Dear Candy Hearts Author ('25)

Dear Author,

This is a new exchange for me (I was looking to see if chocbox was going on and naturally candy hearts came up), and I didn't get to nom, but there were some great ships already in here, and I'm absolutely looking forward to whatever you put out. All the best!

(Treats are welcome for any request)

Some general preferences

Yes, please:

• extra/missing scenes which fit the gaps of canon;
• unbreakable friendships;
• teamwork;
• standing battered but triumphant;
• character introspection;
• a touch of the bittersweet.

No, thank you:

• Unless I prompt otherwise, a lot of the common plug-and-play AUs which significantly alter the background of the setting (e.g. ABO, D/s, vampires/werewolves, Hogwarts/school, daemons, total de-powering rather than just backgrounding supernatural elements) – I like these series not just for their characters but also for the specific journey everyone's going through, so it's difficult for me to get into something which would upend that. If you’re hit really hard by a generic modern AU, that’s something I can take though.
• Character bashing: a villainous story role is fine; it’s when the author is clearly frustrated with a character and taking it out on them that I tune out.

Smut preferences

I don't tend to directly prompt for smut, given the risk of making an author uncomfortable, but I am pretty much always glad to accept it.

Yes, please

• Breastplay
• Hypnosis and mind control
• "Too good to say no"-style CNC or noncon.
• Alternatively, very soft and encouraging domme.

No, thank you

• Anal
• Blood, vomit, scat/piss.
• Choking.
• Snuff generally.
• Breeding kink.
• What I understand specifically by 'futa' or 'G!P' - that is, sticking a penis on a cis woman for the sake of making sure there's dick involved in sex - is not my kink, though actual intersex/trans women are fine.
  
• Beastiality.

I'm Seika on AO3, and I have my works, my previous gifts, and some of my bookmarks public, often with notes on them, so you can glance through those if you're inclined to keep researching my bad taste.

Obviously, by the terms of the exchange, everything here is optional. I'm very happy for you to remember that, and to take advantage of it: please don't strain anything trying to fit your writing into my ideas. I'm trying to help spark off some thoughts if you aren't immediately seized by one, not to confine you. That's why my prompts often throw out a scattershot of questions and instances at you, even contradictory ones - you're free to pick up as many or as few threads as you'd like. If a single phrase inspires you, I'll be content.


Macross Frontier
Sheryl/Ranka

(Whoever nommed this, you're divine).

There are so many times when this ship just clicks into gear in the show and movies, when they're next to each other as equals in their art, driving each other on. (And, not infrequently, staring into each other's eyes and holding hands and singing a love song while doing so). And Labyrinth of Time was a blessing for adding so many more moments.

Prompts:

• Exploring the Labyrinth of Time, especially as the duet kicks in. Ranka and Sheryl's feelings, the way they're communicating despite everything. Any kind of shippy post-LoT followup too, especially with Sheryl waking up.
• The post-credits Wings of Goodbye scene where Sheryl does seem to have woken up and has a concert with Ranka!
• Ranka's thoughts at the Universal Bunny scene in False Songstress, when she's blushing up a storm as the Black and White Sheryls kiss. (Sheryl/Ranka/Sheryl is also a valid ship!)
• A peaceful AU where Ranka and Sheryl just happen to meet as part of their music careers and fall in love.
• A cute date some time in or after the Frontier timeline. The scene ~8:00 in Labyrinth of Time with Sheryl and Ranka loving life, in clothes covered in hearts and rainbow colours, killed me and I would love to see more of them going out together to have fun.

Prefer no cheating on Alto: give the ladies their flowers, and let flyboy enjoy his Valkyrie (or Brera or Michael or Ozma or whoever else according to your taste).


Buffyverse
Willow/Buffy

The two girls who were with each other right from the beginning to the very end. Through the laughter and the tears, through life and death (and pulling one of them back "against all the laws of nature" from death to life), through love and conflict and even bitter emnity. And "I kind of love you".

This is a pairing for which I also have great nostalgic adoration, so I'm going to be pretty happy with whatever I get. (I'll express a preference for something relatively positive, but that's not an absolute).

If however, you would prefer prompts, then a quick array includes:

• Willow developing an innocent kind of crush on Buffy over S1-2 and dealing with feelings she doesn't quite understand yet;
• Willow getting (even more) jealous of Faith's flirting with Buffy in S3 (optionally, Faith just starts flirting with Willow too);
• Willow starts to explore her sexuality with Buffy in S4 rather than Tara (and Buffy has to work her own sexuality out too);
• trying to rebuild together - as established lovers or while falling in love - post S7. (You might just ignore Kennedy's S7 existence instead of spending time and space on writing her out: use a bit of fanfic fiat there);
• any-season case 'fic where a dangerous situation or monster or Willow's magic going wrong/right forces them to confront or confess their feelings. (Sex pollen optional).

I haven't kept up with any post-show material (barring Angel S5, insofar as that counts), so the comics and so forth won't really ring a bell with me. You're welcome to draw on them, if you'd really like, but it's not likely to land particularly effectively.

Prefer no cheating on Tara.


Mass Effect
Tali/F!Shepard

I felt this ship surprisingly hard when my first game of ME2 rolled around and was honestly surprised it didn't go all the way, given both how much of the male romance was left in their interactions and even what replaced the more overt romantic scenes. I'd like something probably more in that timeframe then.

Tali in ME2 has a lot to deal with when it comes to Shepard. Shepard in ME1 was a saviour, mentor, superior, leader, hero, friend, perhaps crush. In ME2, she adds to that powerful mix a dose of bizarre resurrection - but at the hands of Cerberus, and just as Tali's starting to stand on her own as a leader herself.

I'd like to see Tali trying to cope with this odd cocktail, perhaps working up her confidence over time, both as she continues to grow herself and as she starts getting to know Shepard more completely. Going from a kind of distant, unattainable crush, to a closer and more genuine emotional connexion.