whilst | Entries tagged with fandom: nirvana in fire

Dear yule writer,

Thank you for writing for me!

First off, please disregard anything in here that doesn't help you; you can skip it all together if you like. As my general lack of DNWs suggests, I don't have any triggers and hardly any squicks; in the realm of fictional storytelling, I have no morals and I like being convinced to like questionable things. If you already had a story in your heart (or your drafts) and it doesn't line up perfectly with my prompts, you have my enthusiastic permission to go ahead and pursue it.

In general, I am a poly-multi-shipper, by which I mean I ship all over the place, often in parallel, and not to exclusivity. I tend to be fond of canon ships and crack pairs in equal measure. Rarepairs are also wonderful. When I say ship, I mean positive or negative, romantic/sexual/platonic, new or established or even sunk; again, I don't have any squicks or triggers and go both weird and hard, kink-wise, but I also really like gen, so please write whatever makes you happy.

I say this every time but I am very fond of crossovers and cross-canon parallels, so if you're familiar with more than one of these canons and want to give it a try, please do!

As a note for these particular fandoms, I really have both a soft spot for traitors and also an iron-clad loyalty kink. If you feel inspired to write something NSFW (I realize Skullgirls is one of my fandoms this year), I'm just as happy with PWP as something more plotty. Kink list for potential inspiration.

I'm not a stickler on canon-details so please play fast and loose to get to the story/impact you want. I enjoy stories that grapple with questions; they don't necessarily need to provide answers. Other tropes I enjoy: identity porn, time-travel, incongruous social media, long-distant communication, posthuman morality questions, science and pseudoscience, well-researched finicky details (if research is your thing--no pressure if not), longing, partial/incomplete satisfaction, creepiness.

~whilst

Prompt links: [３gatsu] ◊ [NiF] ◊ [SG] ◊ [Dune]

[Letter found here]

Prompt links: [３gatsu] ◊ [NiF] ◊ [SG] ◊ [Dune]

1. ３月のライオン | March Comes in Like A Lion (Manga)

Shimada Kai; Hayashida Takashi; Kawamoto Akari; Kiriyama Rei; Souya Touji
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters.
DNW: A ship that is only between Shimada and Akari or only between Akari and Hayashida.

So if you choose to write them in a ship, I would prefer an OT3 or something on its way to becoming one. But if you would like to write them Gen, I would still love that. I really enjoyed the parallels between Rei and Souya and the moments they shared after their match, and I would love to see more of them together. I remember when I watched the anime, that I was really happy about the lack of romances, but when I caught up through the manga, I also really enjoyed all the ship tensions. Like, ah yes, this is indeed the writer of Honey and Clover.

2. 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire (TV)

Xiāo Jǐnghuán (Nirvana in Fire TV); Princess Xuanji (Nirvana in Fire TV)

When I made this request, I was picturing alternate universe baby Xiao Jinghuan trailing after his brilliant strategist Hua auntie with stars in his eyes. If you want to write something a little more angsty, canon also has plenty of space for such a thing. Prince Yu is my favourite character in a cast of favourite characters, and I love him for his foibles as much as his narrative weight. I do, absolutely, ship him tragically and (probably) one-sidedly with MCS.

3. Skullgirls (Video Game)

Annie (Skullgirls); Double (Skullgirls); Parasoul (Skullgirls); Valentine (Skullgirls)
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters.

Since I've included prompts with Double, let me explicitly state that I enjoy noncon, xeno, and selfcest. I was surprised by how much loved this game and it's strange, not terribly deep lore. I really enjoyed Parasoul's fannish feelings for Annie and the hints at her contentious history with Valentine. I am so curious about Double's motivations and the identity porn potential of her alternate identity as Sister Agatha; I would love to see her relationships with Selene or Queen Nancy before each betrayal.

4. Dune Series - Frank Herbert

Duncan Idaho; Leto Atreides I

My first book was House Atreides and, while I have almost no loyalty to the non-Frank books now, I have always shipped these two as a result. (If you haven't read it, it may not be worth it.) Requited or not, and sincere or manipulation, loyalty-kink is the key to my heart here. Bonus points if you can work in the relationship between Miles Teg and the last Duncan Idaho ghola, because when I got to that part, oh, yule writer, I just died.

( Dear author/artist )

Thank you for writing for me! (Or arting; we definitely didn't match on my fanart request, but in case you also roll that way, I don't have much direction, please have at it!)

First off, please disregard anything in here that doesn't help you; you can skip it all together if you like. As my lack of DNWs suggests, I don't have any triggers and hardly any squicks; in the realm of fictional storytelling, I have no morals and I like being convinced to like questionable things. If you already had a story in your heart (or your drafts) and it doesn't line up perfectly with my prompts, you have my enthusiastic permission to go ahead and pursue it.

In general, I am a poly-multi-shipper, by which I mean I ship all over the place, often in parallel, and not to exclusivity. I tend to be fond of canon ships and crack pairs in equal measure. When I say ship, I mean positive or negative, romantic/sexual/platonic, new or established or even sunk; again, I don't have any squicks or triggers and go both weird and hard, kink-wise, but I also really like gen, so please write whatever makes you happy.

For any prompt that includes "Original Female Character", feel free to interpret this as "Any Female Character," including other female characters from canon or in a crossover situation. You can also take liberties with the number of OFCs; I 100% do not mind.

On that note, I say this every time but I am very fond of crossovers and cross-canon parallels, so if you're familiar with more than one of these canons and want to give it a try, please do! For instance, HxH and KHR can probably match power levels, both CTHD and SG are about a wish being granted on the condition of the wish's purity, and I never met an intra-persona game crossover I didn't like. Canons that you aren't sure I'm familiar with are also fair game, I only ask that you avoid major spoilers in case I was planning on getting to it eventually.

I'm not a stickler on canon-details so please play fast and loose to get to the story/impact you want. I enjoy stories that grapple with questions; they don't necessarily need to provide answers. Other tropes I enjoy: identity porn, time-travel, incongruous social media, long-distant communication, posthuman morality questions, science and pseudoscience, well-researched finicky details (if research is your thing--no pressure if not), longing, partial/incomplete satisfaction, creepiness.

Canon-specific prompts ~~up in a tiff~~ finally complete x_x. Thank you again!

~whilst

Prompt links: [HxH] ◊ [KHR] ◊ [SG] ◊ [CTHD] ◊ [NiF] ◊ [OtJ] ◊ [P4] ◊ [DoA]

( 1. Hunter x Hunter )

( 2. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! )

( 3. Skullgirls )

( 4. 臥虎藏龍 | Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon )

( 5. 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire )

( 6. 欢乐颂 | Ode to Joy )

( 7. Persona 4 )

( 8. Dumbing of Age )

[Dear Author/Artist letter found here]

1. 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire

Mu Nihuang; Lin Shu/Mei Changsu; Xiao Jingyan

I love this trio in every situation, from the few happy flashbacks canon uses to knife us in the feelings to the distant-yet-familiar dynamics they share as adults. Possible ideas could be missing scenes such as Nihuang's earliest arrival to Jinling, or a birthday that we didn't see because nothing terrible happened. Maybe a canon divergence AU, such as the roadtrip through jianghu that they never got to take (or an early visit to Langya Hall?)? Or what is up with Nihuang's whip, and how do her friends feel about this? On that note, shipwise, I am 100% here for the polyship in any sort of combination, whether Nihuang and Jingyan are metamors, or also together, or some entirely different configuration. What are their dissatisfactions and how are those resolved? Who makes which calls, when do they feel closest, what kinds of secrets do they-- lol.

...LOL. Walked into that one. Anyway, I would also be happy just seeing everyone have a nice time, whatever that means to you.

2. 欢乐颂 | Ode to Joy

Andi He; Qu Xiaoxiao; Fan Shengmei; Tan Zongming
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters.

Ode to Joy is a slice of life drama following five modern-day professional women living on the same floor in Shanghai. I would not only be happy with a story that didn't include all of these characters, but I would actually be interested in a story that included any lead characters from this show at all, or literally any ship.

Of these four, here are just a few of the combinations I am interested in:

Andi (or Andy if you prefer) made such a splashy entrance with her terrifying memory for numbers that it's not hard to see why so many characters end up being drawn to her. She and Fan Shengmei's weaknesses and desires compliment one another so well!

Xiaoxiao's aggressive use (and abuse) of social mores is reminiscent of Andi's love interests (all of whom I do enjoy), while Andi is always on Xiaoxiao's side for better and worse, running rings around her poor doctor. Also they flirt and it's cute.

Boss Tan is such a bro, and I love the hints canon offers about their early relationship: the car borrowing, the social obstacles, the culture struggles, the... you know, feelings. I would love to see Andi take her turn as support, or even just more of Tan Zhongming being decent and considerate (and kind of invasive).

3. 琅琊榜:风起长林琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire II

Meng Quinxue; Xiao Pingzhang

These two had such great chemistry. I fell in love with Quinxue immediately and Pingzhang won me over quickly too. It would be fun to see the early days of their courtship or other missing scenes or post-canon (or fix-it AU). More about Pingzhang's relationship with Quinxue's family? Did Quinxue ever get to learn from Fei Liu? How often do they trick one another for their own good? As with the other prompts, feel free to AU events of canon to suit your desires; I did enjoy this show but I love the characters more than the plot(s).

If you want to write something a little stranger or more tropey, bear with me. Picture Pingzhang, so clever and righteous, and Quinxue, so resourceful and supportive. Now picture Prince Qi and his Princess Consort ((and forgive me for just assuming you're familiar with NiF1)). What if someone attempted to poison the Old Prince and, through mumblemumble means, wound up de-aging him to the child Tingsheng we once knew? Now with a new friend? Listen. Listen. Whatever details you would settle on, it would be funny. It would be something.

4. 伪装者 | The Disguiser (TV)

Ming Jing; Ming Lou; (Ming) Ah-Cheng; Ming Tai
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters

I really enjoyed the characters of this show, maybe in spite of some of the plot. However, I do think canon does Ming Jing (and at least half its fantastic female characters) dirty, so don't feel like you have to stick with canon events.

In general, I would like to see a focus between any combination of these characters (and also any kind of interaction). Ming Lou and Ah-Cheng are obviously a well-loved ship by fandom. It would be nice to see more of Ming Jing's relationship with Ming Lou, caring for their younger brothers or any kind of discussion on the disparity between Ah-Cheng and Ming Tai's treatment. How was Ming Jing's early relationship with Ah-Cheng, especially considering Ah-Cheng's relationship with her mother? How did she feel about Ming Lou and Ah-Cheng's weird professional/personal relationship? Or maybe another example of Ming Tai winding each of his older siblings around his fingers?

The Ming family is kind of kinky by our standards, and I am totally on board to explore that further, again, in any combination. We also know the Ming brothers are all flirts; does Ming Jing share this trait? If this is something you're interested in, I do like incest and pseudo-incest. I'm pretty sure the showrunners were deliberate in their choices.

5. Qing Dynasty RPF

Empress Dowager Ci'an; Empress Dowager Cixi

My interest in these two stems from a rec by a cool writer for Jung Chang's Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China. Dowager Empress Ci'an only features earlier, but I have included her because I'm fascinated by the hints of the relationship we see between these two women, both before they ascend to power and well after. I would be interested in any missing scenes from their time together, or on Cixi's thoughts about Ci'an after her co-regent has passed.

Another possible prompt would be the future, immediate or distant, if Ci'an had lived long enough to facilitate the relationship between Cixi and her son or nephew. Also, I am (unsurprisingly?) into the idea of shipping them together.

1. 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire

Mu Ni Huang/Xia Dong
Gong Yu/Xia Dong
Gong Yu/Mu Ni Huang
Consort Chen/Consort Jing
Princess Xuanji/Princess Linglong
Princess Xuanji/Qin Ban Ruo
Gong Yu/Qin Ban Ruo
Consort Jing/Xiao Jinyang
Mu Ni Huang/Xiao Jinyang

A fic that focuses on any femslash relationship in this canon will make me very happy, so if there is any other ship not listed here (Consort Princess Yu/Qin Banruo?) interests you, please feel free to pursue it/them.

If you're the sort to go through past letters, please disregard anything I may have said about NiF as my interests have expanded. Make as many sly references to the novel or other dramas as you would like. If you want to write a modern AU where Banruo runs a wildly popular podcast and is looking for more voice actors, just go for it.

Okay then, prompts, let's go. Among the younger generation--every combination of Nihuang, Gong Yu, Xia Dong... Banruo, it might be interesting to see one sharing her expertise with the other. An information exchange? Maybe they can trade skills. Foyay, pining, and mentorship are all great looks on these women. Anything that showcases a particular talent such as Xia Dong's ability to terrorize young noblemen or Gong Yu's talents at disguise. Banruo's gorgeous eyeliner?

Among the older generation--Jing, Chen, Jinyang, Xuanji, Linglong--if you want to play up the sisterly aspect between Jing/Chen, Jing/Jinyang, or Xuanji/Linglong, please do. It would just be nice to see moments of connection between them all, what they hope for, what they keep secret even from their lovers. Most of their endings are so tragic (feel free to AU btw), a there's a lot of space here for unspoken understanding, starcrossed loves, unrequited feelings.... massacres and genocide. Alternatively: smut. I do also want to see them have a good time.

And finally, the two generation-crossing ships. To me Banruo/Xuanji has loyalty kink written all over it. Meanwhile, Nihuang/Xiao Jinyang, I'm picturing mostly as desperate adolescent awe and pining on Nihuang's part, really. If you want to move it in the other direction, I have no morals and am basically impossible to skeeve.

2. 欢乐颂 | Ode to Joy (TV)

Andy/Fan Shengmei
Andy/Qu Xiaoxiao
Qiu Yingying/Guan Ju'er
Andy/Guan Ju'er
Qu Xiaoxiao/Fan Shengmei
Andy/Qu Xiauxiao/Fan Shengmei/Qiu Yingying/Guan Ju'er

DNWs: I have not seen OtJ2 and would prefer not to be spoiled. I would also prefer not to linger lovingly over Andy's attitudes regarding mental health.

Anything else is fair game, including crossovers and AUs. Like NiF, actually any combination of girls will hold my interest. I want Andy to sweep Fan-jie off her feet with her red sports car and lack of friends. I want Guanguan and Yingying to give up on boys and try kissing! Xiaoxiao/Shengmei fake dating! Make it tropey, make it ridiculous, have fun.

3. Hunter x Hunter

Alluka Zoldyck/Original Female Character(s)
Biscuit Krueger | Bisky/Palm Siberia
Mito Freecss/Palm Siberia
Kaito | Kite/Neferpitou (Hunter X Hunter)
Komugi/Neferpitou

I'm not sure how best to group these ships so let me go down the line.
1) how is Killua handling Alluka dating, and for that matter, how is Nanika doing in there?
2) Bisky is a gem hunter and Palm is... a jewel...
3) Hasn't Mito had enough Hunters in her life? Palm might enjoy life on Whale Island, though.
4) For this exchange, Kite is as a Chimera ant. I don't know what to say. For this ship, I would prefer something that isn't too sweet. Chimera ants are horrifying and I love them for it.
5) Indirect loyalty kink? Maybe an AU where they survive Meruem and have to struggle to find a future they both can live with.

4. Dumbing of Age

Joyce Brown/Dorothy Keener
Jennifer "Billie" Billingsworth/Ruth Lessick

Like the author, I relate a fair amount to Joyce so please... be kind to this poor misguided girl. I would prefer to avoid infidelity drama in the case of Billie and Ruth. I have no triggers and am impossible to squick, so go as hard as you like with the canon-typical concerns. Even the politics.

As for prompts, future fic? Maybe it's 10 years later and Ruth and Billie are meeting up for tea, or Joyce is attending a Dorothy rally. Or in the present day, maybe they're celebrating their holidays on campus.

5. Marvel Cinematic Universe

Dottie Underwood/Original Female Character(s)
Pepper Potts/Betty Ross (MCU)
Natasha Romanov/Betty Ross (MCU)
Jane Foster/Betty Ross (MCU)
Helen Cho/Betty Ross (MCU)
Raina/Betty Ross (MCU)

I have a soft spot for antagonists and a thirst for pseudoscience. Nerdy flirting, painful discussions on the value and ethics of superheroics, the meaning and necessity of monsters--what I love best from the MCU is the themes you can play around with. Anything from character studies with a ship on the side to a full PWP will satisfy me.

I'm looking for any side of Dottie in a relationship, sincere or even if the fling is just as a part of her job. I'm not good at writing spy missions but I do enjoy reading them. In the same way, with Betty and Raina, where the pair wind up on the moral scale is really up to you. The majority of my prompts do include Betty, so I would like to request a Betty that isn't perfect; I'd rather she sound real. She's still her father's daughter, after all. Also, if we matched here, you already know, but Jane and Betty both have ties to Culver University.

[Dear Author/Artist letter found here]

1. L'Engleverse

Joshua Archer; Kali Cutter; Vicky Austin; Adam Eddington
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters.
DNW: A primary focus on infidelity drama.

However, a minor focus would be fine if you want to include that sort of tension. I love all of these characters and would be interested in all of their interactions with one another. I also ship all of them with one another (or at least want to see them stuffed into the same space).

Bend time and space so Josh can meet adult Adam again, more established and sure of himself; let grown Kali sweep Vicky off her feet and be swept up in turn; terrify Josh with Kali's underaged advances; take Adam and Vicky on a nice date in Portugal, and maybe meet the Murry-O'Keefe's or run into Kali or any other character in this great weird universe.

Or focus on just one of them, how they grow and change over time (probably not poor Josh), or what they were like when they were young (except maybe Vicky).

2. 琅琊榜 | Nirvana in Fire

Mu Ni Huang; Qin Ban Ruo; Grand Princess Liyang; Consort Jing
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters.

First, in case you also find this canon intimidating, I haven't read the (translation of the) novel, and I don't expect you to have either, and I care much more about good storytelling than accurate historical details. However, I love the context of this canon and would prefer something set somewhere in this time and setting (as opposed to, say, a modern AU).

I plucked my favourite women from the list, but truthfully, a fic that focuses on any of the female characters in this canon will make me very happy. In terms of relationships, I'm very interested in their relationships with each other and other women; I also ship Nihuang with her two boys and Xia Dong, Consort Jing with Consort Chen, Liyang with her husband/first love/self-preservation, and Banruo with her duty and her princess(es).

Nihuang must be a like a daughter to Consort Jing the way Lin Shu was like another son; I would love to see them in some sort of team-up managing the new court, carrying on the Jiangzou alliance, or small ways they would care for one another.

Grand Princess Liyang is both isolated and protected by her position away from the inner court and Consort Jing had to jump through hoops to see her, but maybe after the events of the show, they might see each other more often? Or, newly widowed, does Liyang ever travel to visit her first love?

Banruo is so intelligent and empowered by her princess, and if it weren't for MCS, she could have gotten so far. One idea is for a canon divergence AU. [spoilers:] I believe the secret weapon Hua Princess Xuanji left her was to protect her/their interests in the event she succeeded… and Prince Yu truly followed in the footsteps of his father vis-à-vis how he treats his former allies.

3. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Lois Lane; Clark Kent
DNW: major character death.

Ahh the first and true Lois Lane of my heart, and the Clark that loves her. My canon-knowledge is strongest in the earlier seasons, but don't limit yourself—you don't even need to stay in this universe if you carry their characterization along. I am a total sucker for their dynamic, both on and off the job. Also, Superman is where my identity porn was born, so anything with this will be a sure winner.

How do they handle those small problems that come with cohabitating; how do they handle the enormous problems that come with superheroics and investigative journalism? Sic some sort of terrifying Star Trek trope on them or take them curtain shopping; as long as it's this Lois and Clark, I'll be delighted.

4. Wonder Woman (DCEU)

Isabel Maru
DNW: for Isabel to have died with the end of the movie, or a heavy focus on Nazi... stuff if you're going that direction in future fic.

If you just reference it a little, that's fine and I'm sure you would write it thoughtfully and respectfully. I am interested in future!fic for her, and there are all kinds of fan theories of what direction she could choose to take. Does she ever meet Diana again/how would that go down? Does her superpower-vapor ever come into play again? Could it help her survive to the modern-day? Backstory!fic would be really interesting too, or canon divergence. Doctor Poison is such a supervillain name.

Everyone was my favourite character in the movie, but Dr. Maru fascinates me the most. She's a pretty terrible and sadistic person and I'd love to see more of the humanity in her (without negating that). The way Steve chose to flirt with her (flattery; science-talk; nihilism) seemed to be working; ship her with another villain/ess?

5. Dragonriders of Pern – Anne McCaffrey

AIVAS; Masterharper Robinton; Lessa; Menolly
I would be happy with a story that doesn't include all of these characters.

This request is motivated by the fact that I probably had a baby's adolescent crush on every character here. Definitely including AIVAS. I'd love to see any combination of these four in a missing scene or alternate timeline. In terms of tropes, I also love that time-travel is readily available as an option if you want to attempt including that.