Under the cut you will find a list of prompts to inspire your works for this fest. You're free to use whatever you want, to combine two or more of them, whatever you like. When you post your work, just let us know which one(s) inspired you in your notes and don't forget to tag us.
If you need a reminder on the guidelines, you can find them here. Otherwise, happy writing/drawing/giffing 🌙💙🌕
Quotes, Poetry & Lyrics
🔵 The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections. - Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me
🟦 Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars. - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
📘 Place, park, scene, dark / Silvery moon is shining through the trees / Cast, two, me, you / Summer kisses floating on the breeze - By the Light of the Silvery Moon
🦋 It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me / At tea time, everybody agrees / I'll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror / It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero -Taylor Swift, Anti-hero
💙 Your hands, like no-one else's / the ring around the blue of your eyes / lift all the sighs out of me / like the memory of something beautiful: / the moon, how close you are, how far. - Blue Moon, Linda France
🔷 I heard somebody whisper "Please adore me" / And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold - Blue Moon, Hart & Rogers
🔵 The month of August had turned into a griddle where the days just lay there and sizzled. - Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees
🟦 So much for summer love and saying "us" / 'Cause you weren't mine to lose - Taylor Swift, August
🦋 I really wanna stop, but I just got the taste for it / I feel like I could fly with the boy on the moon / So honey, hold my hand, you like making me wait for it / I feel like I could die walking up to the room - Carly Rae Jepson, I Really Like You
Scenarios
🔵 Scenario: summer thunder storm traps them inside. they play board games to pass the time.
📘 Scenario, choose your own adventure: a trip to the beach goes awry. Do they a) discover a body, b) encounter someone from Thomas's past, or c) get caught up in a smuggling adventure.
🔷 Scenario: AU in which Thomas is an exasperated teacher at a private school and Richard is PA to one of the school wealthiest benefactors. Richard has been charged with dealing with the appalling behaviour of the benefactor's trouble-making child.
💙 Scenario: future fic. Richard and Thomas move into a cottage on the estate. It’s perfect, except for being haunted by Carson.
🟦 Scenario: there's an interlinking door between Thomas's room and the one where Richard stays at Downton Abbey.
🌀Scenario: Richard time travels to the past and encounters a younger Thomas. Whether he’s there to fix something or some other reason is up to you.
🔷 Scenario: AU based on the Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story subplot with the King's valet and the Queen's footman (spoilers for plot). Thomas is newly assigned to Queen Charlotte as her personal footman. He lives for knowing what's going on in society and reporting useful gossip to her. Richard is King George's valet and the only person who knows about his mental health situation and what's really going on with him and keeps it secret from all the other staff and Charlotte, using various machinations and making excuses for why the King is doing certain erratic things. When they start hooking up, Thomas quickly sees through Richard's web of lies. Richard has a choice about whether to trust the footman (known gossip and schemer) with the King's secret and bring him into his schemes or part ways with him to protect the king.
💙 Scenario: AU where Thomas owns a plant shop and Richard is a frequent customer.
📘 Scenario: Thomas is surprised/confused when Richard shows concern for his well-being, he's used to it only happening when his partner wants sex/intimacy.
🔷 Blue colour meaning: Blue is the colour of trust and loyalty. It has a calming and soothing effect and you can always count on its support.
Images
If you'd rather some visual inspiration, take a look at these picture prompts. You can use all the images from any set, mix and match, or just pick a single image to use.
Daisy *receives some flowers from Andy at the breakfast table for Valentine's day and happily kisses Andy and excitedly shows everyone the flowers.*
Thomas *scoffs*: 'Look who's getting pampered again by her boyfriend. As soon as they see each other, she already has received a Valentine's gift. Andy, you're clearly spoiling her.'
Phyllis *raising an eyebrow*: 'Says the man who has received a table list of choices for his own, personal flower bouquet, including what type of flowers, what size, with which decoration and so on from his boyfriend.'
Thomas:'But that's something else.. I..'
Daisy *jokingly* 'I wonder who has this much of a range of flowers. I do hope Richard didn't steal them from the king's garden.'
*Thomas doesn't reply to that*
Phyllis *absolutely shocked*:'He did WHAT?'
Thomas *clearly uncomfortable*: 'I will not discuss this private matter at the breakfast table.'
*Everyone stares at him as Thomas gets up and walks into his office. The last thing he hears is Mrs. Patmore shouting*
'Could you tell your boyfriend that I'd like some king's flowers as well in exchange of my chocolate biscuits he likes so much?'
*Thomas can't help himself but grin as he looks at the flower bouquet on his desk that has arrived this morning with the morning post. The little letter next to it reads*
Richard: 'Some people find the perfect person to be with, the love of their life, the cutest man of all of them, the perfect partner.. and this absolutely amazing person who you want to be on your side for the rest of your life still thinks they are not more than friends.'
Thomas:*Lying in their bed and cuddling up in Richards arms, like he usually does, when there is a thunderstorm outside and he feels so frightened and small, afraid of the lightning and the rolling thunder*
Richard *noticing Thomas' behaviour, frowning*:'Are you alright Thomas? There is no thunderstorm outside.'
Thomas *grinning*:'Yes, but its a good excuse to cuddle up in your arms'
Richard *smiling fondly and placing an arm around Thomas, holding him tight*:'You know that you don't need a thunderstorm for me to hold you tight. I will hold you in my arms and stay by your side whenever you need it.'
Thomas *half asleep*:'I know. But I needed it right now.'
Richard *smiling and giving him a kiss on the cheek*:'I am delighted to embrace you in my arms for the rest of my life'
Thomas smiles 'You're an hopeless romantic idiot'
Richard *grinning*:'Have you ever seen yourself, Mr. Barrow?'
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It's a thunderstorm outside and guess who's scared?