleep, and sneaks out of his bedroom to listen to his mother and uncle talking. He is struck by the difference in Onkel Erich compared to his own interactions with his uncle, and feels inexplicably sad or scared.
- Erich comforting a young Fritz after a nightmare
- Fic surrounding any visit Erich pays to his sister’s family at any point before Fritz turns 12.
- I imagine that when Fritz was younger, Erich made a good effort to hide the strain of his work and lifestyle – at what point in Fritz’s life did he decide that Fritz is now a man, and stops making quite such an effort to put on a positive face?
- A series of scenes beginning in Fritz’s early childhood and progressing right up to the beginning of Hatchet, showing through Fritz’s eyes the deterioration of Erich’s physical and mental health over time as a result of his employment and choices.


Raymond &/ von Stalhein
I have pretty much thrown this tag into the mix in the hope of some (gen!) post-Hatchet debrief fic, or fic about Raymond & von Stalhein’s working relationship with regard to Erich’s translations, but if you want to use it to write Raymond/Major Sterne fic set during Flies East (or even debrief fic with flashbacks to Sterne/Raymond!) then be my guest – any rating from G to E welcome.


Raymond & Anyone
What I’d really love for this tag is fic centred on Raymond set during WWI. I’ve included a few prompts below in case any spark inspiration, but I’d be equally delighted with anything you come up with for that brief!

- A ‘Raymond pits Biggles & Wilks against each other to achieve his own ends’ tale, but from Raymond’s perspective this time.
- Raymond waiting anxiously on for Biggles or another of his special missions pilots to return.
- Fic set during Flies East – maybe a series of interactions with Major Sterne, or a look at how Algy & Raymond’s understanding of one another develops as they anxiously wait for word from Biggles?
- If you want to write Raymond/Major Sterne smut for this, go right ahead! (This is the one reason I have nominated the slash tag for Raymond and von Stalhein.)
- A short fic or series of drabbles about Raymond’s thoughts and feelings about sending young pilots off on dangerous special missions



And finally, if none of the above prompts grab you… let’s play roulette! I’d be happy to receive a fic about your favourite minor character, whoever they happen to be, as long as it respects my DNWs with regard to slash and smut content and spoilers.



General likes: banter; tropes (especially forced proximity); slow-burning romances; tales of getting together; friends to lovers; enemies to lovers; established relationship fluff; character development through sex; pining; searing UST; even more searing resolution of UST; teamwork; sarcastic humour; character-driven fic; fic about deep affection between two characters – either platonic (for & ships) or romantic (for / ships).
Canon-specific likes: casefic; a bigger role for Bertie.


General DNWs: major character death (unless specifically requested); overly graphic/gory depictions of injuries (I'm a tad squeamish!); harm to animals; AU settings/genres unless specifically requested; canon-typical racism; unrequested slash ships featuring major characters (OCs and minor characters can romance each other as much as they like!); romantic relationships between major canon characters and OCs; anachronisms (as far as possible); hopeless endings; hurt without comfort; WWII setting (unless specifically requested); any reference whatsoever to Nazis; fic with a heavy focus on politics.
Canon-specific DNWs: any kind of romantic relationship for Bertie; tears/welling up by anyone other than Marie (I love how stoic these characters all are!); addressing or referring to Biggles as ‘James’; romantic interactions between Algy & EvS (their slash vibe is all about the hatesex for me); Algy having any kind of romantic or sexual thoughts about Ginger prior to WWII; spoilers for SAP-era books unless you know for sure I’ve read them (post-Hatchet and post-Terai whump is fine); fic set during any novel or short story (unless specifically requested); detailed discussion of EvS’s actions during WWII.
Sex scene DNWs: non-con; scat; breath-play; blood-play; use of correct anatomical terms; crude euphemisms for ‘vagina’; loss of virginity (unless specifically requested). (Dubcon in the shape of sex pollen/aliens made them do it/etc is fine.)

A few last notes: I'm happy with any fic rating from G to E; whatever you're comfortable writing! The most important thing to me is that you have fun with your assignment <3

Finally, a special request: I am neurodiverse, and can find it difficult to get into a fic when all the lines are different lengths. If you’d be kind enough to justify the alignment of your gift (you can do this in the Rich Text editor) I would be very very grateful! <3