Pick Me Up: A Happily Ever After Exchange

It's time to brew up some words, assignments have been sent! We'll be posting the initial pinch hit list later today.

2025 Links

| Tagset | AO3 Collection | Dreamwidth Community | Sign-up | App Exchange Page | Pinch Hitter Requests |

Matching is currently in progress! We have 4 unmatchables. If your username starts with A, M, or T, please check your email.

We have given 24 hours for unmatchables to respond to us. If they respond earlier and we can resolve matching, we will do so ASAP. We like our deadlines like we like our coffee - hot and urgent!

2025 Links

| Tagset | AO3 Collection | Dreamwidth Community | Sign-up | App Exchange Page | Pinch Hitter Requests (Link Pending) |

Thank you to everyone who has nominated so far! We are seeking clarification on the following nominations.

**Please respond to this post by the official sign-up open: March 30, 9 PM CST (UTC-6) (Timezone Conversion)** or the following nominations will be rejected.


Fandom-specific Freeforms

Freeforms in this exchange are intended to function as the inciting incident where creators begin their fic, eventually leading to the story's "Happily Ever After."

Additionally, we ask that fandom-specific Freeforms still be generic to the fandom itself, meaning we will not approve fandom-specific Freeforms that apply only to specific characters. If you have unapproved fandom-specific Freeforms, please update accordingly.


Potentially Unclear/Vague Freeforms

Freeforms in this exchange are intended to function as the inciting incident where creators begin their fic, eventually leading to the story's "Happily Ever After."

Nominators, please clarify in what way the following Freeforms act as a singular inciting incident:

• Alternate Universe - Arranged Marriage - Characters Fall In Love During Engagement

Relationship Nomination Reminders

• Please ensure that all Relationship nominations are submitted disambiguated by Fandom, e.g. "Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes (MCU)" (if your nominations are rejected for incorrect formatting, and you are out of nomination slots, you may email us a list of your nominations in the correct format).
• All Relationships must be submitted as “/” nominations, indicating romantic and/or sexual relationships between characters.

Thank you to everyone who has nominated so far! We are seeking clarification on the following nominations.

**Please respond to this post OR update your nominations within 24 hours of this post** or the following nominations will be rejected.


Potentially Unclear/Vague Freeforms

Freeforms in this exchange are intended to function as the inciting incident where creators begin their fic, eventually leading to the story's "Happily Ever After."

Nominators, please clarify in what way the following Freeforms act as a singular inciting incident and/or how they indicate where, when, or how the requested characters’ relationship begins in the fic:

• Scenario - A And B Are Rival Spies Who Work Together Against A Common Enemy
• Scenario - A and B are secret sappy romance lovers

Relationship Nomination Reminders

• Please ensure that all Relationship nominations are submitted disambiguated by Fandom, e.g. "Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes (MCU)" (if your nominations are rejected for incorrect formatting, and you are out of nomination slots, you may email us a list of your nominations in the correct format).
• All Relationships must be submitted as “/” nominations, indicating romantic and/or sexual relationships between characters.

 Hi all! Nominations are rolling in and they're looking quite tasty!

By way of reminder: please ensure that all Relationship nominations are submitted disambiguated by Fandom, e.g. "Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes (MCU)"

If you have any Relationship nominations that have been rejected for not being formatted correctly, you are welcome to resubmit them if you have sufficient nomination slots, OR if you do not have sufficient nomination slots, you may email us at ao3modball+pickup@gmail.com with a list of your nominations in the correct format and we can upload the Relationships for you. 

Thanks everyone!

What brings our favorite characters together?

Is it a suave pick up line? A chance meeting at a coffee shop?

Or maybe you prefer the one where one character spills coffee all over the other, interrupting the most terrible pick up line imaginable?

Whether it’s a meet-cute, or a meet-ugly, or a slowburn for the ages after a steamy one-night stand, this exchange is dedicated to all the ways we love to watch our faves get together over and over (and over) again.

2025 Links

| Tagset | AO3 Collection | Dreamwidth Community | Sign-up | App Exchange Page | Pinch Hitter Requests |

2025 Schedule

Nominations Open: March 23, 2025 11:59 am CST (UTC -6)
Nominations Close: March 30, 2025 11:59 am CST (UTC -6) 
Sign-up Opens: March 30, 2025 9:00 PM (or earlier) CST (UTC -6)
Sign-ups Close: April 6, 2025 11:59 am CST (UTC -6) 
Assignments Due: May 25, 2025 11:59 am CST (UTC -6)
**UPDATED** Works Revealed: June 11, 2025 9:00 PM CST (UTC -6) (Timezone Conversion)
Creators Revealed: June 15, 2025 11:59 am CST (UTC -6) (Timezone Conversion)

TL;DR

• Mod Email: ao3modball+pickup@gmail.com
• This exchange uses OR matching, and matches on: Fandom, Relationship, Additional Tags (freeforms), and Rating
• This is a fanfic only exchange; word count minimum is 1,000
• There are no eligibility requirements for Fandoms to be nominated
• Freeforms must be related to the inciting incident that leads requested ship(s) to their Happily Ever After (HEA)
• Request Minimums: 1 Fandom; 3 unique Fandoms required for gift guarantee
• Offer Minimums: 3 unique Fandoms
• Prime Directive: don’t be an asshole
• You must be 18 or older to participate in this exchange

( Pick Me Up Rules )
( Nomination Period: Formatting & Details )
( Sign-up Period )
( Creation Period )
( How To Post )
( Reveals )