Dear Chocolatier ('22)
Jan. 8th, 2022 04:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seikasoter Dear Chocolatier,
And I finish my sign-up one minute before the deadline. Been a bit of an interesting few days lately.
That aside, welcome to this letter! Thank you for matching with me and thank you for your future writing efforts! This year with yet more extensive quoting from the originals, in an effort to not force people to play extremely long and wordy games. I hope it's helpful!
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; any other characters you want to add that I haven’t already discussed or nominated.
No, thank you – In general, 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 a lot of these series not just for their characters but also for their worlds and the effect those worlds then have on their characters. 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. 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 trans women are fine.
Rating – from General to Explicit, it's fine. Whatever feels right for your inspiration and story. Serious gore or fetishes (vore, scat, et al.) are a turn off, but I can handle most of what you’re throwing at me. My prompts generally don't stray too far toward the sexy side of things but, if you’re going unprompted or just feel like it fits your story, I can definitively say I have no objection to smut.
I'm![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
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.
This is all the more true for the Chocolate Box challenge, which has a lower word limit and is meant to be less pressurised than some other exchanges. Please do stay relaxed, and pick and choose as selectively as you like, rather than trying to deal with everything I've thrown out there for some of these fandoms.
Jade Empire ('fic)
Silk Fox/Spirit Monk - I really like the Closed Fist epilogues for Sun Lian's romance. Particularly, the idea from the scenario where you claim the Water Dragon's power, that she and the female Spirit Monk basically amuse themselves with playing (foreplaying?) at being ninja secret police, in spite of being the absolute empress and a god-in-waiting. It fits with her CF epilogue where you kill the Water Dragon too, in which she discovers that she really just wants to be Silk Fox, not Empress.
Parahumans ('fic)
Lisa &/ Taylor - Lisa, I think, gets a bit of a bad rap in the fandom. Yeah, she could have been more creatively conceived than "author's infodump mouthpiece"; no, she's not at all nice to people she's on the wrong side of. But she tries very hard to be caring with people she does like, and it's not something that I think necessarily comes naturally to her: at least by the point of canon, when she's gone through her early life, her trigger, the powers that make it hard-to-impossible for her to ignore everyone's bad points, and then been screwed over by Coil.
So I'd like to see some writing that develops what we see of Lisa as the girl who, despite everything, takes Taylor in, gives her her own place (both physically and in a team who will actually be her friends), and who tries to help Skitter bear up under everything that has been and will be piled on her over the course of the novel. Taylor, of course, tries to repay her in turn: killing Coil, trying to rescue Lisa from her purposelessness after his death, trying to help her remember that she's more than just her power. In some ways, they both try to make each other a bit more human, and that's a crucial thing in their world. It also hits my buttons, because I'm a terrible sucker for mutually supportive relationships, with attraction running alongside a deep friendship.
For something a bit more on the "established" rather than "developing" side, this relationship - or, perhaps, this universe as a whole - is also entirely ripe for a pure H/C scenario. Maybe Taylor has (per usual) got too close to the action as a squishy non-Brute, or Lisa's dealing with a Thinker migraine (the first time Taylor's around for a really bad one?)
Independent of this being 'shippy or not, do feel free to either run with Lisa's power-enforced quasi-asexuality from canon or dismiss its admitted clumsiness, at your preference.
Buffyverse ('fic)
Buffy/Willow - 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".
And I finish my sign-up one minute before the deadline. Been a bit of an interesting few days lately.
That aside, welcome to this letter! Thank you for matching with me and thank you for your future writing efforts! This year with yet more extensive quoting from the originals, in an effort to not force people to play extremely long and wordy games. I hope it's helpful!
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; any other characters you want to add that I haven’t already discussed or nominated.
No, thank you – In general, 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 a lot of these series not just for their characters but also for their worlds and the effect those worlds then have on their characters. 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. 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 trans women are fine.
Rating – from General to Explicit, it's fine. Whatever feels right for your inspiration and story. Serious gore or fetishes (vore, scat, et al.) are a turn off, but I can handle most of what you’re throwing at me. My prompts generally don't stray too far toward the sexy side of things but, if you’re going unprompted or just feel like it fits your story, I can definitively say I have no objection to smut.
I'm
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.
This is all the more true for the Chocolate Box challenge, which has a lower word limit and is meant to be less pressurised than some other exchanges. Please do stay relaxed, and pick and choose as selectively as you like, rather than trying to deal with everything I've thrown out there for some of these fandoms.
Jade Empire ('fic)
Silk Fox/Spirit Monk - I really like the Closed Fist epilogues for Sun Lian's romance. Particularly, the idea from the scenario where you claim the Water Dragon's power, that she and the female Spirit Monk basically amuse themselves with playing (foreplaying?) at being ninja secret police, in spite of being the absolute empress and a god-in-waiting. It fits with her CF epilogue where you kill the Water Dragon too, in which she discovers that she really just wants to be Silk Fox, not Empress.
I'd love some exploration of this post-game concept, whether it's discussions between the Spirit Monk and Silk Fox in the palace, pillow talk/smut after their "play", someone visited by the Foxes, an attendant who discovers somehow what the Empress and her consort are doing ...
I'd prefer to lean on the more "true" Closed Fist dialogue from the Spirit Monk and Silk Fox along that taint-the-Dragon path, where the Monk challenges the right of the gods to decide that mortals can suffer for their natural order, and Silk Fox says that the Dragon's power could be used for the benefit of the whole empire. Rather than the pettier and more psychotic options you can also take.
After the death of Sun Li, the Princess and [FullName] assumed control. They quickly crushed any opposition to the partnership they formed, and turned a chaotic and fractured land into an economic and military powerhouse. Anyone that threatened the stability of their Empire awakened a fury not even the gods could contain. It became dangerous to speak against them even in the lowliest of taverns, and Sun Lian and [FullName] were often amused that, despite the power they could command, their enemies were often more afraid of the shadowy Silk Fox that could now somehow be in two places at once. Even at their height of their power they made time for such games they both enjoyed.
Princess Sun Lian was praised for helping save the Empire, and with [FullName] close at hand she was soon appointed Empress. It became apparent, however, that she still held the same disdain for the bonds imposed by her position. [FullName] had pushed her to revel in the traits she showed as Silk Fox, and now that freedom seemed further away than ever. She withdrew, much as her father had done, and soon even an audience in the palace was a rare event. In truth, she was spending much of her time in the streets of the Imperial City, hiding her face once more. Her rule was prosperous enough, but it was never more than a game to her and [FullName].
Water Dragon: Rebirth can only come when my essence is free. To defeat your Master, you must stop the power he draws from me. Soon he will be too strong, even for you.
Spirit Monk: I will do what is necessary to restore the order of things.
WD: Your Master abuses the amulet he took from you. His brother did not have that luxury, so he needed to draw my essence slowly. The toll on his body was grave. Your Master does not have to be so cautious. The amulet is not a source of power, but it *is* a focus. He partakes of energy that mortals were never meant to hold. He laps at it greedily, expecting your return. You must destroy the source of that power. You must destroy my body. When he falls, all that is mine will then rejoin my spirit. Rebirth.
SM: If Li is using the amulet I no longer need, could I control the power too?
Silk Fox: Interesting. This power could be used to strengthen the Empire instead of one man.
WD: Beware what you say, for you are still mortal and open to the same weaknesses he and his brothers displayed!
SM: In Dirge, blood in the fountains suppressed your power without destroying it.
WD: It seems that you learned your lessons in the spirit realm a little too well. Yes, blood from your mortal companions *could* be used to poison my body. The energy flowing to Sun Li would be disrupted, making him vulnerable. Defeat him and my power would remain trapped in this body for you to use. You could claim his place, become a god. As the blood poison waned, your power would surpass his and eventually consume my very being. But the water that flows from me now sustains the Empire. If you poison my body, you poison wherever that water flows. You would taint the heart of the Empire.
SM: A human should decide human destiny, no matter the cost.
SF: Using this power for the good of all would justify any means.
[Other companion interjections.]
SM: It is my decision alone whether I take this path or not!
SF: And you have earned that right. I am with you.
Parahumans ('fic)
Lisa &/ Taylor - Lisa, I think, gets a bit of a bad rap in the fandom. Yeah, she could have been more creatively conceived than "author's infodump mouthpiece"; no, she's not at all nice to people she's on the wrong side of. But she tries very hard to be caring with people she does like, and it's not something that I think necessarily comes naturally to her: at least by the point of canon, when she's gone through her early life, her trigger, the powers that make it hard-to-impossible for her to ignore everyone's bad points, and then been screwed over by Coil.
So I'd like to see some writing that develops what we see of Lisa as the girl who, despite everything, takes Taylor in, gives her her own place (both physically and in a team who will actually be her friends), and who tries to help Skitter bear up under everything that has been and will be piled on her over the course of the novel. Taylor, of course, tries to repay her in turn: killing Coil, trying to rescue Lisa from her purposelessness after his death, trying to help her remember that she's more than just her power. In some ways, they both try to make each other a bit more human, and that's a crucial thing in their world. It also hits my buttons, because I'm a terrible sucker for mutually supportive relationships, with attraction running alongside a deep friendship.
For something a bit more on the "established" rather than "developing" side, this relationship - or, perhaps, this universe as a whole - is also entirely ripe for a pure H/C scenario. Maybe Taylor has (per usual) got too close to the action as a squishy non-Brute, or Lisa's dealing with a Thinker migraine (the first time Taylor's around for a really bad one?)
Independent of this being 'shippy or not, do feel free to either run with Lisa's power-enforced quasi-asexuality from canon or dismiss its admitted clumsiness, at your preference.
Buffyverse ('fic)
Buffy/Willow - 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).
I haven't kept up with any post-show material (barring Angel S5), 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.
Planescape: Torment ('fic)
I'm aware that PS:T is a long game, and not necessarily one that everyone will have replayed lately, so I've included some quotes from the dialogue to jog memories and creative thoughts.
Grace &/ Annah - These two have a fascinating dynamic. Whenever Grace tries to talk to Annah - and she tries it a lot - Annah completely shuts her down. She doesn't trust her, she continually harps on her nature as a fiend (despite Annah's own blood, which says something interesting), and she is blatantly and violently jealous of the slightest possibility that TNO might be interested in the succubus. Conversely, Grace is kindly, protective, and complimentary towards this young, angry, offensive Hive rat, above anyone else we see in the game. She stands up to bloody Vhailor for her!
Possibilities: As Grace once suggests, what if she'd found Annah when she was younger - before Pharod, or perhaps a little after his adoption? What would Annah be like after time at the Brothel and how would her relationship with Grace develop? What if Grace and Annah met without the lure of Torment on TNO, and without jealousy driving a deeper wedge between them? Could they help each other with their own torments even so? On the way with TNO, how would Annah react to Grace standing in front of the incarnate Executioner's Axe that is Vhailor for her - could this change her feelings towards Grace and make her see her in a new light? Or what could happen between them after everything is over and they finally stumble out of the Fortress of Regrets, with Nameless gone to his fate?
"Hey, don't let the fiendling get to you, Grace. She's just not as pretty as she'd like to be."
"No, she's not pretty. But she might easily be beautiful."
"She is strong and capable, and she is quite passionate. I almost wish I had met her long ago and asked her to come to the Brothel... perhaps things might have been different." Grace studies you for a moment. "What do you think of her?"
"Stop your questioning, Vhailor." Fall-From-Grace's words are spoken without the slightest hint of a threat, but somehow, they feel dangerous. "This is not a court, and you will not place her on trial in my presence. Leave her alone."
*She has committed INJUSTICES. I will PUNISH her.*
"To do so, Vhailor, you must go through me. I will not allow her to be harmed."
Grace &/ TNO - This is by all means the more understated of the romances, barely one at all until the finale, and overshadowed by Deionarra and Ravel as well as Annah. But Grace's last goodbye is one of the most powerful parts of the game for me, and brings out her sheer dedication. Annah's romance is maybe more real, relatable, but Grace's is more Planar, more rooted in concepts and beliefs and story-telling. (Where TNO's most comprehensive answer to "what may change the nature of a man?" is so often given as belief, Grace calls it love).
You might flesh out TNO and Grace's developing relationship - friendly or romantic - on their journey. (A discussion of their contrasting thoughts on belief and love might actually make for an interesting setpiece to hang some writing on). I'd also enjoy seeing the the fulfilment of Grace's final promise in the Fortress of Regrets.
I CANNOT REMAIN HERE FOR MUCH LONGER. MY PUNISHMENT CALLS, AND FATE AND TIME SHALL SOON BE HERE. I WILL RETURN YOU TO SIGIL, IF YOU WISH.
"That is not my wish." Fall-From-Grace reaches forward, and her hand lightly touches your arm. There is a slight tingling sensation, barely felt, then she takes it away. "I *will* find you again, no matter where in the Lower Planes you will be - just as you shall be able to find me."
IT MAY BE A LONG TIME. WHERE I AM BOUND, TIME IS NOT MEASURED IN YEARS. AND THE CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED ARE STRONGER THAN ANY CAGE.
"No cage shall separate us, and no Plane shall divide us." Fall-From-Grace's face becomes like stone. "Keep thinking of me, and we shall meet again."
I SHALL NOT FORGET ALL YOU SACRIFICED FOR ME.
She shakes her head. "Just do not forget me."
TIME LAYS WASTE TO ALL THINGS. BUT I SHALL FIGHT IT AS LONG AS I CAN.
"Time is not your enemy. Forever is."
"Because love would not allow it - and it can bend even the strongest to its will." Fall-From-Grace voice is soft, questioning. "Does it not, Ravel?"
"I would say this - love may move the Planes themselves when it is strong and true, and there is nothing truer in all of my experiences that the truth about one *feels* about another."
"Before you seek to guard others from your feelings, know this - love is powerful, so powerful that it found its way into Ravel's twisted black heart and its touch caused her to value another more than herself. Do you not know the *strength* required to change a heart such as Ravel's? For all the pain it may have caused, I think there is something to be said for the good it has created."
