Chocolate Box 2017 Letter
Jan. 1st, 2017 07:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silverwillWelcome to my letter! I am really excited for this exchange and thrilled to see what you come up with! I'm not very good at writing these letters (or coming up with prompts as you will notice) but I'm super excited for anything and everything you come up with, because more fanworks are always exciting! :D
My AO3 name is Fortune_Maiden.
Some things I like in fics:
- Humor - I like witty dialogue and shenanigans, particularly if the humor is in the spirit of canon
- On that note, anything that is in the spirit of canon in general (any genre)
- Worldbuilding. Stories that explore any kind of aspects of the setting, or fill in holes that canon has hinted at but left open to interpretation
- Trust and friendship - exploring character dynamics and relationships. Family fluff and friendship (blood-related families or families or choice) Bonus points for characters with undying loyalties or parent/child or sibling-like bonds. The Feels-ier the better!
- For video game fandoms - working game mechanics into the story
- Time Travel. There's just a special place in my heart for time travel stories!
DNWs:
- NSFW of any kind.
- AUs. I don't mind canon divergence but I generally prefer the setting to be the one I'm already familiar with.
- ...that's it really (the nature of this exchange kinda narrows it down to just that haha)
Prompts (or at least attempts as prompts)
Fandom 1: Trails in the Sky
Prompts:
Estelle/Mueller or Estelle & Mueller:
A weird pair right off the bat! This is a bit of a guilty pleasure ship to be honest. I love the idea of there being some sort of mutual respect between these two over their exasperation over Olivier's antics and their ability to keep him in line. On Mueller's side, he is always very polite and respectful to Estelle (whom he always calls Miss Bright) and seems to find her a very strong admirable young lady (which goes for everyone in the Sky party, yes yes), while on Estelle's, I like to think she finds him to be a very cool mature adult (worth noting that he fits the description Joshua gave for the archetypal Erebonian man) and also endless respect and sympathy for the fact that he's Olivier's babysitter. Their interactions in the final chapter of SC also just makes me picture them having a very casual odd friendship so having these two interact in a fic would be very enjoyable reading. Their interactions can be either platonic or romantic (personally I think I prefer platonic but if romance is more your cup of tea, go for it). I'm not sure I have anything concrete with this pair in the way of prompts, but maybe something like Estelle reacting to being called 'Miss Bright' (does she secretly (or not-so-secretly) love it, or would prefer he drop the formality), or Estelle learning a bit about Erebonia from him (and reacting to it in her usual blunt ways 'wait what do you mean Stregas aren't that well known!?'), or some sort of team-up between (either for a serious matter like taking down a monster or some other kind of conflict or the "serious" matter of Olivier running amok)...honestly anything with these two would make me completely giddy.
Estelle & Olivier:
Estelle & Olivier are a great pair in Sky. Their acquaintance in FC starts off with Olivier being weird and Estelle just not knowing what to make of him, but by SC, Olivier...is still weird, but also one of the first characters to rush to Estelle's side to help her find Joshua, and Estelle appreciates his presence and trusts him, even if he is ultimately the most secretive member of the team (her conversation with him on the airship to Rolent is one of my favorite scenes in the game). I'm not sure what kind of prompts to offer here, but I'd really like to see that trust in a story. Maybe the two of them doing some kind of bracer work, or Olivier acting as some sort of mentor figure. Anything would be fine, I just really like Estelle & Olivier's interactions.
Mueller & Olivier:
If it's not obvious already, Mueller, Olivier and Estelle are easily my favorite Sky characters haha. I like the close friendship/bodyguard+body relationship they share and how no matter how much Olivier antagonizes him and refuses to stay put, at the end of the day they're friends and co-conspirators. For this pair, I'd love to see either that highly competent teamwork (maybe as they prepare for Olivier's journey to Liberl, or prepare for Olivier's crowning moment in SC) or Olivier shenanigans. Olivier shenanigans are always welcome. Maybe some misadventures at the embassy (where everyone seems to ship Olivier/Mueller) or anything really. Olivier and Mueller are a great team.
Also, Olivier and Mueller are both in Cold Steel, so I don't mind if background info from that game is brought in, but I'd like for this story to be relating to Trails in the Sky primarily.
Fandom 2: Trails of Cold Steel
Prompts:
Alisa & Gaius & Millium
Emma & Jusis & Laura
Elliot & Fie & Machias:
Grouping these together because the prompt is more or less the same for each of them: a fic focusing on any of the trios before Rean reunites with them). How they deal with the wars outbreak, how they reach their respective destinations, how they spend their days, and how they got along/grew closer (while everyone in Class VII is on great terms with each other, aside from maybe Machias & Elliot, I can't say these are the groups that instantly spring to mind when you think about who is often seen hanging out together in ToCS1). We got several little snippets of things that happened to the individual groups (like Fie making rations for Machias and Elliot, Emma helping out in Legram, or Jusis leaving for Bareahard) so feel free to expand on anything mentioned to have happened off-screen or come up with your own fugitive adventures! Anything with these groups would be very loved!
Olivert & Alfin or Oliver & Alfin & Cedric:
Reise Arnor Siblings! :D Anything with Olivert is always loved and a story starring Olivert and his siblings (either Alfin or Alfin + Cedric) would be great! Anything would be fine. Cute sweet (shenanigan-y) sibling adventures, Olivert being responsible for and encouraging Alfin's interests. Olivert being a good supportive brother (actually from that one scene in ToCS1, it seems like he's his usual teasing self in front of Alfin, but with Cedric, he seems to calm down considerably. Something exploring that could be interesting.)
Please note that at the time of writing this letter, I have not finished ToCS2 yet, so please avoid major plot spoilers.
Fandom 3: Gravity Rush
Kat & Raven:
I love Gravity Rush. It has a beautiful setting and art direction and a really nice story (even if said story is extremely vague and mysterious and more blatant about setting up future games than even the Trails series) I think Kat is a great heroine and for this prompt I'd love to see interaction between her and Raven. Either early-on antagonism and rivalry as Kat unknowingly sabotages Raven's goals, or their mutual cooperation in Boutoume or their eventual friendship...sometime before Gravity Rush 2 starts? (Idk how much time passes between games, but the recent anime promo suggests that the two of them have become really good friends in the interim, possibly even living together in Kat's pipe). So anything with the two of them would be great. Maybe some Hekseville adventures?
Kat & Syd or Kat/Syd:
I love the buddy-buddy friendship between Kat and Syd. He was the first person she befriended in Auldnoir and I love their team ups (even though poor Kat does 99% of the work in them). Prompts for this one would be the two of them working on some sort of mission together kinda like the first Spy Pack story or the two of them just hanging out. Maybe Kat gives Syd a tour of the skies? Can be set at any point in the game.
Quick note about these prompts: Gravity Rush 2 will be released before assignments are due. I will play it by then, but I have no clue how far in I'll be, so please avoid GR2 plot spoilers if you're alluding to it in your story. (The Overture anime and the demo are totally fine though)
Fandom 4: Resonance of Fate
Any Relationship:
I love Resonance of Fate. I love the setting, the atmosphere, the worldbuilding, the relationship between the three leads...the story is confusing and hard to understand, yes, but the characterization and gameplay more than make up for that in my opinion. I put down "Any" for the relationship, because I want to read any story about Trio, either focusing on the group as a whole or two members of the group. In particular, I am interested in the stuff in between. RoF rarely makes clear how much time has passed between major events, such as Vashyron taking in Zephyr, or Leanne joining the group (that 'a year and a few months later' in the intro has always seemed really questionable imo). So for prompts, maybe a story of Vasyron and Zephyr learning to get along, or Leanne's transformation into a Hunter. Or just a general mission fic. The side missions in this game often tell stories of their own, so maybe a story 'novelizing' these missions for example? (Like the Lassie Do & Love Me shirt missions giving some proper closure for Pater that the game failed to give. Or the photos missions since that one takes you to Crank Seminary before it's significance is revealed. Or the missing brother mission, since one of our own party members is responsible for the 'missing' part). I love the friendship and banter between these three so any kind of slice-of-life, missions, adventure, whatever story would be loved.
Fandom 5: Pandora Hearts
Vincent Nightray/Ada Vessalius or Vincent Nightray & Ada Vessalius:
I love Pandora Hearts. I love the story, the mystery, the setting, but most of all I love all of the characters and how they relate to each other. Ada is my favorite and though her screentime in the series is fairly small, her impact is great, especially her relationship with Vincent. Anything with these two would be great, how they first met, spending time together, Ada's attempts to get to know the real Vincent, and Vincent's attempts to keep his true self under lock and key (and insisting that he does not care for this sheltered naive woman!) I feel like there a lot of gaps left in the main story (like everything that went on while Oz was in the Abyss for ten years) so as far as prompts go, I'd love to see a story filling in those gaps. Ada's black magic and her cats (the two things Vincent hates) coming into play somehow is also more than welcome. Finally, while I love these two both as a couple and platonically, I like the forgiveness theme going between them, how Ada is the kind caring mother-figure he's never had.
Gilbert Nightray & Ada Vessalius:
While Oz was trapped in the Abyss for 10 years, it's mentioned that Ada and Gil maintained a close friendship in the interim. Prompts for this pair would be a story with this friendship. Ada and Gil exchanging letters or her trying to learn more about the Nightrays (especially Vincent and Elliot) from him. Ada's presence being a warm soothing force when things at the Nightray house or Pandora get too difficult. Just these two being adorable sweet friends.(Or alternatively Ada and Gil's relationship post-series. He tells her Vincent is dead but does he cut all ties with her after that? Continue to silently watch over her?)
Gilbert Nightray & Vincent Nightray:
The tragic brothers. I like the relationship between these two. In Vince's flashbacks we're shown that Gil used to be extremely protective of him, and in the present Vincent sole purpose in life is to undo his existence so Gil would have had a better life...meanwhile Gilbert doesn't really know what to make of his brother. That complicated relationship between them would be really nice to see. Maybe something set in the 10 year interim, or during the Headhunter murders, or something dealing with high-society life and how Vincent is right at home while Gil kinda sucks at it. Of Gil, Vince and all of those exasperating bad habits (that scene where Gil is 'want to make me happy? Get your life in order, stop cutting up dolls and stop staying out all night!' was great. I can only imagine how long he's been wanting to say that)
Fandom 6: Liar Game
Akiyama Shinichi/Kanzaki Nao:
I can't really explain how excited I was to see Liar Game on the nominations list. While I'm not the biggest fan of the ending for a number of reasons, I adore this manga for its premise and unique games and of course all of Nao and Akiyama's awesome turnabouts! Their friendship slowly evolves from Nao kinda clinging to Akiyama and him keeping her close but ultimately in this for his own ideals into mutual trust and respect. I would love any kind of story about these two. I don't really know what sorts of prompts to give, but maybe something set in the downtime between games? Or what kind of things they're up to post-series. The ending itself was so-so for me, but the Liar Game always had to end someday and I'm curious about what happens to Nao and Akiyama afterwards...
(Quick Note: I've read the manga beginning to end but I'm familiar with only the 1st season of the J-Drama. I haven't watched beyond that, so I strongly prefer something set in manga canon)
Fandom 7: Fire Emblem - Rekka no Ken
Lucius/Raven (Fire Emblem) or Lucius & Raven:
Platonic or Romantic are both fine. Lucius and Raven are among my favorite FE7 characters and I really like their backstory and Raven's revenge driven quest (and also his complete unabashed concerned for Lucius' well-being). I'm interested in any kind of story about them. Maybe something set in childhood during happier times, or before we meet them in FE7 when Raven is at his most vengeful. Or something set during the game, between maps (or during maps! I'm totally a fan of game mechanics being worked in). Or some kind of adventure with them post-game (together if they have the A rank or Raven visiting Lucius at his orphanage if they don't). Or maybe something with Raven finally getting some sort of closure to his parents' deaths. It doesn't seem like Raven ever learns what truly happened to them, but we do learn House Cornwell's true fate from Oswin and Priscilla's support, so maybe something with Raven learning the truth would be interesting.
Fandom 8: Yuri!!! On Ice
Otabek Altin & Yuri Plisetsky:
I love their friendship. Otabek was introduced way too late in the series but he's such a nice guy and his friendship with Yurio is great. And also their shared history! It would be interesting to read a story set in that past. Otabek in Russia, stuck training in a lower age group because he can't keep up with his own. Or stories of them hanging out and being good friends. I can't really think of any specific prompts for this one otherwise.
Mila Babicheva & Yuri Plisetsky:
I love the playful sibling-like relationship between these two, how Mila teases Yurio and doesn't take any of his sass, but is still like a cool big sis to him. I also like the way their interactions when they watched the China Cup together (and commentated on Georgi's performance) Anything with these two would be great. Practicing together, Mila teaching Yurio how to move in a more feminine way, them hanging out of the ice, a story to go along with the shot in the ending of Yurio surrounded by cats, anything! :D
Yakov Feltsman & Yuri Plisetsky:
The coach and his bratty little pupil. Yakov deserves so much love and a medal for putting up with Yurio's attitude. I'm a huge fan of mentor/pupil relationships and Yakov being a tough but fair instructor to Yurio, and not afraid to push him to his limits. It would nice to read a story focusing on their training either for the Grand Prix Final, or before that. Prompts for this pair I guess would be something like how they first met (Yakov's first impression), Yurio's first competition, Yurio and Yakov post-Grand Final: what are they training for next, that kind of thing. Cute little slice of life coaching stories are great too.
Yakov Feltsman & Victor Nikiforov:
Victor is Yakov's star pupil. Yakov feels like the person who understands Victor the most...and also the one suffering the most from Vitya's antics! I really like the way Victor drives him crazy. Butting into Yurio's training and being a bad influence, suddenly running off to Japan to become a coach. Not talking until he suddenly needs a huge favor. Yakov agreeing to coach Yuri for a day. I also like Victor tries to channel Yakov when he's thinking about how to properly coach Yuri, and how he really does seem bothered that Yakov is not speaking to him. Prompts for this one would be anything exploring their strained coach-student relationship. The series didn't really give us much of Victor being a coach for him trying to find his way would be interesting. Yakov's side of the 'betrayal' would be good too. Anything with these two and the mentor/student relationship they have would be great.
A final optional details prompt: I recently discovered the awesomeness that is Slalom Freestyle Skating (and Artistic rollerblading in general) so if you can somehow work that into a YOI story for any of these pairs, that would be really awesome! (I can kinda picture Yurio wanting to try it out...and also failing epicly but that's beside the point!)
Fandom 9: Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Nozaki Umetarou & Sakura Chiyo:
For this one, I love the eternal unrequited love between Sakura and Nozaki and how despite all of Sakura's attempts to woo this self-proclaimed Love expert, Nozaki is just ridiculously dense...but he still cares for her as a friend and she is generally his go-to person when he's brainstorming and acting out new ideas. I really like the chapter where Nozaki and Sakura explore various shoujo tropes (like the library book, meeting up without cell phones etc) so for prompts, I would really like to see something like that: Nozaki and Sakura deconstructing shoujo tropes. Or them hanging for reasons completely unrelated to manga. I like lighthearted silly fluffy stories so anything amusing with these two would be great.
Mamiko/Suzuki Saburou:
Your challenge, dear Creator, should you choose to accept it (though these details are completely optional anyway lol) is to write an in-universe chapter of Nozaki's manga about the love story of Mamiko and Suzuki-kun. Maybe the first meeting of these two romantic leads that sparked a classic manga. Maybe a novelization of one of the many chapters Nozaki is mentioned to have written. Maybe a new chapter before it was submitted to Ken-san for editing (and all the foreboding that entails). In all seriousness, according to the in-universe readers of Let's Fall in Love, it's a good if somewhat generic shoujo manga and Nozaki (allegedly) has a good understanding of a maiden's heart, so it would nice to see a story about our earnest tsundere heroine Mamiko and the handsome Suzuki-kun and their high school romance.
In general, I love the humor and parody aspects of this series, how it thrives on misunderstandings and miscommunications and how it mercilessly tears apart common shoujo tropes but still embraces them
