elegantstupidity | Trick or Treat 2022 Letter (Reply)

Dear Trick or Treater,

I always have such a fun time in this exchange and am so pumped to see what you have in store for me! If you're at all interested in more info than this letter (or any older ones) provides, you can find me on ao3:

elegantstupidity or tumblr:

megaphonemonday. Absolutely don't feel like you have to, though, because:

This letter is pretty long, especially for a low-minimum exchange. If you use even one or two things that you find here to make your gift, I will be thrilled. Feel free to pick and choose what you like and ignore the rest. While I'd love something for any of the prompts below (most of which hopefully are open-ended enough to go either trick or treat), I'm not married to them. Write a fic for an art prompt or draw something for a fic or take a prompt from one fandom to create for another or pick a like or two from the list and go with that idea you already had! Basically, I'm pretty easy to please and will appreciate anything you create!

Thanks in advance and see you on the other side!

Navigation
Yes, Please! and No, Thanks!
Requests:

The Bear

A League of Their Own (Film)

A League of Their Own (TV)

Tortall - Tamora Pierce

Uprooted - Naomi Novik

Yes, Please!
genres and styles

adventure, angst (though preferably with a bittersweet or happy ending), canon-typical plots, character studies, fantasy and sci-fi, fluff, humor/comedy, hurt/comfort, mysteries and casefic, romance, slice of life
AUs
- especially canon-divergences, canon+ (basically, the canon setting + some fantastical/magical element, ie: body swaps, unexpected telepathic connections, time loops, etc.), or fusions and genre shifts (ie: daemon AUs, Pacific Rim, Hogwarts, in space!, epic fantasy, etc.)
- exceptions I'm not particularly into: A/B/O, de-aging, soulmate/soulmark AUs, or making the setting more ordinary/mundane than canon
character- and relationship-driven plots
crack relationships or premises treated even halfway seriously
epistolary elements
- both letters and texts/emails/digital communication as well as in-universe texts/published materials
missing scenes
parallels and canon callbacks
x + 1 times

details

competence/characters in their element
- alternatively, I do love a good fish out of water scenario
competitions of pretty much any kind; I love a good competitive streak
food, baking, and/or cooking porn
worldbuilding
- Even for canons that ostensibly take place in the real world, I love getting a taste of all the little details that add color and texture to these character’s lives.
  - Stuff like: politics/local government, what's on their TBR list, what's in their fridge/closet/bag/car, what kind of celebrity gossip exists in their world, etc.
Honestly, you can't go overboard on the descriptions and detail, no matter how minute or possibly off-topic. Tell me all about the setting or circumstances, the characters' emotions/sensations, bits of backstory, anything!
some Trick/Treat-specific likes:
- costumes, parties, pumpkins, candy; ghosts, ghost stories, hauntings, and mediums; monsters and mythical creatures; magic, curses, witches, the occult, psychic powers; spooky/creepy horror, building fear/tension, atmosphere, characters freaking themselves out (whether or not it's for a good reason)

gen relationships

loyalty and ride or die friendships
complex friendship dynamics
- I prefer when conflicts are resolved at least semi-hopefully, but angst on the way is excellent!
found families and/or family feels and/or complex family situations
team bonding/group dynamics
- eg: road trips, pranks, inside jokes, friendship building, nights out, games/game nights, betting pools, roughhousing/physical affection, celebrations/parties, etc.
mutual admiration societies/positive partnerships
- I love snark and teasing and outright antagonism, too, I just enjoy it more when they end up liking each other—even a little bit, even grudgingly.

romantic relationships

anything from above
- I really love romances that are built on friendships/trust/loyalty or at the very least some kind of shared history
pre-relationship and/or getting together plots
- slow burns, UST, mutual pining, denial, flirting, lingering touches, veiled confessions
- [enemies/rivals to] friends to lovers
  - I'm all about snarky antagonism/belligerence/teasing as flirting
- FWBs catching feelings
- breaking the seal
  - i.e. “We just kissed/slept together/did something unmistakably romantic, but we’re definitely not gonna do it again for reasons,” and then they absolutely do it again.
- basically, any kind of romcom trope that you can imagine
enforced proximity
- bed sharing, handcuffed together, locked in a closet, deserted together, curses/spells tethering them, sharing body heat, etc.
secret and/or "forbidden" relationships
HEAs or HFNs

smut/porn

feelings

basically anything that shows how into each other the characters are
romance, trust, enthusiasm, intensity, tenderness, vulnerability, desperation, neediness [to please], intimacy, hand holding, eye contact, laughing/having fun with it
Alternatively, I can definitely get behind some hate/grudge sex.

firsts

first time together or the first time trying something new or sexual awakenings/kink discovery, shy or desperate or a little awkward, etc. etc. and on and on and on
resolving UST to "get it out of their systems" or other transparently thin reasons to bang it out

physicality

rough sex, hair pulling, holding each other down, losing control, marking, not making it to the bed, spanking, etc.
use of athleticism/strength/endurance/stamina/flexibility/focus on character's physique
general handsiness
cuddling/close contact, from behind/bent over something, lap sex, riding, three-/moresomes, wall sex

teasing
- banter/dirty talk, body worship, grinding/frottage, hand/mouth stuff, phone/cyber/video/etc. sex, solo action, lots of foreplay, etc.

art/visual likes

For book/nonvisual canon characters, I usually don't have a very strong opinion about what everyone looks like, so feel free to go with your gut on their appearances.
Meta art, if that makes sense?
- eg: The design of a character's work ID or baseball/trading card, snapshots they might've taken, or a peek inside someone's bedroom/bag/social media accounts/whatever.
I'm always down for portraits, especially with fun, graphic backgrounds
costume porn, canon-inspired or not
floral prints/flowers are always a plus, as well as other natural elements
domestic scenes or characters at rest/relaxing
On the opposite end of the spectrum: action shots! Training or escaping or anything with a sense of movement
any likes from above are definitely fair game for art
Go as wild stylistically as you like!
Color-wise, I like lots of different things!
- pastels, rich tones, grayscale, minimal palettes, sepia, monochromatic are all great (probably not all together, but I’m not an artist, so it’s not like my opinion on this, or any, front is particularly well informed).
I'm always here for a scene redraw/illustration in your own style. Or, if I've written a fic in one of the fandoms I'm requesting—and you feel like it!—I'd love an illustration of a scene!

No, Thanks!

established relationship for non-canon ships (unless prompted)
explicit and/or extreme (14 or younger) underage

referenced or implied sex for characters 15-18 is fine

graphic violence or gore

"Graphic" is a bit subjective, but generally, I'd prefer no extended descriptions/depictions of viscera and guts; blood/splatter without an accompanying open wound is fine for art gifts. In-canon or canon-typical battles/fights/injuries/whatever are also fine.

humiliation

embarrassment is fine to include, but I'd prefer no lingering/extended focus on it

infidelity

When a canon relationship interferes with a request, you can either go AU where the canon relationship never happened or they break up.

non-canonical permanent character death (unless prompted)
pregnancy and/or parenting non-canonical children (unless prompted)
- babysitting, temporary accidental baby acquisition, or kids who exist in canon are all fine
rape or noncon
requested characters as vampires, werewolves, or zombies
spiders

Requests

The Bear
characters: Sydney Adamu, Carmy Berzatto, Marcus
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

So, is watching this show like watching one, long, drawn-out anxiety attack? A little bit. Did I love every chaotic minute of it? Uh huh! It's alternatingly poignant, funny, and endearing, and all the lovingly shot kitchen scenes—the attention to detail and the knife skills and the beautiful food—really don't hurt. I loved the slow unravelling of Carmy's mental state, the way it swept up everyone around him even as he tried to hold it together. And then, when it all burst and everything went up in flames, literally and metaphorically, I really liked that he got to pick up the pieces and try again, actually apologizing for whatever carnage he'd brought. I don't know if it's redemption, but it was great to see all these complex characters slicing each other and themselves apart and still coming back together because they knew they a) had something great on their hands and b) deserved and would get better treatment this time around.

If I had to pick a favorite character of these three, I don't think that I could. I love that they're all meticulous and talented and at three very different stages in their careers, but they're all just such messes. In very different ways, too! There's Carmy's grief and anxiety and superiority even when he's trying to be better than what he's experienced versus Syd's impatient desire to prove herself and the compromises she thinks she has to make to do so versus Marcus's hyperfocus and perfectionism when everything is falling apart around him. They're all just such compelling, flawed disasters, but they keep striving for better. A gift that focuses on any one, two, or all three of these characters will fill me with delight! And if you're interested in creating something ship-centric, I'd be happy with any combo of them, up to and including an OT3.

prompts

I have been watching a ton of Food Network and food documentaries, and now I'm stuck imagining all the possible a crossover-ish situations. Both what would actually end up in the eventual final cut of an episode and all the behind-the-scenes chaos.

Like: Carmy on Iron Chef (or Legally-Distinct Culinary Battle if you want to make up your own show and/or not include real people) with Syd and Marcus as his sous chefs. Or Syd as a fan-favorite contestant on Top Chef or Chopped because of her hilarious talking heads. Or Marcus getting his own Chef's Table treatment once his career has taken off and he's made a name for himself in the world of donuts. Or The Bear is getting featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, which, of course, is exactly when everything goes to hell.

Dealing with trick or treaters at The Beef/The Bear. From little kids in their cute costumes begging for candy no one's thought to stock by the register to the teenagers hanging out in the alley, definitely up to no good.
I'd be very down for a haunting of some type. Carmy catching glimpses of Mikey out of the corner of his eye and trying to ignore it until it turns out Syd or Marcus (or another employee) can see him, too.

Maybe Mikey's not too happy about all the changes to the restaurant, or maybe that's just Carmy projecting all his worst fears.
Or: Mikey's less corporeal, and more a generally unobserved presence around The Beef. Until Marcus's cakes don't rise or Syd's vegetables go missing again or Carmy has failed to take note of a very important (and very clear) reminder in the depths of the books. Then he gets all the blame. And that's not fair, is it?

Trying out seasonal recipes, either for the restaurant or family meals or just for fun. Who refuses to put pumpkin in anything and who would bathe in PSLs if they could? What kind of glut of pies does Marcus produce trying to find the perfect recipe?
I really loved when Syd was cooking for Marcus, just at home, not trying to prep enough for an entire restaurant, taking her time and making something beautiful because she wants to do something nice. So, basically, more of that? Food as a love language for any of these three (to any of these three if you'd like)?
- Alternatively, I also appreciate the realism of Carmy subsisting on frozen food outside of the restaurant, so anything that captures that vibe—exhausted chefs refusing to think about food until they have to step into the restaurant in the morning—would be great!

art prompts

Marcus putting the finishing touches on his Halloween-themed donuts or Carmy tweezer-ing on artistic sprigs of herbs for the new autumn menu back in New York.
For whatever reason, employees of The Beef have always dressed up for Halloween, and no one is about to let Syd or Carmy be the exception.
Autumn in Chicago is not lacking for great visuals! Enjoying the foliage turning in any of the parks (or not enjoying having to constantly sweep the dead foliage littering the sidewalk), beach picnic when they're not overcrowded for the summer, all bundled up for a walk along the river
Sometimes, culinary success isn't just a matter of a refined palette and hard work, but actual deals with the devil.

A League of Their Own (Film)
characters: Jimmy Dugan, Dottie Hinson
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

When another movie weaves together history and baseball and gender politics into something that’s actually a joy to watch, it can take over as my new favorite. Until then, I'll be busy adoring this one. There isn’t a plot beat or minor character that I wouldn’t be thrilled to have an extended backstory for. Above all else, though, comes my yearning for more for Jimmy and Dottie. As individuals or together, as friends or baseball partners or something more. They're equals and opposites. Equal in their talent and love for the game, even if they’re not equally honest about it. Opposite places in their careers and approaches, even if every moment they spend together brings them closer to equilibrium. However messy it could be—and with Jimmy involved, mess is nearly guaranteed— they just fit together. The entire trajectory of their relationship—snarky antagonism evolving into grudging respect to actual friendship to love—is just catnip to me.

Re: Bob, as long as Dottie doesn’t physically—I’m very here for the emotional mess that results from possibly falling for her drunk of a coach while her picture perfect husband is off at war, though I’m pretty sure Dottie does her best not to think about it—cheat on him while they’re still married, I’m fine. You can kill him off, they could split up, never have gotten married or even together in the first place, or he could just not exist at all. As far as background ships go, I’m open to anything: Marla/Nelson, any of the Peaches or AAGPBL players together, Ira Lowenstein’s one-sided crush on Dottie. Any and all platonic friendships/rivalries/whatever including as many of the Peaches, as well as Dottie and Kit’s relationship, are more than welcome, too!

prompts

What does the season look like when Dottie makes an abrupt—and impromptu, judging by the complete lack of fanfare organized by Ira Lowenstein—return to the league? Is it really abrupt, or does it just feel that way to Jimmy?

Having to rebuild trust and camaraderie with the memory of what their relationship used to be. Jimmy trying to stay angry after she left the game (and him, not that it matters) while Dottie pretends it doesn't bother her. Or the fact that they're not bickering, are painfully polite, is just proof that things aren't as good as they say.

Any kind of missing scene would be greatly appreciated. Here are some ideas:

What did Jimmy or Dottie think about the filming of that newsreel? Did they get to see a preview of it, or did they have to go to the theater to see it with the rest of the world?
Apparently there's a deleted scene (#5) in which, “Dottie isn’t sure if going ‘all the way’ is something married women ‘get to’ or ‘have to’ do.” Um, please expand on how Jimmy Dugan convinces her otherwise, either during the movie or after.
Aside from sneaking out to roadhouses and breaking into local ballparks, what did Dottie and the Peaches do in their downtime? How hard and how long did Jimmy hold out on joining them?

I don't know that this movie needs a dose of Southern Gothic (or its midwest equivalent, I guess), but I still know that I'd really like to see it.
I’m all about one or both of them sublimating all of their confusing feelings for the other into the game. So: Jimmy doing his damnedest to get Dottie through her first major injury intact because the Peaches can’t afford to lose their star. Emotional dishonesty manifesting as a truly embarrassing case of the yips. More and more late night batting practices where not many words are said, but baseball’s always spoken loud enough, anyway.
For reasons beyond comprehending, Jimmy is asked to judge some competition at the local fair, and he actually agrees to do it, though it takes some cajoling to get him to follow through. Or the organizers actually want one of the players, and Dottie's tapped to be the team representative even before they know it's a cattle show.

art prompts

I just feel in my heart that either (or both) Jimmy and Dottie would look super cute carving pumpkins. Or at the pumpkin patch to pick them out. Maybe because Jimmy hasn't done it since he was a kid, but refuses to ask for help, not that Dottie would, anyway, or maybe because, like most things in life, Dottie is unfairly good at it.
I'd love a night-time scene of some sort, maybe in silhouette of some sort? Jimmy's follow through as he watches a homer sail across the moon or Dottie sitting on the boarding house's step as night falls or the two of them walking home from a night game, a step too close but not even realizing it.
I am always here for baseball card designs! Would love a 1940s design—in black and white or with the limited, super bright color palettes—or a more modern layout.
Something with an autumnal color palette would be really nice; with Dottie's hair and the pink of the Peaches' uniforms, the reds and golds and dark greens could be warm and lovely

A League of Their Own (TV)
characters: Max Chapman, Lupe García, Esti González, Jess McCready
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

Truthfully, based on how much I love the movie, I was a little nervous about what they were going to do with this show. But, wow, did I not need to worry. The show—the humor while not shying away from serious subjects and the interweaving of all the storylines and the variety of relationships between all the characters—absolutely blew me away! I love that, even while it paid homage to the original, it stands on its own feet, delving into storylines and issues that the movie couldn't. It honored the spirit of the film—nostalgia and sisterhood and the love of the game—without letting rose-colored glasses blur over the dangers faced by players who weren't white and/or straight and can't or won't pass for either. I really appreciated that race and ethnicity and sexuality weren't just pasted on to two-dimensional characters for diversity points; those aspects shaped authentic, compelling backgrounds for characters who ended up feeling like real people.

Some of the things I love about these characters and their journeys include (but are not remotely limited to): Max's dedication and fire, the way she doesn't let herself settle for what she knows would be easy; Lupe's pride and touchiness, her bitterness over having to prove herself when Carson is just handed the reins; Esti's youth and eagerness even when she's homesick and her frustration with the language barrier; Jess being all rough and tumble stoicism to cover up an inner well of kindness as well as her willingness to play by the letter if not the spirit of league regulations, paying the fine for wearing pants in public. Basically anything that expands on any of these four—back stories, their rich, inner lives, where they go next—would be deeply appreciated. As far as ships go, any gen relationships would be great, especially Max & Clance, Max & Carson, Max & her family, Lupe & Esti & Jess, Lupe & Carson, Jess & Jo, Jess & Sergeant Beverly. For main romances, I especially like Max/Esther, Max/Carson, Lupe/Carson, and Esti/Jess, and would be perfectly fine with any ship happening in the background.

prompts

I'd love some back story expansion/missing scenes for any of these four. How Max got on the pitcher's mound in the first place or Esti deciding to leave home to play baseball. Or how Jess and Lupe tested the waters with each other before realizing they are hermanos.
I love that the team, and Jess in particular, is superstitious, but what if it was more than just old wives' tales? What if all those little rituals had real power, namely in warding off the worst curse a baseball player could face: the yips.
How do training/practice sessions eventually go when they don't have to hide them from their manager and/or parents? Does it depend on if it's before, during, or after the season?

Does Max revel in having an actual coach and team to finally play with, or are there some growing pains? As the fastest Peach, how much does Esti have to run during throw-down drills and how often do they end with her sliding straight into Jess at second?
Say the show ever gets to 1947; that was the year the AAGPBL spent their spring training in Cuba. I'd love to see Esti getting to show off her home to her teammates!

I'm not sure if this is anything, but: the Peaches as a coven? Do they still play baseball or is their game now competitive witchery or is baseball itself magical?

Have they landed smack dab in the middle of Max's/the Chapmans' turf on accident, or did they end up in Rockford because they heard of a powerful witch there and want her to join up?

I'm always down for team bonding! Specifically, sharing some of their many horror stories. Both in the "this was the worst game I ever played" and the spookier sense.

Jess freaking the hell out of everyone with her Canadian ghost stories or Esti sharing a Cuban legend that should be scary, but Lupe is an indifferent translator at best or Max listening in as the All Stars talk about all the towns they've visited that they swear are haunted, sure they're pulling her leg, until...

art prompts

I am always, always here for characters dressed to the nines, whatever that means for them. Maybe Lupe or Jess in suits or Esti showing off her first truly adult dress or Max finding some happy medium between the two.
This show was such a joy for me, so I'd love to see some of that for any of these characters. Laughing, smiling, smirking, teasing, playing, relaxing, whatever! Just show me more of them being happy, please!
I could see all four of them reacting very differently to the changing of seasons and dressing accordingly. Max reveling in the California sunshine in the middle of November and the first snow is falling at home. Lupe and Esti bundled up and miserable while Jess is going around in shirtsleeves because "No one down here knows the meaning of cold."
I love action shots! Max or Lupe in their wind up or delivery! Esti making a mad dash around the bases! That hop Jess does as she throws the ball to first! Home run swings! Diving catches! Dirt in the skirt!

Letterkenny
characters: Bonnie McMurray, Daryl, Jonesy, Katy, Reilly, Rosie, Squirrelly Dan, Wayne
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

This oddball, hyper-specific, little gem of a show has brought me so much joy. Which is probably why I've watched it so many times. Literally. I just started another rewatch last week. I'm so glad there are so many seasons (and iterations! Littlekenny is pretty cute). While I could absolutely watch the same six episodes until I’ve got them memorized, variety is the spice of life, you know? And clearly, the variety of nonsense these characters can get into is practically neverending. The fact that they've managed to keep finding so much humor and ridiculousness in the low, low drama of small town living is a never ending delight. I especially love the dialect—and it really does feel like a language all its own, cribbing from actual Ontario slang and making it up for fun—and the rhythm of the (pitter) patter when these characters shoot the shit and tease each other. It's truly the sign of people who have known each other their entire lives and get on one another's last nerve every other week but would still go to the mat (or the end of the laneway, as it were) should anyone else ever try to start something.

All of these characters, individually and together, are absolute treasures. I'd love something for any one, seven, or anywhere in between, of them. As far as ships for these characters go, I like any combination of Bonnie/Katy/Reilly/Jonesy, Wayne/Daryl, Katy/Wayne, or any canon relationships, past or present. Plus, there's incredible potential for any gen grouping under the sun you could come up with. Petty rivalries or reluctant teamups or whatever else. Feel free to include any other Letterkennyans (Letterkennyites? Letterkennyers? Huh.) or otherwise familiar faces in supporting roles.

prompts

If Katy and Wayne weren't allowed to have birthday parties growing up, I doubt they were really allowed to celebrate Halloween? How have they made up for that as adults, and how long-suffering are their friends about it? Do they go for a super-soft, 10-ply Halloween or way in the other direction?

Semi-related: what do they actually do on Devil's Night, if they're not (definitely not, nosiree) playing pranks on one another/their unsuspecting neighbors?

Common knowledge around Letterkenny: The barn (either the one on the farm or the hockey rink) is definitely haunted. Less common knowledge: Who the hell convinced the hockey players to play ghostbusters to solve the problem.
Have the Hicks ever tried to run a pick-your-own pumpkin patch or corn maze out at the farm? Was it a Children of the Corn situation or the horror of being overrun by sugared-up kids and their families that made them stop?
I'd love to see any or all of these characters solve some kind of petty mystery (mundane or otherwise)!
- Something like: Who's been planting crop circles in the fields around town? Or who keeps turning Bonnie's pants into cut-offs? Or who kidnapped the Letterkenny Irish or the Eagles' mascot and is now holding him for ransom?
Letterkenny is definitely the kind of town that's got its fair share of urban (rural?) legends. How many of them are rooted in truth, though?
- Did someone see Dan out in the woods one night and give birth to the tale of the Letterkenny Sasquatch? How many times has Katy been accused of witchcraft (and does it ever drive her to dabble in the dark arts)? Does Dary believe in the things he's heard around town a little too much? Has something followed Rosie back to Letterkenny from her time in Vancouver?
- Or maybe someone, from town or not, making a podcast/documentary on one of those urban legends. Exactly how much joy do any of them take in fucking around with the crew?

art prompts

For whatever reason, the gang agrees to staff the Ag Hall's haunted house. What costumes do they end up in? Who understood the assignment (providing a slight thrill for the kids of Letterkenny) and who got a little off track?
I don't know that any of these characters are who I'd want as the first line of defense against some kind of supernatural danger, but I'm sure they'd look good doing it. Ghostbusting or monster hunting or exorcising demons, I'd love to see what unique spin they put on it.
What if Letterkenny got hit by the Hocus Pocus curse? Who is very embarrassed by what they chose for their Halloween costume, and who is rocking the hell out of this new identity? And who (*cough*Wayne*cough*) didn't bother to dress up at all?
I'd love to see the farm stand all decked out for fall, including whoever's been roped into working. Decorative gourds! Pumpkins! Apples! A scarecrow no one will cop to making!

Naruto
characters: Tenten
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

Does it make sense to have a minor female character from a shounen anime/manga as my Absolute Favorite Forever™? No. And yet, here I am still 100% craving more Tenten content at any and all times. I just think she’s neat! I mean, what's not to love about a walking arsenal who can hold her own with the weirdos (which I mean wholly affectionately) on Team Gai? I love the glimpses that we got of her—her compassion and grit and big dreams—but I am so, so intrigued by what we don't get. So many possible takes on Tenten’s core personality are equally plausible. (And I’d be happy to hear about any of them!) Basically, I’m all about the potential here. The parts of the world that we see—Ninja! with magic! and demon monsters! what must be an incredibly messy political infrastructure!—are all so intriguing, but so much of it is in service of this epic shounen battle saga. Which is fair, considering that’s exactly what it is. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and mine wants backstory and character development and worldbuilding for my fave.

As far as the gratuitous violence DNW goes, ninja violence is totally fine to include. I’d prefer no lingering focus on anything particularly gory, but don’t feel like you have to shy away from fight scenes or action sequences. It’s also fine if OCs or enemies get killed off. Hazard of shinobi life, right? Feel free to play around with canon as much as you want, too! Break up endgame ships (I don’t have strong opinions on any of them), resurrect the dead, mess around with the timeline, whatever. Or stick close to canon! Last, any other Naruto characters or ships (including Tenten or not; I’m very, very open to all Tenten-ships, no matter how cracky) you want to include are totally welcome. As long as Tenten’s front and center, I will be thrilled!

prompts

Ninja are basically magic, even if they call it by a different name. So is it possible to be a ninja and a witch, or are they supposed to be mutually exclusive? Does Tenten let any of that stop her?
Literally, give me anything that involves Tenten being a badass. Kicking butt on a mission—either with Team Gai or on a whole new team (ANBU anyone??); going well or everything's a little FUBAR—or learning a new skill (new weapons! coming up with a new technique! signing a summoning contract!) or getting to teach someone one or two of her own.
Due to enemy action or her own sealing experiments or a jutsu gone wrong, Tenten—on her own? with a team? with enemies?—somehow ends up back in time. Or in a familiar, but still unsettlingly different, world. A few possibilities:

Time travel: Warring States/Foundation period—she can meet Mito, and it turns out they have more than a shared hairstyle to bond over; the Third War, or basically any time that would put her in Gai and the other senseis’ age group; pre- or during the Second War, letting Tenten meet the Tsunade she admired as a genin.
Ending up in a world that is too much like her memory of the Infinite Tsukuyomi to trust anyone she meets.
A Peggy Sue situation where Tenten ends up in her younger body; how much can she actually affect things, and where do the gaps in her own knowledge of motivations and insider politics trip her up?

I don't know that I see Tenten actively searching out an eternal rival of her own, but I also can't see her turning one down if it falls in her lap, you know? Then again, it's entirely possible she runs hard in the opposite direction because one Gai Jr. is more than enough, even if her potential rival doesn't agree.
Tenten absolutely wasn't trying to summon spirits/resurrect the dead/sign a contract with a demon, but now that they're here...

I don't know, it could be fun to see someone who's not a power-hungry megalomaniac reacting to accidentally raising the dead. Though, depending on who came back/showed up, maybe her shock might not last in the face of a new source of weapons tips.

art prompts

ANBU!Tenten! That's it. That's the prompt.
I love her Twin Rising Dragons—all the acrobatics! the drama! the metric ton of metal flying around!—and am always here for more art of it. Alternatively: Tenten and a real dragon! She has a very impressive hoard of her own, after all. Or maybe her mission is to steal something from the dragon's den but she ends up making a friend?
I'd be very into Tenten as some kind of magical being herself! A mermaid or a centaur or something with wings or some kind of youkai, could be cool!
Since Konoha is all about trees, I'd love to see Tenten up in the canopy. Hiding in all the foliage or setting up traps or chasing after her teammates or a rogue ninja or practicing her aerial skills or, or, or. The possibilities are endless!

Pitch
characters: Ginny Baker, Livan Duarte, Mike Lawson, Blip Sanders, Evelyn Sanders
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

Oh, Pitch. Gone too soon from my airwaves. In some alternate universe, it’s still on TV, and I hope that me is enjoying the hell out of herself. Since technology hasn’t magically advanced enough to send me into that universe, I rely on fanworks for my fix of baseball drama/romance with a compelling, flawed, beautiful female lead. In just ten episodes, Ginny really did manage to become one of my favorite characters of all time. Between her grit and her goofiness, her innate talent and the tension between what she’s doing and who she actually is, there’s so much to love. Like, sure, she’s an overnight sensation struggling but determined to live up to the expectations laid on her, but she’s also a 23-year-old fully capable of acting out and making terrible decisions. And where would Ginny be without her catchers? (I mean, probably exactly where she already is, and arguably less distracted, but.) Mike and Livan are such delights, particularly when they’re trying to one up one another; their cockiness and self-assurance manifests in such different ways, but for fairly similar reasons, resulting in two hotshot catchers with angsty pasts. However little they enjoy each other, they’re in total agreement about Ginny: that she’s great! And, oh, Blip and Ev! For how much their storylines revolve around Ginny, the richness of their relationship with one another—ups and downs and passion and disappointment—is so dreamy. Unironic #couplegoals.

Honestly, anything for these characters and this show is more than welcome. My desire for more of this show knows no bounds. For ships, I'm mostly interested in Blip/Evelyn, Ginny/Mike, and Ginny/Livan/Mike as well as everyone's platonic relationships with one another, but Ginny/anyone dedicated to her happiness is way up there. If you want to put in lots of baseball details, I would absolutely love that, but if it's not your bag, I'm all for an exploration of these characters on any backdrop. Also, any other canon characters/relationships you want to include are absolutely fair game.

prompts

I am always here for more postseason for the Padres!

Are they stuck watching from the sidelines yet again, or have they made it further than anyone thought they would? Champagne showers or drowning their sorrows with Halloween candy? Inadvisable victory hookups or... inadvisable defeat hookups?

Who is convinced that one of the ballparks or hotels the team always stays in is haunted? Is there a chance they're actually right, or does the rest of the team just do their utmost to make it seem that way?
What does Halloween look like for the Padres and company? Maybe they’ve finally made it all the way to the World Series, so it’s something of an afterthought, or they’re done for the season and are looking for a reason to pull themselves out of the rut.

Does Blip get really into planning the trick or treating route for the twins while Evelyn goes all-in on the decorating? What does Livan think of his first American Halloween? How many years has Mike worn the same costume? Does Ginny even want to dress up, or does she get badgered into it?

As it turns out, the Padres are cursed. Literally. Does the curse manifest on the field, giving everyone a major case of the yips, or is it something less obvious to the fans? (Body swap? Body swap.) Who figures it all out and manages to find the cure?
Not sure if this is anything, but I really like the idea, so: magical realism + baseball, please! (Or magical not-so-realism, if that's your jam.)

Commentators and fans and even players like to wax poetic about the magic of baseball, but what if they meant it literally? What if those magical moments could be harnessed, put to use by a team or players and magical ability is as much a part of scouting reports as pitch sequencing or heat maps?
Or what if Evelyn is a real life, actual witch? Does she keep it secret from most people? How did Blip find (or figure it) out?

art prompts

Rookie hazing was still a thing in 2016, so what ridiculous costumes did Ginny and Livan have to wear in September?
I'd love to see Mike, Blip, Ginny, or Livan (one or some or all of them, including Evelyn or not) as quidditch players! Or some other magical/fantasy/sci-fi sporting event, whether it already exists or is your own creation.
Evelyn brewing up some of her patented Slump-Busting Tonic. Whether it involves actual magic or not depends on who you ask because Ev will never tell.
Something with firelight feels appropriately autumnal? Big bonfires on the beach or romantic candlelight or stories by the campfire or lit up jack o' lanterns?

The Queen's Gambit
characters: Beth Harmon
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

This was such a stylishly done show—in pretty much every sense of the word, from costuming to casting to storytelling—with such a beautifully complex, flawed, incredible character at its center, and I loved every minute of it. Which isn’t surprising, personally. A smart, historical (and I generally liked the gentler, sometimes kinder version of midcentury America the show portrayed) sports drama with an emotionally satisfying story arc and a compelling heroine; it almost seems like it was designed to hit me right in the feels. Not least because Beth was such a joy, and sometimes a gut-punch, to watch. The tension between her innate intelligence and skill and her demons and self-destructive tendencies was all in balance, letting her advance and fall back without ever forfeiting and giving up. She might be a bit of an asshole and contrary as hell, but she’s not reflexively combative. Beth’s a mess, and I love that! Especially since she has so many people on her side to encourage her to be better. The best, even. For all her prickliness and the walls she's built up to protect herself, the fact that Beth collected all these people to love and support her—in so many different capacities—is really all I could ask for the poor girl.

I really want whatever you create to have Beth as the center and focus, but I’m also open to something about the relationships she might find herself in, both romantic and platonic. I loved that for all she can be a prickly, awkward asshole, Beth really did manage to build a supportive base for her to fall back on. So any of her friendships, whether based on chess or not, are totally fair game. For romances, I’ve given not inconsiderable thought to Benny, Borgov, Cleo, or Jolene as possibilities, but I’d be happy to see any other romantic prospects, too! Also, even though I know enough about chess to know I don’t really understand it, I’d love as much detail about the game as you want to include. Beth’s passion for the game is as much a draw as she is!

prompts

What if Beth were literally haunted by the ghosts from her past? Or just ghosts in general. I mean, it's gotta be hard to play chess with spectral spectators as well as the living.
Does Beth enjoy picking Halloween costumes as much as she likes building her own wardrobe? Or, since it probably wasn't something she got to do as a kid, she doesn't see much point to it now?
Since I don't remember ever seeing her behind the wheel, I'd love to see Beth learning how to drive!

Does Alma teach her between tournaments, or does it fall to her friends later on? Does someone offer up their services or do they all play hot potato, having heard the story of Beth's first, disastrous lesson through the grapevine? Does she end up buying some impossibly cool car once she has her license?

Beth might be the worse person to throw in a time loop—so much room for self-destructive tendencies!—but I still want to see her in one.

Maybe that day of the final match in Paris? Or another of her showdowns with Borgov. Or Benny. Are things complicated when she figures out it's not winning that will free her from the loop? Does anyone else ever seem aware?

Somehow, half of Lexington convinces itself that the Harmon girl is a witch. Which doesn't bother Beth at all, if only because she doesn't notice for about half a decade.

If it turns out her neighbors are right after all, well, she's contrary enough to never admit it.
For something a little lighter, I'd also be very interested in an outsider POV about the studious avoidance of the Harmon house during trick or treating.

art prompts

I am always here for Beth generally looking like a fashion spread everywhere she goes. Tournaments or running errands or hanging with her friends: just oozing style and looks and trends all day.
I'd love to see more of Beth playing in the park. Whether her opponent is a stranger or a familiar face, it'd be nice to see her playing just for the fun of it.
I'd really enjoy something dark and moody. Maybe a close up portrait with lots of dramatic shadows and highlights or something in only black and white and red? You can go with seasonal imagery, too, or not. Up to you!
Anything that goes hard on the chess imagery could be very cool! Chessboards or pieces as some kind of motif? Or Beth as a chess piece herself? A queen or a knight, maybe?

Ted Lasso
characters: Keeley Jones, Roy Kent, Jamie Tartt
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

This show has been such an unmitigated joy. Just thinking about it can make me grin like a maniac. Everything about it, the football and the intrigue and the humor, but most of all, the earnest kindness that underpins it all, is just lovely. But it’s not just toothlessly sweet. There’s real conflict and struggle that every character faces. It’s just that taking the high road to face each challenge is presented as the best, and often only, path. The world of Ted Lasso just seems a touch gentler and warmer than reality, and I’m not going to turn down a slice of that. Especially considering that the characters who inhabit that world are so wonderful on their own merit. Keeley is absolute sunshine. Her cheekiness and glitter make it easy to underestimate her, but I love that she just doesn’t care; Keeley knows exactly who she is. Roy is… basically the opposite, except he manages to turn that into a good thing. For all he’s a walking growl, likelier to curse than say anything fit for young ears (Hi, Phoebe!), I love how emotionally intelligent and well-rounded he is. Especially for a footballer. Speaking of... Jamie’s cocky assholery is excused by his talent and played up to mask his insecurities, which Roy has long grown out of. But even though Jamie could so easily be someone to actively root against, he has moments of true depth and sensitivity.

I would be equally thrilled by something for Roy/Keeley as Roy/Keeley/Jamie. Both dynamics are so great in their own ways—Keeley and Roy’s mutual respect, honesty, and attraction is so swoon-worthy, while Jamie’s history with them throws in a stumbling block or seven to keep things even more interesting. As far as background/side ships go, pretty much anything you’d like to include goes, but I particularly like Ted/Rebecca, Sam/Rebecca and Sam/Dani. Any and all friendships—within and without AFC Richmond—are also more than welcome!

prompts

Keeley strikes me as someone with a regular appointment with a psychic. Mostly for fun, but then, all these predictions—and they're not just about her, either—start coming true...

And well, Keeley's never been a wallflower, but maybe this glimpse of the future makes her even bolder than ever.

I could see, at a certain point in any of their careers, each and every one of them making a cameo in some terrible, terrible horror movie, and I want to know anything at all about the resulting film. (Totally okay to include fictional blood and guts and gore in this one!)
I would absolutely not say no to a Harry Potter fusion for any of these characters, individually or together.

Roy as a prematurely grumpy captain for a Hogwarts house team (or he's unexpectedly shown up again as the new flying instructor because the only offer he got from a pro team was the Cannons, and fuck no is he wasting his time there) or Jamie as a hotshot Seeker? Chaser? who is not any less of a prick (with hidden depths) now that he has magic or Keeley, whose only interest in Quidditch lies in the fact that all the fittest boys seem to play it.
Or maybe they're adults in the wizarding world. How do they deal with some American (squib? I feel like Ted can't be a muggle, but just being American might not be enough of a culture clash) taking over as head coach of their quidditch club?

As it turns out, Nelson Road really is haunted. Or the team really is cursed. Or maybe Jamie or Roy just feels that way, having gone the last three matches without scoring a goal.
I feel like Keeley throws, or is at least invited to, the best Halloween parties in existence. I also feel like Roy, much as he loves her, puts up with them as grudgingly as possible.

Maybe Keeley gave that costume she picked up for Roy to Jamie because he'd actually wear it. Maybe she had sneakier motives in mind. Maybe, depending on how the evening ends, she'll even fess up to them.

art prompts

Keeley's collection of old Halloween costumes—or just costume pieces in general—has got to be majestic. Seeing even part of it, on her or Roy or Jamie because they probably can't say no to her, would be so much fun!
Somehow, when Roy invited Keeley to join him chaperoning Phoebe's trick or treating, he didn't expect Jamie to tag along, but now that he's here...
Tending to injuries, their own or otherwise! Roy icing his knee or wrapping up an ankle. Jamie nursing a bruise from a misplaced elbow on the pitch. Keeley all bundled up with some tea when she's caught a cold. Or any of them patching up another!
Portraits of any or all of them enjoying their favorite bits of Halloween candy, please! Or fighting/bartering over the mountain of candy!

Tortall - Tamora Pierce
characters: Keladry of Mindelan
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

I really enjoy all of the Tortall series and heroines—fantasy land with women warriors and magic and fraught politics has been and will be my jam forever—but Kel is in a class all her own. Every time I reread her quartet, I get such a nostalgia hit and come away adoring her even more. I love her understated tenacity, that determination to rise to meet every challenge that comes her way, and unswerving sense of justice, both of which make her such an incredible knight. But I also love that she is just a girl. One who develops inconvenient crushes and likes math and is nice to pretty much every small (and not-so-small) animal that crosses her path. All while turning the expectations for young ladies in her society on their heads because she's excellent at multitasking even if she'd never ask for the responsibility on her own. And would, in fact, rather not have it at all. For all she just wants to be a knight of the realm, one of many, she is too talented and exceptional to ever just blend in with her peers. Which is yet another reason why she’s a cut above the rest; she might not seek out glory, but when it comes to find her (with a heavy dose of duty on its heels), she never thinks about turning it away.

I will be over the moon with anything that expands on or explores Kel as a character, on her own and in company. I am not particularly attached to her being ace, as per word of god; I always liked her crushes in the books and have enjoyed lots of different Kel-ships—I honestly can't think of one that's an automatic no from me, so feel free to go wild! But I’d be totally happy with something without any romance in it, too, either focusing on her friendships/camaraderie with other characters (from Tortall and its neighbors or beyond; very much opting into any Emelan characters showing up if you’re interested in a crossover) or something totally character-driven.

prompts

Kel's not sure how, or why, she wound up in such a ridiculous costume, but she's fairly confident that, in the end, she's going to blame it on Neal.
I love that nearly everything Kel accomplished was the result of mundane hard work—there was no magic or literal divine intervention helping her along—but I do wonder how different she'd be if she had the Gift.

Would she keep it a secret at the palace so no one could accuse her of enchanting her way through page training? Would she have gone to university/the City of the Gods instead, a trained battle mage being just as capable of protecting the defenseless as a knight?

How about Kel and (versus?) some heretofore unseen Immortals? Either something wholly wonderful—she's got so much on her shoulders; she deserves a cuddle from a cute creature out of myth—or facing down a monster in battle, maybe. Or something in between, not unlike the baby griffin.
Trading stories over the fire has to be one of the arguably wholesome and unobjectionable activities Kel and company can use to pass the time when they've made camp, but that doesn't mean it always stays that way.

Whether they're telling ghost stories to freak each other out/lay the groundwork for some prank or embellishing tales of their own exploits, I'd love to see how story nights are officially banned from any force containing Kel and/or her friends.

Of course, few would ever suspect her of orchestrating it all, but after hearing about twelve different tall tales about her time in Scanra, Kel's not exactly complaining.

Kel's used to being gossiped about, maybe to the point that she actively doesn't listen if she ever overhears her name in a conversation. Usually, this works out for the best, but how about the times it burned her?

Totally down for something completely cute and sweet—who's got a crush on Kel and how much does she wish she had a heads up before??—or more serious—everyone between Corus and Haven knew the Mindelan girl was in line for a big promotion, except, of course, the Mindelan girl.

art prompts

I'd love to see Kel in her armor! Maybe prepping for a joust or fresh from the lanes (Peachblossom in tow or not). Or! Tending to her weapons/gear during a moment of downtime?
The descriptions of food from Kel's time serving at feasts, especially the big, showstopping desserts make everything sound so grand and opulent, so I would love to see her actually getting to enjoy one. Griffin-themed confectioneries! Her coat of arms as a cake! Or, they might not be so fancy, but the biscuits from the kitchens at New Hope are just as tasty!
The respect Kel has for the dead, even in the midst of war, is one of my favorite things about her, and I'm very interested in some depiction of that. Kel and some of her ghosts or making an offering to the Black God or fending off a Stormwing, maybe?
I'd love to see Kel with animals, especially Peachblossom, Jump, her sparrows, and/or the griffin! A quiet moment of down time or riding off to battle. Going all in on the fall color scheme with Peachblossom or the griffin's coats.

Uprooted - Naomi Novik
characters: Agnieszka, Kasia, Sarkan
format: Art Treat, Art Trick, Fic Treat, Fic Trick

I am always here for fairytale retellings/tropes, and this book knocked it out of the park on those fronts. A lot of that has to do with the world of these characters, whimsical and sinister all at once. The history and the institutions and the society, they're so tantalizing, especially because it’s mostly glimpses that make it through. The rest of the world can’t quite penetrate the insulating bubble of the Valley, which really adds to the unsettling influence of the Wood. But also, I really do love these characters. I love that even though Agnieszka is a complete hayseed, even stubbornly clings to her provincial sensibility, it’s that perspective that leaves her triumphant in the end. She knows who she is, and even unexpected magical talent can’t change that. Much as Sarkan probably wishes that it would. Of course, his prickly superiority and oceans of talent aren’t enough to shake Agnieszka’s idiosyncrasies, which maybe stops bothering him about a century in. And I can’t leave out Kasia. The fury simmering beneath her lovely exterior adds a vital depth and strength to her character, making her so much more than a victim, of expectations and the Wood. Individually, I adore each of them, but the sheer potential they represent—all that power contained within three fiercely righteous people, is incredible.

Anything illuminating and further fleshing out any of these three characters would be such a dream. I'm very here for any platonic/romantic combo of these three, up to and including Agnieszka/Kasia/Sarkan. I generally see that as more of a V-formation, with Agnieszka as the hinge, but I’d be very happy to see a throuple, or whatever passes for a quasi-medieval fantasy version of a throuple. I also like Kasia/Alosha as a possibility. Any other characters you want to include are more than welcome.

prompts

So, what other fall festivals do they celebrate in the Valley? Is the Harvest Festival in the capital so different as to be completely unrecognizable? Maybe literally if it involves a masquerade, for which Sarkan, predictably, has no patience.
They're all destined for long lives, so do they live to see the evolution of something like Halloween? Or maybe just the evolution of their own legend, tales of their exploits twisting and shifting as the decades and centuries go by.
The Wood cannot be the only source of malice and evil in the world, so I'd love to see any of these three (or two or all three!) facing some of it down.

I'd totally be open to other sources of peril, but I've been thinking about something from the deeps... Salt water's supposed to be antithetical to corruption, but maybe that's just as far as they know. Or maybe something doesn't have to be corrupted to be dangerous.
Alternatively, I'd love something that focuses on the Wood itself, even after it's been purged. It's filled to the brim with ancient magic and creatures, and even if the Wood Queen is gone, there're plenty of hazards roaming between the trees.

I'm here for all kinds of canon divergence AUs!

Agnieszka's magic was found earlier and by the time Sarkan notices there's another hedgewitch in the Valley, she's fairly well established. This is only infuriating because he's these people's lord; he should know what's going on. It has nothing to do with the witch herself.
Kasia is picked to go to the tower, yet Agnieszka still ends up studying with Sarkan somewhere down the line.

Agnieszka, Sarkan, and Kasia are not natural choices as Polyna's ambassadors... Which just goes to show how desperate things are at home that they're sent abroad to find new allies.

art prompts

I love the creepiness of the Wood, even after the Wood Queen isn't pulling its strings, and would love to see some art that captures that. Agnieszka doing her patrols or Kasia still stuck in the Heart Tree or Sarkan and Agnieszka's discovery of the Wood People's grove.
Any or all of them fighting off some monsters, please! Kasia in armor, even if she doesn't really need it. The aura of Sarkan's power as he calls up some battle magic. Agnieszka improvising against something ridiculously overpowered, as per usual.
Are there any ancient, magical rituals that require opulent, elaborate robes or masks or props? Or is that the only explanation Agnieszka can come up with for the sheer ridiculousness of Sarkan's wardrobe storage?
Is this anything? Major Arcana card designs featuring any of these characters? Maybe? Totally open to any interpretations!

Last updated on September 14, 2022

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