Chocobox 2020 Letter

[perlaret]

Hello, Chocolatier!

I'm so excited to see what you are creating for me, and thank you in advance! I hope this letter will be useful to you if you are looking for inspiration or what my likes and preferences are, but please don't feel like you have to paint by numbers or deliver anything specific. I would be equally excited to receive something for literally everything I've requested.

My likes, prompts, ships, etc, are not listed in order of preference, nor are they all-inclusive. Detail of prompts is likewise not an indicator of desire! Some of my prompts are big ideas but I don't expect a novella by any means; I really like simpler spins, or snapshots that show me a single piece of a greater story that's only hinted at. All that to say, I love a well-intentioned surprise, and I look forward to seeing whatever you come up with!


Do Not Wants:

• explicit on-page physical or psychological torture, visceral descriptions of injuries or gore
  
• scat, watersports, vore, any bodily waste as kink
  
• rape/noncon, humiliation, airplay and suffocation
  
• major character death of requested characters
  
• slavery plots
  
• infidelity/cheating
  
• incest
  
• pregnancy/miscarriage focus
  
• explicit sex involving underage characters; no adult/underage period
  
• issuefic, adding bigotry that doesn't occur in canon to fictional worlds, ship or character bashing
  
• A/B/O and omegaverse AUs
  
• earth/mundane AUs for SF/F canons
  
• unrequested background ships or poly combos

Caveat! In the event a DNW runs up against the source material: referencing factual canon events, relationships, and situations for context is fine and won't bother me. Please just avoid play-by-plays, describing details, or including flashbacks of the DNW in these cases, and it should not be the primary focus of your work.


Things I Like

General Likes: smartasses and sarcasm, messy or nonlinear redemption arcs, memory loss, resurrection made things complicated, worldbuilding and fictional cultures, genre and archetype subversions, trope deconstructions, codependency as coping mechanisms, canon timeline divergences, (semi-)functional relationships growing out of complicated history, actions having consequences, accountability for wrongdoing, forgiveness and absolution being two different things, slow burns, missing scenes, positive/hopeful endings, bittersweetness, families dynamics both biological or of choice, power struggles and relationship tension (especially when the obviously stronger/more powerful one is brought low by their feelings for someone smaller/less powerful/more normal/underestimated), size and height differences, working together after betrayal, strong but understated emotion, when "I love you" is never actually said in those words, pining, sacrificing personally for the cause, questioning previous assumptions.

Favorite AUs and Tropes: canon divergences, alternate timelines where a canon choice/event changes and we explore the resulting outcome, reluctant soulmates and mystical bonds, time travel, bad guys won, regency or regency-inspired, fake dating, arranged marriages, political matches, royalty AUs, trapped together somewhere, hurt/comfort, identity shenanigans, vampires, setting-only crossovers (Canon A characters live in Canon B world, but Canon B characters aren't players).

Dark Likes: If you'd like to take on darker themes, I generally love stuff that explores the moral questions and ramifications of what happens in canon, and characters dealing with the fallout. I am more a fan of "how do they deal with this hurt & messiness?" approaches rather than "how fucked up can it get?"

Smut Likes: character-focused sex, pinning down, shoving against walls/other surfaces, biting and marking, blindfolding, tying up or handcuffing, hair pulling, bloody noses/black eyes as a turn on, sexual tension sublimating into arguments, touch starvation, compromised consent, orgasm delay/denial, edging, sex with clothes on, oral, cunnilingus, face-sitting, face-fucking, fuck-or-die for mystical or supernatural reasons, sex-pollen, reverse sex-pollen where it works on everybody except someone(s) already in love with the pollenated person, power struggles upended by unexpected intimacy, emotional dom/sub roles that don't necessarily correlate to physical acts, eye contact.


Graceling Realm Series - Kristin Cashore

Canon Specific Note: I've already preordered Winterkeep so I won't be worried about spoilers; I expect to have read everything by reveals!

Ashen & Bitterblue

I care so much about Ashen and Bitterblue's relationship, and how much they loved each other, and how much they survived together. I'd especially enjoy something about Bitterblue as an adult getting to know her mother's life better, especially the parts that weren't so dark. Perhaps spending time with a Lienid relative who knew Ashen and could tell her stories, or Ashen's journal pre-Leck, so that Bitterblue can add that to her memories. I'd enjoy Bitterblue contributing to her Ministry of Truth & Stories, or doing something in Ashen's honor. If you do want to write something that takes place in Bitterblue's childhood, I'd prefer if Leck didn't show up, and that what terrible things he did to Ashen and others isn't a major focus. An alternate timeline where Ashen lived to raise Bitterblue and act as her regent could also be incredible!

Bitterblue & Fire

I would love to see more of these two interacting! Finding answers, exposing truth, having to reckon with the commonality of being the daughters of terrible fathers and the burdens that comes with it due to their situations. Dealing with the complications of Fire's psychic powers and Bitterblue's own lingering wariness are definitely on my mind.Perhaps some deeper conversations that didn't make it on-page after Fire arrives in Bitterblue's castle, or a post-book reunion where Bitterblue gets to see the Dells and gets to see Fire's functional family life, or language learning exchanges.

Bitterblue & Hava

I remember being surprised and so pleased by the quiet realization that these two were half-sisters. Bitterblue was such a heavy novel, but that moment really felt like a lovely flower growing from a crack in the pavement -- a good thing come from the middle of so many ashes and so much pain. I'd enjoy to see more of these two young women bonding on their own terms, even if their relation is kept secret to any but themselves. Art appreciation or post-book adventures together both come to mind!

Old Kingdom - Garth Nix

Canon specific notes: I love everything through The Creature in the Case, thought Clariel was useful for historical worldbuilding purposes, and generally just straight up ignore Goldenhand. At minimum, I'd rather you ignore the romantic pairings that ended up happening in that final book if you'd like to use the characters. I have fond feelings for Nick/Lirael, but mostly as a sweet crush or missed connection.

Lirael & The Disreputable Dog | Kibeth

Lirael was one of my favorite characters when I was young and I'm still ridiculously fond of her, especially where her relationship with the Dog is concerned. The mix of "girl and her dog" with "secret celestial entity in animal form" is both deeply endearing, very amusing, and full of potential. I could enjoy seeing the Dog's perspective on Lirael through the years, such as Lirael's lonely youth and the way her need for the Dog changes as she grows up, or perhaps with more Kibeth!context to clarify the times the Dog was less than helpful. Library adventures, magical mishaps, travel shenanigans or post-canon reunions would also also be welcome!

Nicholas Sayre/Sameth

This ship is a veritable goldmine of my favorite tropes. Childhood friends! Boarding schools and sports teams! Two young men in positions close to political power in their respective countries, and how differently they treat it! Sam is so wary of his legacy and responsibilities and yet is a bit bratty and spoiled, and Nick is comfortable slightly overusing some nepotism but has a heart of gold and a skeptic's mind. And then you have like, the whole mistaken identity, traded destinies, berserker character, possession plot, and each of them embodying diametrically-opposed rare magic? (See also: Sam crying over Nick's body, desperately trying to heal him, HELLO!) There is a LOT, and somehow their entire friendship largely disappeared off-page in later books after being such a critical motivation for them both in Lirael and basically I would love that rectified for me. Some ideas:

• LETTERS! Give me some of that off screen correspondence throughout the years
• School era trips to Corvere, Nick is at home, too-comfortable, and ready to get them both into various shenanigans
• Sam having Wallmaker nerd times over Nick's Free Magic vs. Nick being a scientist over Old Kingdom magic in general. Experiments happen. Other kinds of experiments happen. You know. ;)
• Sam encountering possessed Nick, either in canon timeline, or maybe an unexpected reoccurrence later down the line

Sleepless (Comics)

Cyrenic/Lady "Poppy" Pyppenia

I fell in love with this series namely because the Sleepless vow is so good. The concept of a magic vow to give up sleep for the protection and service of the realm -- except Cyrenic didn't do it for the realm. He did it for Poppy! The looming threat of the vow taking its toll throughout the whole first volume, how desperately he didn't want her to break it, and the hurt and betrayal of having lost their special bond (read: excuse to be with each other) is all catnip to me. I also love the political dealings of the second half of the series and how smart and clever they both are as they navigate court apart. I could really read anything for this ship -- during Cyrennic's time as her bodyguard with lots of pining, hurt/comfort after an attack, their travels (perhaps even an escape?) mid-canon, or sweet moments on Poppy's estate after everything's over are just a few ideas that come to mind.

The Young Blood Chronicles - Fall Out Boy (Music Video)

Patrick Stump & Pete Wentz
Patrick Stump/Pete Wentz

I love the Save Rock & Roll album and literally the entirety mood of The Young Blood Chronicles. It's got a bunch of stuff I enjoy: weirdass religious imagery used in irreverent ways, possession and betrayal, supernatural stakes, dramatic horror, and so forth.

I am not super into the actual RPF fandom for this, so I don't care too much about the extent that IRL details and lives of the actual people make it in here. I do generally care about the context of this being their comeback after a long hiatus, and Pete and Patrick being close (see also: how Miss Missing You in particular hurts every last piece of my heart).

I'd love to see some sort of hurt/comfort or taking shelter together while Patrick is not being mind-controlled, feelings for Pete bringing Patrick back for a moment of clarity, both him and/or Pete struggling with the ramifications of what Patrick has done, trying to save each other, or something post-canon where they decompress. I love the happy ending, but I am okay with something more bittersweet or achey set within the storyline of the music video series. I'm particularly a fan of anything set from The Mighty Fall onwards.

Star Wars: Sequel Trilogy

Canon specific notes: I am ambivalent about reylo and do not consider myself a shipper, but fine with it coming up in the past tense as an important factor/context in either Ben and Rey's individual arcs if somehow needed. If the canon movie timeline is kept, I'd prefer the Force/dyad bond faded out (such as via TLJ-divergence, drained to save Rey, not resurrected with Ben, etc).

Ben Solo | Kylo Ren/Poe Dameron

Let me talk to you about wasted potential, part 1.

I really love this ship and can always enjoy more of them, and spend a lot of time thinking about all of the way these two in particular are so uncannily similar. They're both the sons of Rebellion heroes, they have complicated relationships with said family legacies, they both ran away and got into trouble, both have pre-canon maybe!boyfriends who died, they're both stubborn flyboys, they both simultaneously attempted coups in TLJ, etc. They both make questionable decisions at times for their personal causes, but their choices make both them and their outcomes very different. I am a fan of the huge range of content you can get away with here: pre-canon (boy)friends, enemies to lovers dealing with the fallout of their TFA interactions, alternate timelines where they ended up in different roles, post-canon resurrection where they have to work together, whatever!

Another dynamic I love about this ship is, for all of their similarities, there are some complicated power dynamics. I am a huge sucker for "overpowered magic user/normal person" ships, and Ben and Poe fit that to a T. The events of TFA mean that Ben's Force power are a big trust issue to start with, but Poe tends to throw himself headfirst into danger. Ben's whole identity and self-worth is wrapped up in the Force, while Poe throws himself into the cause to hide his own insecurities.

Some ideas:

• Divergence where Ben defects from the First Order and joins the Resistance, Poe having additional reasons to distrust him based on the events of TFA
• From the bottom right card in this picture - why does Supreme Leader Kylo Ren-era First Order have orders to recruit Poe, rather than kill him?
• Post-canon, Poe and Ben finding common ground or struggling with both being charged with Leia's legacy in particular
• Ben was off wandering the galaxy with Luke at the same time Poe had run away from home - did they ever cross paths? Or maybe Luke's Temple was on one of Yavin's moons after Poe came back?
• Literally any timeline AUs, like smuggler AUs, New Republic AUs, whatever!

Finn/Rey

Let me talk to you about wasted potential, part 2.

These two stole my heart from the very first time I watched TFA. I love their energy together, including how they can run the gamut from fun to earnest to heavy. I find their connection moving, specifically their closeness developing from a chance meeting, to shared adventures, their physical comfort around each other, and the recurring theme of them choosing to share emotionally vulnerable things with each other when they need to - but oftentimes the worst of it only when things are reaching critical mass. I also think it's interesting the way their different lonely pasts affect the way they reach out to people. Finn is so empathetic and in tune with the feelings of the people around him, whereas Rey tends to self-isolate and take on too much by herself to the point she is blind to what the people around her are dealing with or the impact she has on others.

I would enjoy reading something that touches on the subtler, slow burn aspects of a romance developing between them. Finn and Rey care a lot about each other, but aren't necessarily on the same page. Especially post-TROS -- Finn has the Force, but also he's helping run the post-canon Resistance! Rey is coming to terms with who she is and grieving a complicated could-have-been! But I have no doubt there are plenty of adventures waiting for them. I enjoy them being cute together, but I really adore the depth this ship is capable of given the chance. Some potential ideas:

• Mutual pining as a result of being in different places at different times. Maybe Finn pulls back his emotional investment because Rey's not matching, just as she starts to realize she feels differently, or she's trying and he misses it because he gave up on the idea ages ago
• Jedi or Sith temple shenanigans. Trials they have to take together that force emotional transparency they aren't prepared for, and then after they have to work through the fallout without the Force's help
• Maybe Rey fell to the Dark side after all - would she try to tempt Finn along too, or would he be able to bring her back?

Jannah/Rose Tico

Let me talk to you about wasted potential, part 3.

Okay. So. Who didn't watch Naomi Ackie and Kelly Marie Tran's TROS interviews together and get absolutely blown away by how delightful they were, and then spontaneously combust into flames because they didn't interact on screen at all in the actual movie?

I really love Rose's dogged commitment to the greater cause, her pragmatism, and her ability to see the greater impact of individual choices on the grand scheme. Jannah is so intuitive and kind, and quick to throw herself in when she knows the purpose is the right thing to do. Both of them have lost family because of the war, and know intimately, in different ways, how dark the First Order's reign truly was. I would enjoy seeing them meet each other, become friends and more, and somehow end up involved in each other's journeys down the road.

Star Wars: Resistance Reborn & Bloodline

Poe Dameron/Ransolm Casterfo

For me, Resistance Reborn was one of those books that set up a lot of interesting concepts and character drama in the first half, and then failed to deliver on its promises in the second half in favor of fanservice. This ship epitomizes that feeling for me. I loved the set up where Poe was feeling uncertain of his own leadership ability, sizable guilt, and the challenges of working with agents who have muddled-to-objectionable pasts. Meanwhile, you have Ransolm, who is responsible for discrediting Leia on a galactic scale, ultimately setting the stage for Centrists to undermine the New Republic's power, and then he is saved and forgiven anyway. They have a lot in common, and a lot to butt heads about as well. Some quick possible prompts:

• Explore the period where Poe is an NRDF cadet while Casterfo is an up and coming junior Senator
• An alternate timeline where Ransolm made different choices and they were both working for the New Republic for a longer period of time
• Remix where Poe was on the prison-break team and helped break Ransolm free
• Ransolm is in recovery from his prison stint but still jumps right into things, him and Poe having to work together pre- or post-TROS as a result
• Leia puts them in to work together on something and things get complicated as they start to get to know each other

Ben Solo | Kylo Ren/Ransolm Casterfo

I love the idea of these two together and the conflicts that could arise. Both of them tend to use appearances to create perceptions - Ransolm with his fancy clothes, Kylo/Ben with his masks. Both are connected in interesting ways around Darth Vader — after all, Casterfo is quite possibly the reason that Ben learned of his family relationship with him. Leia went to such lengths to bring Ransolm back to safety, despite what he did, and I imagine Ben could easily project all over that. Some ideas:

• Them meeting as a result of the fall out of Bloodline, if Ransolm didn’t actually make it to Riosa, or perhaps an AU where Ben is a senator also.
• Something post-canon where Ben didn't die and Ransolm is working with the Resistance
• Ransolm getting further caught up in Centrist politics (genuinely or not) that leads to interacting with the First Order and meeting Kylo Ren?
• They are both seeking out an Imperial-era artifact they’re interested in on the black market, but for different reasons

Ben Solo | Kylo Ren/Poe Dameron/Ransolm Casterfo

I just love the idea of all these three with possibly complicated connections getting thrown in a room together, possibly due to their connections with Leia, and see what happens. I could see an AU where Kylo/Ben is a senator or a prince, or a situation where they're all in the Resistance because Ransolm got bailed out and Ben came home, or perhaps Ransolm was taken to the First Order instead of Riosa and Poe stumbles across him on a mission.

Feel free to remix and repurpose anything prompted in the above two Ransolm ship combinations or further up in my Ben/Poe prompt.

Star Wars: Marvel Comics

Chelli Lona Aphra/Sana Starros

BITTER! EXES! I could read this ship in so many scenarios, I want to dive in every possible interaction they have. I love how sweet on each other when they first got started (university sweethearts!) and the opposite extreme of how much pain and longing is still between them later. I'd love more details as to whatever betrayal of Aphra's caused the rift between them, as her just ghosting Sana as the audiobook implied doesn't seem to line up with Sana's decision that whatever it was warrants murder. There's more to the story, and I'm hungry for it. I'd also enjoy any sort of situation that could render them as situational allies anew to something more. Murderdroid shenanigans or the looming threat of Vader are a bonus.

If they have sex, I'd love something that didn't skew 100% soft/tender – in present times there's enough bitter history between them I'd love to see that come through in something a little rough and tumble, and if you go further back to when things are good, I'm sure they had secrets that complicated things. Other ideas:

• Sana trying to get away from the Nar Shaddaa life while Aphra is getting further into sketchy dealings. Do they both know where the other is coming from? Does this cause tension?
• Soulmates who just can't quite work things out; situations and Aphra's inability to commit or being emotionally available getting in the way.
• Heists gone wrong, where they team up and everything goes to shit. Having to cram together in a tight space or go incognito would be neat too.

Suralinda Javos/Jessika Pava

I really enjoyed the interactions these two women had in the Poe comic arc, specifically the vast differences in their worldviews - I'd love to see more of Jess's straightforwardness and personal investment in the cause up against Suralinda's pragmatism, survivalism, and do-it-for-the-story approach. Ideas:

• They have to work alongside each other for another propaganda mission, and maybe they have to go undercover to escape scrutiny.
• Suralinda's story-mongering unearths details regarding the glimpses of Jess's backstory, and there's emotional fallout.
• Now that Suralinda is a sometimes member of Black Squadron, how do her and Jess interact after learning about the post-TLJ fallout? Does this screw up any attempts at recruitment? How do their different strengths and weaknesses get them out of trouble, and do they trust each other to drink to it after?
• More about their mission referenced in Resistance Reborn. Hello, interpersonal tension while having each other's backs in gladiator matches? I'll take 5.

Poe Dameron/Muran

Dead Boyfriends Club, part 1.

New Republic squadron-mates and also boyfriends? Something more, something not quite? How did they meet? Poe is a commander and thus obviously commissioned by the New Republic; did Muran come up the same way, or is rank something they have to work around? I'd love to see ways in which they have each other's back, in training or on the occasion long patrols pan out to something more exciting, them being with each other and with Rapier Squadron.

I'd love to see more of Muran fleshed out, especially since I feel like his loss was so critical in Poe losing trust in the status quo in the NR and thowing in with the Resistance. I'd also just love more insight into Poe's time in the New Republic and the relationships he built during that time.

Ben Solo | Kylo Ren/Tai

Dead Boyfriends Club, part 2.

One of the things I love so much about the TROKR comic is that it felt like it proved a longstanding theory of mine: Ben Solo felt alone, but he has always had people reaching out to him and wanted him back. Tai's emotional intelligence and kindness is so needed, and I love the juxtaposition of softspoken empath and brooding emo you get with them. And also there's, you know... "Tai... was Tai." Ben? Not even able to talk about what Tai means to him? Dear reader, I am WRETCHED about it.

I'd enjoy more details about their youth and training up in the Temple and how they got close, alternate timelines where maybe they got more time alone together before everything went to hell, AU where they ran away together, Ben being haunted by Tai's Force ghost, and more.