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aestivalis) wrote2021-01-06 01:55 pm
aestivalis) wrote2021-01-06 01:55 pm
chocolate box 2021!
Hey there, chocolate fans! Thanks for coming by to see my letter! If you've been assigned to create something for me, I hope you can find your inspiration in here. That being said, the most important thing for me is that you write something that you enjoy and have fun with. I have absolutely no issues with dark content, and no preferences at all with regards to smut, kink, or the format in which you produce your work. Use whatever medium or whatever perspective appeals to you, and please enjoy yourself! I'm excited to see your interpretation of characters we clearly both love!
I only have one specific do not want, and that is detailed medical descriptions. I don't mind if characters are sick, I don't mind if characters are injured or how badly injured they are, I don't mind graphic violence and I don't mind if characters are healed or saved! But descriptions of things like needles, IVs, things going in and out of skin for surgical purposes—that's a no-go for me. Thank you for understanding c:
Individual fandoms are outlined below!!
I only have one specific do not want, and that is detailed medical descriptions. I don't mind if characters are sick, I don't mind if characters are injured or how badly injured they are, I don't mind graphic violence and I don't mind if characters are healed or saved! But descriptions of things like needles, IVs, things going in and out of skin for surgical purposes—that's a no-go for me. Thank you for understanding c:
Individual fandoms are outlined below!!
The Dragon Prince:-
(once again, this is largely pasted from last years letter, but I am enthusiastic now as I was back then!!)
Ahh, the forever fandom. Like so many Tales fans, I've been in deep with Symphonia for years and years and years now. I love these two worlds, I love this whole wild cast, I love how complex and difficult and engaging this settings manages to be, and I don't think there's anything that could ever make me tired of exploring all the permutations and implications this game kicks up. I've just requested one pairing for Symphonia this year, but it's the champion Tales OTP, the one that never ever fades.
→ Zelos Wilder/Lloyd Irving
There's a fair argument that this pairing is what got my involved in fandom in the first place, and I'll always have a very special place for it. You can writing these guys for the fluff and the hope and the life-changing sweetness, or you can go for the bitterness and longing and lingering threats of betrayal—it's all right there in the text, and it's all so damn good and compelling!
If you want to write something close to the action of the game itself, I'm always ready for more follow-up on the infamous betrayal scene—Zelos ending, Kratos ending, or something in between! There's a lot to be explored there.
If you want to write something that would be... absolutely bleak, to be honest, I'd be very curious to see a story where Lloyd has to deal with Zelos's Cruxis Crystal after Zelos dies. Zelos requests for it to be destroyed. How does Lloyd feel when he's doing that? Does he speak to it, and if so, can Zelos hear him one final time? Are they able to actually speak one more time, the way Presea spoke to Alicia? What kind of resolution are they able to find in those moments? OR HELL, does Lloyd find himself unable to go through with it? Does he go against his own beliefs, unable to let Zelos go just yet. Just one day more. Just one day more. Go as far with that sort of idea as you like!
LET'S CONSIDER SOME LESS DIRE OPTIONS, THOUGH, anything post-game is fun too! Anything set during the post-game Expshere journey is always fun and interesting to see. You can go for something simple and fun, the growing pains of travelling on the road together, or you can try something a bit more complex and concoct a mini-adventure for them. Troubles in one of the towns they visit? Rumours of a monster causing havoc, or bandits harassing travellers? Whatever you might go with, I'd love anything that focuses on what life is like for them now that they're together as just the two of them. Are they still learning new things about each other? How is Lloyd coping with his increased level of fame since uniting the two worlds? How is Zelos coping with his decreased significance now that the Chosen are no longer required?
Art Specific: Can't go wrong with wings! It's classic, but wing imagery and/or snow imagery is always a good one with these two. Art that hones in on the way they have each other now despite the ghosts in their past—united for the future, no longer chained back by the past. Or, for something way different, morning grooming routines! Love me some morning stubble Lloyd and Zelos dealing with all that hair of his!
DNWs: Prefer no mentions of romantic Lloyd/Colette or Zelos/Sheena, although mentions of them as significant platonic relationships are absolutely welcome and fine!! Love those girls!
(this is largely copy & pasted from last year's letter, with some minor edits—please don't be put off by that, my enthusiasm remains strong!)
The Dragon Prince has been a wonderful surprise for me! I wasn't too sure what to expect going into the series, but I've found it to be the perfect blend of fictional politics and high fantasy antics. The setting is fun, and I'm honestly in love with the Katolis characters in particular—Harrow, Viren, and all their respective children. Callum, Rayla and especially Ezran are wonderful characters, but for the sake of this exchange I'm leaning toward the dark magic mess that is Viren and his children. Although...
The Dragon Prince has been a wonderful surprise for me! I wasn't too sure what to expect going into the series, but I've found it to be the perfect blend of fictional politics and high fantasy antics. The setting is fun, and I'm honestly in love with the Katolis characters in particular—Harrow, Viren, and all their respective children. Callum, Rayla and especially Ezran are wonderful characters, but for the sake of this exchange I'm leaning toward the dark magic mess that is Viren and his children. Although...
Side-note About Little Bug Pal: I haven't request Viren/Aaravos for this exchange, but I actually really do love the ship and have no problems at all with it being present in anything you might want to write! The reason I didn't specifically request them is because I wanted a major focus on the messed up family dynamics going on with Viren and his two children, but if you want to work Aaravos into that in any capacity? No problem whatsoever, please follow your heart! And similarly, if you'd rather just ignore him entirely (or write something pre-series/pre-Aaravos) that's great too!
→ Claudia & Soren & Viren / Claudia & Soren / Claudia & Viren
There is no tag for Soren & Viren but just imagine I've included that as well. I love all the different relationship dynamics present in this family. Early in the show I would have argued that Viren loves his children no matter what else is happening, but by the end of Season Three it's getting more and more difficult to ignore the disregard he shows toward poor Soren. That being said I honestly think there is some love there, even if Viren is increasingly losing his way when it comes to demonstrating it. Does he even realise how neglectful and hurtful he is? Of course he knows he's using his children (for the greater good of humankind! so it's totally fine!), but will he ever stop to consider what that might actually be doing to them as people?
There's no mistaking how much he loves Claudia, though, or how much pride he has in her. Is he conscious of the fact that he clearly has a favourite child? And how do Claudia and Soren feel about this? We get plenty of indication that Soren is desperate for his father's approval, which would suggest he might recognise the status quo on at least a subconscious level. What about Claudia, though? As the favoured child is she blind to the situation? Does it weigh on her? Have she and Soren ever talked about it, or are they just too awkward to get the words out, not wanting to risk damaging their own sibling relationship?
Speaking of which, if all of the above is a little too bleak, please feel free to just lean into some of the lighter, fluffier times! Soren and Claudia are legitimately adorable together, with this kind of 'mismatched peas in pod' vibe where they outwardly seem so different from each other but actually they're both so quirky and weird that they get each other perfectly. Feel free to do something from their early childhood, or else play with the time period where they're travelling together during the first two seasons. OR, if you like, during their captivity at the start of S3, focused on either the capture itself or the time where they're awaiting Ezran's judgement.
For one final note! If you've matched me on Claudia & Soren only, please don't feel at all obligated to include Viren or Viren-related material. I can appreciate how he wouldn't be to everyone's taste, and I don't want anyone to feel pressured into writing something they wouldn't enjoy! I love this whole family and I'll be thrilled with any combinations, so go with whatever speaks to you!
Art Specific: Childhood moments! Viren trying to wrangle one or both of his wayward children is always a delight to see, hahaha. Another option would be an interpretation of a family portrait. I love the idea of a grand and regal portrait that nonetheless carries tiny hints of tension, or hints of the people behind it. Claudia looking just a tiny bit scruffier than she really should, Soren looking just a bit too bored and awkward, Viren very Proper and very Noble and very much trying to ignore his children's obvious desire to be literally anywhere else. Or a locket picture works too! But who does the locket belong to, and how much have things changed since the picture was posed for...?
Art Specific: Childhood moments! Viren trying to wrangle one or both of his wayward children is always a delight to see, hahaha. Another option would be an interpretation of a family portrait. I love the idea of a grand and regal portrait that nonetheless carries tiny hints of tension, or hints of the people behind it. Claudia looking just a tiny bit scruffier than she really should, Soren looking just a bit too bored and awkward, Viren very Proper and very Noble and very much trying to ignore his children's obvious desire to be literally anywhere else. Or a locket picture works too! But who does the locket belong to, and how much have things changed since the picture was posed for...?
DNWs: For these prompts, nothing in particular! I've requested all of these as & prompts and don't anticipate any romantic or sexual tension, but if that's something you want to try and work toward I'm certainly curious to see your perspective on it!?
Pokémon:-
(once again, this is largely pasted from last years letter, but I am enthusiastic now as I was back then!!)
I've requested for the Pokémon video games in particular, and don't really have any knowledge of the anime or manga. That doesn't mean you shouldn't include elements from those if that works better for you, but there's a fair chance I wouldn't catch particular references if you made them! In terms of the games, I'm always super interested in how other people interpret and headcanon these characters. These games have fairly simple plots and character writing, but I've always enjoyed filling in the gaps and seeing how other people do so!
→ Guzma/Nanu
Two isolated men coming at life from very different directions.
Nanu is a place to start. He's such a strange character, and I really really love seeing what people draw from him. Why is he such a loner? Is he happy? Does he think he's happy? What does he actually think of Po Town and Team Skull? Why does he live so close to them when everyone else tries to stay away? Which obviously leads to Guzma. What does Guzma think of Nanu, this weirdo old man cop who hangs around but doesn't interfere? I tend to think that Nanu, Dark-type Pokémon user, has a soft spot for outcasts and troublemakers. He seems like someone who doesn't fit in, and maybe that lets him sympathise with the disenfranchised youth of Team Skull. Someone has to help out the underdogs. I love to imagine situations where Guzma has had to go to Nanu for help. Help with what, who can say? Go as fluffy or as serious as you want with that!
But if you want to explore late-game stuff, I'd love to see Guzma trying to deal with the psychological aftermath of his misadventures with Ultra Beasts. Can Nanu help? Or at least provide a quiet place where Guzma can be vulnerable without judgement? Or who knows, maybe Guzma is the one person Nanu let's himself be vulnerable around, in his own wry way. After all, who the hell is Guzma going to tell? It's not like anyone would listen anyway.
There's just something about these two that really makes me curious. Guzma can't control his anger but seems desperate for validation; Nanu seems mellow almost to the point of being disconnected from his responsibilities, but can't seem to keep himself from stepping in. They're a bit paradoxical in themselves, and if anything I've said has inspired you to explore that relationship, I'd love to see what you can do with them!
Art Specific: For art, did Nanu ever encounter Guzma back when he was trying to do the island challenge? Art of Nanu and a younger (more hopeful?) Guzma would be really interesting to see, especially contrasted against the place that Guzma ends up. Art of either of them dressed in each other's clothing would be adorable and hilarious. Officer Guzma?! Skull Boss Nanu??!?! Elsewise, anything a bit dark and moody that once again plays with the psychological aftermath of Ultra Space would be *chef's kiss*. Love that angst. Love that pain.
DNWs: Nothing in particular for these two! Feel free to include their wonderful Pokémon of course, but ideally not in a sexual or romantic sense.
Tales of Symphonia:-Art Specific: For art, did Nanu ever encounter Guzma back when he was trying to do the island challenge? Art of Nanu and a younger (more hopeful?) Guzma would be really interesting to see, especially contrasted against the place that Guzma ends up. Art of either of them dressed in each other's clothing would be adorable and hilarious. Officer Guzma?! Skull Boss Nanu??!?! Elsewise, anything a bit dark and moody that once again plays with the psychological aftermath of Ultra Space would be *chef's kiss*. Love that angst. Love that pain.
DNWs: Nothing in particular for these two! Feel free to include their wonderful Pokémon of course, but ideally not in a sexual or romantic sense.
Ahh, the forever fandom. Like so many Tales fans, I've been in deep with Symphonia for years and years and years now. I love these two worlds, I love this whole wild cast, I love how complex and difficult and engaging this settings manages to be, and I don't think there's anything that could ever make me tired of exploring all the permutations and implications this game kicks up. I've just requested one pairing for Symphonia this year, but it's the champion Tales OTP, the one that never ever fades.
→ Zelos Wilder/Lloyd Irving
There's a fair argument that this pairing is what got my involved in fandom in the first place, and I'll always have a very special place for it. You can writing these guys for the fluff and the hope and the life-changing sweetness, or you can go for the bitterness and longing and lingering threats of betrayal—it's all right there in the text, and it's all so damn good and compelling!
If you want to write something close to the action of the game itself, I'm always ready for more follow-up on the infamous betrayal scene—Zelos ending, Kratos ending, or something in between! There's a lot to be explored there.
If you want to write something that would be... absolutely bleak, to be honest, I'd be very curious to see a story where Lloyd has to deal with Zelos's Cruxis Crystal after Zelos dies. Zelos requests for it to be destroyed. How does Lloyd feel when he's doing that? Does he speak to it, and if so, can Zelos hear him one final time? Are they able to actually speak one more time, the way Presea spoke to Alicia? What kind of resolution are they able to find in those moments? OR HELL, does Lloyd find himself unable to go through with it? Does he go against his own beliefs, unable to let Zelos go just yet. Just one day more. Just one day more. Go as far with that sort of idea as you like!
LET'S CONSIDER SOME LESS DIRE OPTIONS, THOUGH, anything post-game is fun too! Anything set during the post-game Expshere journey is always fun and interesting to see. You can go for something simple and fun, the growing pains of travelling on the road together, or you can try something a bit more complex and concoct a mini-adventure for them. Troubles in one of the towns they visit? Rumours of a monster causing havoc, or bandits harassing travellers? Whatever you might go with, I'd love anything that focuses on what life is like for them now that they're together as just the two of them. Are they still learning new things about each other? How is Lloyd coping with his increased level of fame since uniting the two worlds? How is Zelos coping with his decreased significance now that the Chosen are no longer required?
Art Specific: Can't go wrong with wings! It's classic, but wing imagery and/or snow imagery is always a good one with these two. Art that hones in on the way they have each other now despite the ghosts in their past—united for the future, no longer chained back by the past. Or, for something way different, morning grooming routines! Love me some morning stubble Lloyd and Zelos dealing with all that hair of his!
DNWs: Prefer no mentions of romantic Lloyd/Colette or Zelos/Sheena, although mentions of them as significant platonic relationships are absolutely welcome and fine!! Love those girls!