Chocolate Box 2020
Jan. 6th, 2020 04:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tailcoatThis is the Chocolate Box 2020 letter for Labocat on AO3 - thank you so much for signing up and offering any of these fandoms; I dearly hope we matched on something you're excited about! Along those lines, I do want to say that if nothing below sparks you, please feel free to use any ideas you already have! I'm really easy to please and all of these fandoms are here because I just want to see more writing in them in general, so anything at all is a gift!
General things! This is just broad-view stuff; I'll note where applicable in specific sections if canons/ships can ignore something.
In General: I’m really happy with anything! And by anything, I really do mean just about anything; it’s hard to find something that I absolutely don’t like hard stop. I’m good with all ratings, from G to NC-17, and while there are a bunch of ships requested, I'm okay with anything from pining and getting together to established relationships taking the backseat to a larger plot event. As this is a more lax exchange, please feel free to mix up styles or try something new! Changing PoV of the same situation? Snapshot scenes? Epistolary? Are all amazing, so please feel free to experiment if that's where the mood takes you! I also love all genres: fluff, action/adventure, hurt/comfort, canon, AU, pre/post-series, crossovers; if you have something in mind already, I’ll probably love it! I do prefer things to end on a happy or hopeful note, but I would never pass on or ask against angst and drama or even character injury.
Some tropes I adore that are relevant (non-comprehensive):
- hurt/comfort and whump
- alternate PoVs of scenes
- pre-canon backstory
- curtainfic/established relationship
- casefic
- fake relationship/arranged marriage/accidentally married/accidental confessions
- found family
- enemies/rivals to lovers (also friends to lovers)
- secret relationships/friendships
- reincarnation/fated/soulbonds
- trapped somewhere together/canadian shack
- loyalty
- magically bonded together (either physically or telepathically)
- redemption or corruption
- road trips
- the 90s anime onsen episode
- pollen/aphrodisiacs (sex or truth, but oh man, forced to choose between sex and truth pollen is especially good)
- sharing a bed, either by choice or circumstance
A couple notes on things like pairing order - I've requested quite a few cnovels in which there are canon "orders", but I do not care in the slightest and encourage switching if you're feeling it - first time topping or first time reversing is always of interest!
My DNWs are very few and are unlikely to come up in these canons, but just in case: pregnancy/kids, miscommunication as the central source of plot/tension, non-canonical pronouns, and suicidal thoughts/actions from characters further than canon would go.
Really Optional Details That Are Entirely Optional (okay let’s just call them kinks): If you wanted to go a M/E route, and are comfortable writing any of the following, I really enjoy size difference, blindfolds, orgasm denial, sex pollen, messy/sloppy sex, intercrual, oral, semi-public sex (like in a closet or alley), sensory deprivation, breathplay, toys (especially hidden plugs/vibes), marking/possessiveness, overstimulation, body worship, slow, drawn-out sex that can really tie in with the aforementioned body worship, or awkward first times. I also like a lot of things that generally have to be requested and that most people aren’t comfortable with so they are Extra Optional: dubcon, vore/gore, tentacles and xenophilia, oviposition, come inflation, a/b/o, bloodplay, threesomes/moresomes, double penetration, degradation, non-con body mods, and collars.
Also, past letters are fair game to check if I've requested a fandom before! I've requested a few of these before in different exchanges, and while what I ask for may have shifted, I'm still interested for the same reasons and in for similar prompts.
Yuuri/Victor
So I thought I was in a chill place with this fandom, a nice equilibrium of I like this but don't need to be fannish about it, and then I went to Barcelona as part of a vacation and lost my entire mind. So here I am again. For this, I would very much prefer canon-setting stories - I do love a good AU, but seeing as this was spurred by a revival of the hard work and dedication and resolution of the Grand Prix Finals, I'd love for it to still revolve around Yuuri and Victor and their relationship to each other and skating. Of course, please feel free to set it after canon! Worlds or Olympics fics are more than welcome!
Mostly what gets me is that it's such a great story of Yuuri finding confidence in something he loves, and how tied that is with his relationship with Victor and the support he gets from him and how he in turn refreshes Victor's love. There's so much joy and emotion between them, especially towards the end, and I love all the different ways that plays out. I don't have any specific prompts for them, so please feel free to use my general likes as a jumping off point if something sparks you! It doesn't have to revolve around skating, but that's always a plus!
Ned/Crispin
Historical fantasy is such a weakness of mine and I just absolutely fell in love with this spin-off. I love the concept of graphomancy, and I love characters who have a type of magic that falls outside of the standard rules and methods and so have to create their own path, so I was doomed from the start. I think that Ned and Crispin’s relationship is wonderful and adorable. Nicknames! Each thinking the other is wildly successful and amazing (despite not thinking they themselves are all that)! Ned being grumpy about suddenly being magical! Graphomancy! Being recruited precisely because they’re oddities (which fits so nicely into my love of what a character thinks of as a weakness others see as their strength)! I think it’s really charming that Ned’s talent was one for hearing to begin with when Crispin absolutely lacks it - they complement each other so well and I loved seeing them play off of that to solve problems. I think Ned would still take a lot of time to get used to have more than a flit’s talent, so maybe Crispin helping him deal with it or finding a way to use his hearing in a way that is actually nice and pleasing rather than stressful from all the noise of London. Their first run (or few runs as they fumble through!) as justiciary would be so neat to see as well!
Chi Xiaochi/061
Note: I am current and will be keeping up with Baumkuchen's translation on Chrysanthemum Garden - I do not know any future spoilers, so please don't spoil future events, or if you must include anything past where the translation is, please disguise them as reasonable speculation and do not mark as spoilers.
AHHHHHHH THEY ARE IN LOVE AND DOING ALL OF THIS FOR THE OTHER AND DON'T REALIZE IT. It's such sweet identity porn, especially as they're falling for each other all over again. I love how protective 061 is over Chi Xiaochi and how many of his emotions are coming back into play because of him. I love the sweet moments they get with each other in the whirlwind of horrible situations that the system puts them in.
I'd love to see just quiet moments with them - I think a 5+1 format would suit them and this canon really well if you're so incluined - please feel free to play with the quick transmigration system! A canon divergence where 061 was able to tell Chi Xiaochi that he was Uncle Dong Feihong! A quiet moment in between worlds in the rest area! Either of them being startled at a moment where the toher seems so, so familiar! I feel like hert/comfort is especially good for them, so please feel free to lean into that if you'd like!
(Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe/Original Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu, Shen Yuan & Shang Qinghua, Shen Yuan & System)
Please check my Yuletide letter SVSSS section for some rambling about Shen Yuan in particular, as well as some more thoughts on LBH/SQQ and LBH/original LBH/SQQ
Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu - I love their relationship a lot, how unshakeable Luo Binghe’s faith in Shen Qingqiu is, and how Shen Qingqiu tries to be strict with him and utterly fails at it in the end, even as he tries to continue to be cool and aloof and just ends up patting Luo Binghe’s head instead. I love that Shen Qinqiu’s intervention tips Luo Binghe from entirely Dark Demon Lord to this so eager to please puppy with yandere tendencies, and oh my god, I still think about the moment when Shen Qingqiu realizes he probably could’ve just asked Luo Binghe to walk down to the Demon Realm instead of shoving him in and Luo Binghe would’ve nodded happily and done it for Shizun. They’re so gone for each other and don’t realize just how far gone and it’s amazing.,
Luo Binghe/Original Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu - I love the idea that Bing-ge and Bing-mei really aren’t all that different, that all the tendencies of the one are still present somewhat in the other, even if they never had the opportunity to be expressed in the same way. I love Bing-ge being jealous of Bing-mei for having Shizun’s attentions, and at not knowing whether he really wants to destroy this version of Shizun or see what being praised might feel like and why he didn’t get this supportive version of Shizun who pats his head and indulges him. I am here for all of the hijinks that might ensue from Original Binghe’s jealousy, be it fights, kidnapping Shen Qingqiu, trying to prove that he’s the superior husband choice (by showing Luo Binghe how to properly please someone, aka that he’s failing rather badly - USE LUBE FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE), maybe being appalled that Luo Binghe usually cooks and cleans for Shizun but then throws himself into a competition, whatever way you want to express them competing (or even collaborating to drive Shen Qingqiu out of his mind, either with frustration or desire), please go for it! I am also here for some Luo Binghe/Luo Binghe if you want to go down that route, because as a reader, Shen Qingqiu is well used to being a voyeur and he is weak to those puppy eyes and tears. Also body control via the demon blood, especially a fight for control between the Binghes would be incredible.
Shen Yuan & System - I love the general confusion and way they end up playing off of each other so much - I love that the system is both on Shen Yuan's side and absolutely not really looking out for him, and all that comes of it. How worried would Shen Yuan be if the system got a serious glitch? Is there anything in particular the System enjoys invoking? Does the system have coworkers?
Shen Yuan & Shang Qinghua - I love their friendship so much???? As the two in the world that know that this is all kind of crazy circumstances one after another, but who have both accepted and found roles in this world that they actually really enjoy, I really enjoy them interacting. I would not say no to them having to help each other out after running across some plot device or other, if you know what I mean, but please don't break up LBH/SQQ or SQH/MBJ
(Hua Cheng/Xie Lian, Bai Wuxiang/Xie Lian, He Xuan/Shi Qingxuan, He Xuan/Shi Qingxuan/Shi Wudu)
Hua Cheng/Xie Lian - 800 years of pining and it was so worth it in the end!!! I love how much they're in love and a married couple before anything actually happens, I love every silly excuse for kissing they come up with, I love that the solution they found to Xie Lian's abstinent cultivation path is just for Hua Cheng to share powers with him every morning, I love that they're just sweet and domestic while still being this incredible power couple who actually complement each other incredibly well. I love how doting and protective both of them are, so I would be so happy with anything for the two of them, whether it be something mid-canon, post canon, new hijinks, or just some sweet fluff. I love that Hua Cheng is canonically the most skilled MXTX top - how many new kinks did he discover though once he actually had Xie Lian in his arms?
Bai Wuxiang/Xie Lian - CONVERSELY I am incredibly here for all of this angst, especially if it involves Bai Wuxiang (I am ambivalent whether you use Bai Wuxiang or White No-Face, use whichever is more comfortable for you!) coercing Xie Lian to his side with vague threats to Hua Cheng. Playing up their similarities, getting into Xie Lian's head, playing off of Xie Lian's insecurities to make him give in - anything you'd like to play with! Something I was incredibly intrigued by was that we don't actually know if Bai Wuxiang's cure for the human face plague actually works - what would have happened if Xie Lian ahd gone through all of that on the altar, and Hua Cheng hadn't intervened? Dark Xie Lian is also incredibly welcome here - please go where your creativity takes you!
He Xuan/Shi Qingxuan - I AM SUCH A SUCKER FOR SWITCHED FATES. I love that He Xuan was playing the long game, and that somehow Shi Qingxuan didn't lose his inherent optimism. But what happened in between the fade to black and Shi Qingxuan showing up again? Or conversely, what continues to happen, with both of them recovering? Anything from pre or mid-canon, with He Xuan by Shi Qingxuan's side would also be fantastic - if they're in a relationship, how conflicted are his feelings, or does he start to catch feelings as they continue to pretend, or is it all for the sake of the long game? I am also very weak to both of them using female forms and the trope of the cheerful one dragging the reticent one around, so again, please feel free to play with that as you see fit!
He Xuan/Shi Qingxuan/Shi Wudu - THE ABOVE BUT MORE. Are either He Xuan or Shi Wudu jealous/wary of how much time Shi Qingxuan spends with the other? In He Xuan's cave, what if Shi Wudu's punishment had been drawn out longer, or He Xuan had used Shi Qingxuan as leverage more? I'm very here for all of the angst and bad situations, so don't feel like you have to try and find a happy resolution for these three!
Gu Yun/Chang Geng
OPPORTUNISTIC CARETAKING AND COMPETENCY. I love how competent both of them are, especially how Chang Geng especially uses his competency solely for the sake of Gu Yun, even as it sends everyone else into fearful scatters trying to figure out what sort of power grab he's going for. I'm weak for Gu Yun being surprised at how spoiled and shameless Chang Geng is when it comes to him like he didn't spend most of his life spoiling him, but I also dearly love moments when both of them realize just how fearfully competent the other is and fall even more in love. I am also extremely, extremely here for Chang Geng's opportunistic caretaking of Gu Yun when his medicine fails - please exploit this and Gu Yun's touch sensitivity because canon has not given me nearly enough of Gu Yun shivering at Chang Geng's touch because of his oversensitivity or Chang Geng's combination service/yifu kink. I love that there are so many opportunities for frantic reunions, excellent hurt/comfort, pining, and protectiveness. I still can't believe Chang Geng got jealous of a /doorframe/. They're ridiculous and Gu Yun indulges him and I love them both.
(Jiang Cheng & Jiang Yanli & Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian/Wen Ning, Song Lan/Xiao Xingchen, Xue Yang/Xiao Xingcheng)
Jiang Cheng & Jiang Yanli & Wei Wuxian - I don't care if it's missing scenes or fix-it everyone lives AU or what, I would just really like some happy sibling times, either fluff or tropey shenanigans, or some event that brings them closer together and to better understanding. I would love for Yanli to do something other than make soup - maybe she's sick, and Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian try and make soup for her? I don't have anything specific; I am also okay with this being bittersweet, but please don't address the collapse of the Jiang clan or Yanli's death if you can.
Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian/Wen Ning - A friend and I were talking and now the idea is entirely stuck in my head that Lan Zhan and Wen Ning would actually get along really well once Lan Zhan gets over the idea of anyone else being close to Wei Wuxian, between commiserating over trying to keep Wei Wuxian out of trouble or entirely spoiling him, as well as their quiet and tireless work ethic and dedication to the people they love, and then of course there's Wei Wuxian with two people now to tease and drag into schemes and love him, and really, anywhere in coming to or figuring out that equilibrium would be fantastic, or really, whatever interpretation of that dynamic you've got in mind would be amazing!
Song Lan/Xiao Xingchen - BREATHES DEEPLY. Okay so. No one told me ahead of time that there was a pair in MDZS who did the whole "I'm giving up my eyes for you because I love you and refuse to talk about it" trope, which I entirely blame CLAMP for but it still hits very deep and I may or may not have yelled for an entire day. I love everything about them - I love that they were considered the best and ideal in both cultivation and partnership, only to fall out but CLEARLY NOT REALLY because you don't just give up your eyes for someone you don't love deeply (ALSO XIAO XINGCHEN WHY DID YOU NOT JUST GIVE UP ONE EYE but why do anything by halves when you could have blindfolds and scars), and then only for Yi City to end up with a whole lot of still being deeply dedicated to each other until the end. Please do literally anything with this - the moment Song Lan realizes what Xiao Xingchen has done (as well as what he's done), some sort of fix-it where Song Lan gets Xiao Xingchen's soul back together, weird eye stuff, literally wherever you want to go with this, I'm there.
Xue Yang/Xiao Xingchen - LOOK. I also love this weird dynamic where Xue Yang keeps trying to drag Xiao Xingchen down to his level just to prove that he can, but then ends up catching feelings and caring way too much when he loses and throws a tantrum to the point of taking on Xiao Xingchen's identity like he's got something to prove but is also obsessed with bringing him back. I like that he's got all of this talent that he's using for all the wrong reasons, and again, literally anything you want to do with this, creepy and bittersweet, trying to seduce Xiao Xingchen during their travels, realizing he's catching feelings, necrophilia, whatever, GO FOR IT.
(Cang Ji/Jing Lin, Zuo Qingzhou/Qianyu)
Note: I am current and will be keeping up with Lianyin's translation on Jade Rabbit - I do not know or want future spoilers, so while we know there is a past and can make guesses, please if you know spoilers and have to include them, please do not mark them as spoilers as disguise them as reasonable speculation
Cang Ji/Jing Lin - LET THE FISH FUCK, LET THE FISH EAT. I still cannot believe I got into this novel under the description of "the gong is a carp, the gong very much wants to eat the shou" and then it ended up as this really striking, fascinating novel about love and suffering and memories and relationships and how they change us. While still very much being about a carp who wants to eat everyone. Cang Ji is kind of incredible in both how shameless he is and how excessively protective he is of Jing Lin because how dare anyone touch Jing Lin before he has a chance to consume him (or figure out just what the feelings underlying the desire to consume are)! I am so, so here for training montages where both of them are too close and flustered and don't know what to do, sensual blood licking (after either sensual or not-sensual biting or blood loss), Cang Ji figuring out what sex is and what his desires towards Jing Lin are, Cang Ji's conflation with voring Jing Lin and keeping him by his side always, the conflation of consumption and love, flashes of memories coming back and not knowing what to do with how they make him feel, Jing Lin being unable to stop staring at Cang Ji's muscles, idk some sort of dip in the river and cang Ji is entirely too distracting, Cang Ji taking advantage of Jing Lin always being asleep, please go where your heart takes you! Idk, maybe the bell throws them into another sexy situation!
Zuo Qingzhou/Qianyu - Something I would love to see is how they met - fox spirits love scholars, but how did that meeting and falling in love go? They're both so dedicated to each other and so doomed but I love it, all the small stolen moments, Qianyu just slipping into the library and reading on his own while he waits, then taking every opportunity to distract Zuo Qingzhou. I'd love to see them happy, even though we know their end.
(Elias/Peter, Martin/Elias/Peter, Martin/Jon, Martin/Peter)
Elias/Peter - I love this horrible married couple so much?? The end of season 4 was what really did it, along with Jonny's comment about them being a couple that has married and divorced multiple times. They're both terrible and enjoy their mindgames too much. I'd love anything pre- or mid-canon, any sort of progress check-in about their bet, or meeting at Lukas family functions. I love them trying to one-up each other, going through periods of falling out while realizing that there's someone who actually kind of gets them, in all of their world-ending ambitions.
Martin/Elias/Peter - SO ADD IN MARTIN. I love both of them playing with him, and Martin stringing both of them along as he tries to figure out what's going on. Obviously this is not going to be a good end for any of them, so please feel free to lean into gaslighting/creepiness/coercion/blackmail, etc, especially both Peter and Elias teaming up on Martin. But I do like Martin still trying to have some handle on the situation, even if he gives into it.
Martin/Peter - Season 4 was so, so good to me with this, with both of them trying to play each other without showing their hand, all of the manipulation, subtle creepy charm from Peter, Martin trying to play the long game and protect everyone and going along with everything while still trying to be a shield. I love all of the mindgames and general lonely-type manipulations, so please feel free to lean into that!
Martin/Jon - I'll be honest, mostly I want some finale-point things, with both of them pretending like nothing's gone wrong down in London, like they're not on the run, like Jon doesn't /really/ need statements to survive now, just a happy cabin life with good cows. And then, of course, anything set after the eye opens would be incredibly welcome too, however you want to interpret that going down. Otherwise, pining or slow realization of feelings is always good! Vouyerism is excellent.