saelind | Innumerable Stars letter (Reply)

Dear Innumerable Stars Author,

Hello! Thank you so much in advance for your work--this is my first fic exchange in a LONG time, and I am super excited! I offered some prompts in my signup, and will probably not be more detailed than that in this letter, but I hope it hits the sweet spot of giving you some ideas but not being too specific/giving you a lot of artistic leeway. I'm pasting the prompts below, as well as expanding a bit on my likes and DNWs because I remembered some that I forgot (like i said, it's been a long time). As follows:

Likes:

Family/friendship drama
Character study/fics that really focus on character development/relationships
Arguments where everyone is right and everyone is wrong.
Textual ghosts/unsung women/ women in leadership positions
Political drama
Workplace comedies (a concept I apply very broadly), logistical/bureaucratic/trade details of society
Relationship progression (romantic and platonic)
Ignoring LaCE
Delving into character and situational complexities. As above, I usually believe that no character is truly right or wrong in the Silm or LOTR
Worldbuilding out the third age pre War of the Ring - Elves and Men both

DNWs:

In-universe sexism/homophobia - it's fine if it exists but I don't want fic where it's a big focus
Sexual assault/rape/dub/noncon - again, fine if it's referenced in passing but I don't like seeing it happen in fic
PWP - I usually love it but for this exchange specifically I'm looking for more character/plotty stuff
Modern AUs
A/B/O
Elwing As Bad Mother

Requests:

First/Second Age Elrond: Anything that focuses on Elrond during his early/middle adulthood would be great! Some ideas: Elrond in Lindon and his developing relationships with Gil-Galad and/or Cirdan, Elrond's reputation and position in Lindon at various points (how he grows into his power as a healer/leader), meeting Glorfindel or Gandalf for the first time, his relationship with Elros during his 600-year reign, how he deals with the choice of the peredhil, his attitude toward his parents/upbringing/legacy (I am of the view that their relationship with Maglor and Maedhros was tumultuous/complicated but not...actively negative, if that makes sense? And I very much think that Elwing made the best of a bad situation, even if it undoubtedly had negative effects on her kids), Elrond & Celebrian meet-cute, Elrond during formation the Last Alliance. Oh, and I love any/all Gil-Galad identity/parentage theories so feel free to work that in if that's something you have an opinion on :D

Aragorn's season in Lórien: This is probably the most specific prompt I have, but even here I invite you to play around/have fun/do what you will. I love a fic that goes more into detail on Aragorn's time in Lórien after he comes back from his 24 years of journeying abroad as Thorongil--details of the moment where Galadriel takes one look at him and is like "dude you have to get a makeover before i can present you to my granddaughter, his re-meeting/courtship of Arwen, any of Galadriel's motivations/opinions on the situation (I feel like she kind of pushes them together for her own reasons--what those reasons are I leave up to you), interactions between Galadriel and Arwen and/or Galadriel and Aragorn during this time. If this prompt is too specific, I would love any fic that centers on Galadriel's relationships with Elladan, Elrohir, and/or Arwen.

Third Age Rivendell: Okay, this is where my love for workplace comedies comes into play :P. Third Age Rivendell workplace comedy!! Or really anything that delves into the worldbuilding of Rivendell during the Third Age. Erestor and Glorfindel and any shenanigans they get up to, Elrond's friendship with Glorfindel and/or Erestor, Celebrían's presence in Rivendell, any cameos of Dúnedain fosterlings, Elrond and Gilraen friendship during/after Aragorn's childhood, Elrond's relationships with his children (any/all - am happy for it to either be something lighter or to delve into any grief/tension that exists after Celebrian leaves), Rivendell after Celebrían's loss, any OCs you'd like to have hanging around Rivendell and their perspectives on these Big World Events.

The White Council: Again with the workplace dramedy!! Am loose on the timeline/am happy to have this take place at any point during the Council's existence. Anything that details the relationships between members of the council (any/all), scenes of debates, any sort of behind-the-scenes discussions or backdealing that might occur (especially since we know how much Gandalf distrusted Saruman--how did other council members react to this?). Would love especially to have Radagast, Glorfindel, and Cirdan featured since they are never focused on quite as much. Galadriel and Elrond discuss politics and also awkwardly discuss their in-law status??? Please, give me what Peter Jackson denied me.

Thank you so much again!!! I can't wait to see what you come up with :D