{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik","title":"Croik","subtitle":"The Potato","author":{"name":"Croik"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"service.feed","type":"application\/x.atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom","title":"Croik"}}],"updated":"2025-10-29T14:42:19Z","entry":[{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:129789","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/129789.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=129789"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2025","published":"2025-09-14T18:16:19Z","updated":"2025-10-29T14:42:19Z","content":"

Look Outside (video game)
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (video game)
Shelterwood (podcast)
Kane and Feels (podcast)
Lies of P (video game)
Last Dance (podcast)
<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now (this is year 21 for me!), I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave some details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon. It doesn't have to be dark, I just prefer some sense of drama to fluff. You can never go wrong with canon-typical.<\/p>\n

I'm cool with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I'm open to drabble collections, IF, and treats.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms. I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present. Wounded characters getting tended to, comforted after a nightmare. Or characters left alone to tend to themselves.<\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a deal breaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

Porn Likes<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I especially like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still mostly or partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles and oviposition
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control\/psychic sex
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask, glory holes etc
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen
-Transforming during or via sex
-In video game canons, upgrade mechanics treated as aphrodisiacs\/euphoric<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert.<\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat<\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else, particularly mundane settings. Canon-divergence stories that keep the setting mostly intact are cool, though. Crossovers and fusions between my requested canons are also cool.<\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" xeno and bestiality--a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually--but I'm not interested in Omegaverse-specific world-building and gender configurations.<\/p>\n

Look Outisde<\/strong><\/em>
Sam (protagonist)<\/em>
Available on Steam
Slmccl's Let's Play<\/a> (streamed)
John Wolfe's Let's Play<\/a>
ManlyBadassHero's Let's Play<\/a> (all endings)<\/p>\n

Look Outside is a turn based RPG, indie body horror game on Steam. The style is impeccable: pixel art, synth soundtrack, great writing. The body horror is some of the gnarliest I've ever seen but the game also has SO much heart. It's about horror and death, but it's also about hope, and overcoming trauma, and learning to accept yourself and others in the wake of indescribable, irreversible change. It really is inspiring in how it forces you to look at the face of a monster and not only see their humanity, but sacrifice to protect it.<\/p>\n

I'm requesting Sam, but I'm just as interested in the other characters too. I'm especially interested in what happens after any of the endings. Some of them imply that everyone immediately dies in a horrific and painful way BUT there is still room in plenty of them for some kind of continued existence. Be it reconstruction and acceptance, or bittersweet farewells, or \"we live in fear underground to avoid the Screaming Sky\" I want to know what happens next?<\/em> Whatever form Sam takes, how does he interact with his newly found family?<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-\"Best\" ending: Maybe the best case scenario for Sam, but what about the rest of his friends? Did any of them join him in meeting the Visitor \u2014 were they also changed? How do they adapt to their friend (in some cases, their caretaker) changing so much? I saw some art on Tumblr of the kid characters grown up into teenagers and it would be so cute to have something with them, scampering around and having horrors\/adventures with Sam available as needed to bail them out. Still plenty of trouble for them to get into with so much of the world changed.<\/p>\n

-\"Failed Ritual\" ending: Sam gets a different makeover. The Visitor has moved on, but the world is still changed forever, and Sam is, too. How does he cope with his new form? He's learned to befriend plenty of beasts, now it's his turn to be on the other side. Is he uniquely adept at fighting off what threats still remain, or is he weaker than ever and needs to be looked after? For someone so isolated before the start of the game, how does he cope with how different life is now?<\/p>\n

-The Visitor leaves without Sam ever having attempted the ritual. He's still human, and he still has his friends, but the world is pretty devastated. Would love some kind of survival horror continuation where they can't even think about reconstruction yet; forced to leave the apartment building and venture out into the rest of the destroyed world.<\/p>\n

-The weirdest body horror porn you can think of. Sam and the Masked Creature successfully negotiate boundaries and he gets taken apart and put back together on the regular. Sam and any one of his stalkers. Sam discovering levels of intimacy not meant for humans, and the emotional toll and benefits of that. Can be with Hellen or Lyle or whatever weird thing you can think of. Doesn't even have to be traditionally sapient.<\/p>\n

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim<\/strong><\/em>
Hijiyama Takatoshi, Okino Tsukasa<\/em><\/p>\n

Even as a Vanillaware fan I slept on this game for a long time, and I'm so mad I did! It's so good!! The gorgeous art the studio is known for, mixed with one of the wildest science fiction thriller stories I've seen in a long time. The combat is okay, too, lol. But man, the intricacy of the storytelling and the variety and depth of the characters is so good. I enjoyed my time with it a lot.<\/p>\n

But my favorites by far were Hijiyama and Okino. I was worried at first that they were using Okino as your basic anime \"trap\" gag, and was pleasantly surprised when his relationship with Hijiyama went so far beyond that. They really are a fascinating duo. Hijiyama learning that their \"future selves\" were in love, and his confusion and panic needing to make sure Okino was all right, was probably my favorite scene in the game. It plays with the idea of nature and nurture, sexuality and agency, and personal identity so well. And Okino! The way he uses teasing Hijiyama as an excuse to toy with his own gender and sexuality is so good. They deserve to learn so much about themselves via each other.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-Missing scene mid game? I read somewhere that Okino was going to have his own whole thread before it got cut for time and budget. What did we miss? More silly flirting? Jealousy? Revelations?<\/p>\n

-Post game, just about all the other characters are paired up. Where does that leave Hijiyama and Okino, in a world where everyone else is focused on repopulating? Does it lead to any friction between them? Do they try to use the pods to create a Sims-style Science Baby of their own? Do they have different feelings about how to go about, should they do it at all, would it even work? How do Hijiyama's old school hangups and Okino's emotional untouchability hamper them moving forward in the new world?<\/p>\n

-With the simulation still accessible, how do they use it? Does Okino start to rely on it too much, now that he knows what's possible inside? Personally I headcanon Okino as genderfluid, and the simulation gives them more opportunities than ever to play with different configurations of sex and gender. How does Hijiyama react to this? I'm not sure he'd be able to wrap his head around it right away. Does Okino treat him differently when they're in the simulation, vs when they're in the real world? Does Hijiyama treat the simulation as a \"it's not gay if it's digital\" playground that Okino feels hurt by when they're outside of it? There are dozen juicy angles.<\/p>\n

-They learn more about their \"future\" selves somehow, and it complicates how they feel about each other. Or maybe they find a way to contact other clones of themselves on other planets, and whether they're a couple there or not complicates how they feel about each other. Everything is really complicated okay?? It's what they're made for lol. <\/p>\n

Shelterwood<\/strong><\/em>
Nicholas DeRoso, William Brewster
<\/em>Listen on Spotify<\/em><\/a> (16 eps)<\/em><\/p>\n

Shelterwood is an indie horror podcast, about a man who is searching for his missing sister and ends up in a suburbian nightmare. It's basically a podcast within a podcast, with Nicholas the protagonist going through the horrors while his producer, Solomon, provides context for the listeners. The first season wrapped at 16 eps and it sounds like it's going to be a while before we get a season 2, but I personally was pretty happy with the ending as it stands so far. <\/p>\n

This is one of those horrors where things that are bright and cheerful on the outside quickly show their true colors: monsters disguised as childish mascots, happy neighbors on the verge of nervous breakdowns, and worst of all, the Home Owners' Association<\/em>. As a long time horror buff most of it is not super scary, necessarily, but there's a long thread of dread that runs throughout the whole story, as you watch the protagonist miss warning signs and get sucked in deeper.<\/p>\n

And speaking of getting sucked deep....!! William Brewster.<\/p>\n

Brewster is Villain City the moment he shows up. With his sexy as sin voice and genteel aesthetic I was thrilled to have him oh so innocently seducing Nick. To the point that they end up living together?? For THREE YEARS!?? Brewster calls Nick \"LITTLE LAMB\" in casual conversation, and Nick is okay with this!! This is incredible, clearly. I need more.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-LITTLE LAMB. FOR THREE YEARS. There is SO much that could have happened here. Solomon remarks on how Nick and William just click so well, so naturally. Suave, intelligent older man vs young, headstrong bisexual = some really great chemistry. What went on in that house that Nick turned the recorder off for? Feel free to dip into dub or non-con, maybe somno? Nick does experience periods of missing time, there's no telling what William could have done to him with him not remembering. Slowly seducing and gaslighting him into his perfect little lamb.<\/p>\n

If William blames Nick for this as part of the manipulation, even better. In Shelterwood, dreams become reality. \"Oh Nick, it's your desire making me do this to you.\" He could even be right. <\/em>Ho ho ho delicious.<\/p>\n

-Post season 1, what happens next? Would love a \"everything looks and seems peachy keen but the audience is screaming\" snapshot of Nick's new, happy life in Shelterwood. Glimpses of his better sense peeking through, only to be smoothed away by William's sweet, baritone voice. They could even be in what seems on the surface to be consensual relationship!<\/p>\n

-I didn't technically request Solomon but I would also be thrilled with a story from their point of view, maybe reviewing some audio of Nick and William that is too racy to put in the podcast. A Solomon who is secretly in love with Nick forcing themselves to listen to him fucking an older man, JUST IN CASE he's actually about  to get murdered, super choice.<\/p>\n

Kane and Feels<\/strong><\/em>
Lucifer Kane, Brutus Feels
<\/em>Listen on Spotify<\/em><\/a> (10 hours-ish)<\/em><\/p>\n

Kane & Feels is a delightfully strange supernatural buddy comedy\/drama, and one of my favorite podcasts. The fantasy and horror elements are unique, fun, and snappy, and it sure isn't afraid to do something new and take risks. But the heart and soul is obviously the two leads, and their odd couple relationship. What's not to love about a neurotic asshole and his 6'8\" easy-going punch-machine?? They're partners, they're accidental soulmates, they barely fit together. Would really love to read any of their adventures with or without a shipping angle.<\/p>\n

-Case fic! I love that the show takes an \"anything goes!\" approach to the various creatures they encounter, from fae to demons to ghosts (no ghost cases!!<\/s>) Please chuck the boys at whatever classic or fictional inhuman mishap. They hinted that if there is a season 4 it will feature \"the divine.\" What if the boys met an angel!?<\/p>\n

Bonus points if Feels gets to save Kane by punching something <3<\/p>\n

-Ship fic! The whole Twomy season was a real trip, and it seemed to bring the two closer together by the end. Literally, in that Brutus was not able to leave Kane behind, and relationship wise, with the little notes about Kane taking his hand before they set out on the boat. Would love to see some of the fallout from that, how they fit their lives to each other again, accepting that they are inexorably drawn together. Or maybe they just get really high and fool around.<\/p>\n

-More body swap shenanigans! I know it was short-lived for a sensible reason, but I sure wouldn't mind the two of them occasionally swapping bodies again, and how either takes advantage. Maybe one or the other tries to jerk off in the other's body without the other knowing??<\/p>\n

-On that note it's canon that Kane sometimes sleeps in Feels' bed, who knows what that could lead to!<\/p>\n

-Pre-canon, either how the pair met in this lifetime, or in one of their previous lifetimes. They've been doing this for a few thousand years, after all. Some glimpse of them through the ages could be very cool. Maybe a fun place for a five times fic?<\/p>\n

-I'm very open to this podcast being crossed over with other similar ones, especially Ghost Wax, The Holmwood Foundation, or the Lovecraft Investigations. <\/p>\n

Lies of P<\/strong><\/em>
Lorenzini Venigni, Lumacchio Pantalone
CohhCarnage's let's play of <\/em>the main game<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>DLC<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

I'm a big Bloodborne fan, and I'll admit I was very skeptical when \"Pinocchio-borne\" was announced. But damn, I was blown away. Not only is it beautifully made, but the gameplay is slick and challenging, and it was super refreshing to have a \"souls\" game with a clearer and engaging story. It went deeper on story and plot than I was expecting, and there's a lot to love about it. The the DLC came by and DAMN, firing on all cylinders, what a trip.<\/p>\n

My favorite character coming out of the main game was Venigni: I'm a sucker for a happy-go-lucky guy who is actually breaking down and covering with charm and humor. I've always been fascinated with his life before the Frenzy, between being a legitimate mechanical genius, a rich playboy who nevertheless seems to be popular, and a traumatized orphan. Then the DLC came out and we got Lumacchio, who we know almost nothing about except that he's a Bastard Stalker with fine tastes and a coward streak. He and Venigni don't get to meet in canon, but given their relative positions and social standings, it's basically inevitable that their paths would have crossed pre-Frenzy, yes? This is what I'm looking for!<\/p>\n

They have some interesting parallels, after all. Venigni as an orphan to engineers who built himself a fortune, vs Lumacchio the Bastard, presumably a cast-off son of a rich family. Both of them lament being too cowardly and weak to do what needs to be done, but Venigni sure tries, where Lumacchio turns traitor. I feel like they could have been easy society friends (or more, wink nudge), whose differences become super pronounced via calamity.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-What was the high life in Krat like before the frenzy? Was the party scene among the rich and popular more debaucherous than you'd think? Did Venigni and Lumacchio cross paths? Medoro lists them both as his close friends, after all \u2014 they had every opportunity to meet, to maybe even fool around. I'd love a glimpse of Krat before the disaster, with these two men with their superficial personas attempting a real connection, be that friendship, some kind of playful society rivalry, FWB situation or more. (I don't actually adhere to the idea that Klaus was really Medoro, but feel free to use him in that capacity if you do, or make up a different Medoro if you like).<\/p>\n

-AU where the Frenzy didn't happen, because Carlo never died\/the Alchemists were thwarted earlier or what have you. Basically the same as the above prompt, except all those characters who died pre-game are alive again! I also ship Venigni\/P so I wouldn't mind some of that, and maybe Lumacchio giving Venigni shit about it because of the age gap or what have you. Or maybe there's some entirely other kind of calamity\/war\/Alchemist threat and Lumacchio gets to save Venigni, maybe while bitching about it the whole time.<\/p>\n

-AU where P beat the snot out of Lumacchio before he was able to chug the Alchemist's potion and turn into a carcass. Would he wind up back at the hotel for onset of the Frenzy? Maybe he could have held out long enough that Giangio could cure him, or at least prevent his Petrification Disease from spreading any further than it already had. Or because of their history Lumacchio attempted to save Venigni from the factory and got hurt, and we can have some hurt\/comfort. Venigni isn't exactly a field nurse but he does have steady hands! Could they escape the city postgame together?<\/p>\n

Last Dance<\/strong><\/em>
Any
Listen on <\/em>Spotify <\/em><\/a>(about 9.5 hours)<\/em><\/p>\n

Last Dance is a recent show that just finished its season 1 and funded a Kickstarter for season 2. It's about a dark fantasy version of Ireland that's being invaded by the northmen, the survivors struggling to escape, and our sad wet cat protagonist coming to grips with being possessed by an immortal monk! It's really compelling stuff, with really good characters, I'm honestly not sure where to begin, fandom wise. I'm up for pretty much anything.<\/p>\n

With a season as tightly plotted as this, there's not much room for fic. And there's so much we don't know about the incoming season 2, writing fic that sits between them is a challenge, too! Feel free to use whoever, however you want, because there's literally no fic for this yet. Here are some prompts if you need them:<\/p>\n

-I really love Brother Orr a lot. His entire existence is fascinating \u2014 even HE doesn't quite know what he is, how he is able to exist, will he eventually fade away when he's not needed. Is he really Orr's soul? Some facsimile based on what Raeke expects him to be like? Did he really \"accidentally\" spit blood into Raeke's mouth? I'd love some more of him contemplating his own existence, maybe some verbal sparring with Caelin when Raeke is asleep, even. Caelin has the best chance of understanding the WHAT of what he is, and I can imagine him being equally interested in and wary of what they have to say.<\/p>\n

-Cullen and Raeke being shits to each other, lol. Their trip through the tunnels really gutted me, and I'd love to see more of their bizarre relationship, before or during the show. Cullen's an asshole but he's not an idiot and he really knows Raeke. That does count for something.<\/p>\n

-Everyone lives AU where they all get to Lazare's in one piece! We really missed out on some choice interactions between Cullen and Trevor, if you felt like including him and\/or Alyssa. They would haaaate each other, lol. Noogies forever. Feel free to joss canon and have them meet earlier on the road if you want, maybe even at the battle where Alyssa held back the northmen? Maybe certain fates could have been avoided entirely.<\/p>\n

-Porn, always. Cullen and Caelin blow off some steam after being in life-threatening peril for so long, Raeke could even join them. Or Raeke trying to get some alone time but he's not so good at banishing Orr when he's aroused for whatever reason. Maybe he secretly likes<\/em> an audience and won't admit to himself why he keeps letting Orr back to peek. Maybe they spent a little more time in the safety of the village and got up to shenanigans. <\/p>\n

And that's it! Thanks again for being my writer <3 I hope some of these prompts help and\/or inspire you. Have fun and happy Yuletiding!<\/p>\n<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:129486","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/129486.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=129486"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2024","published":"2024-09-06T01:23:02Z","updated":"2024-10-05T14:57:04Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"dear yuletide letter"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2024"}}],"content":"

Dear Yuletide Letter 2024<\/strong><\/h1>\n

AO3 Username: Croik<\/a>
Fandoms:

The Last Case of Benedict Fox (video game)
Darkest Dungeon (video games)
Kane and Feels (podcast)
Lies of P (video game)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now (this is year 20 for me!), I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave some details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon. It doesn't have to be dark, I just prefer some sense of drama to fluff. You can never go wrong with canon-typical.<\/p>\n

I'm cool with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I'm open to drabble collections, IF, and treats.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms. I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present. Wounded characters getting tended to, comforted after a nightmare. Or characters left alone to tend to themselves.<\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a deal breaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

Porn Likes<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I especially like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still mostly or partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles and oviposition
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control\/psychic sex
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask, glory holes etc
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen
-Transforming during or via sex
-In video game canons, upgrade mechanics treated as aphrodisiacs\/euphoric<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert.<\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat<\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else, particularly mundane settings. Canon-divergence stories that keep the setting mostly intact are cool, though. Crossovers and fusions between my requested canons are also cool.<\/p>\n

-Multiverse\/alternate timelines, MCU style. I'd rather not read about characters meeting alternate versions of themselves in a \"this is who I could have been if I'd made different choices\" vein. Kane and Feels' canon timeloop shenanigans are totally fine though. <\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" xeno and bestiality--a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually--but I'm not interested in Omegaverse-specific world-building and gender configurations.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

The Last Case of Benedict Fox<\/strong><\/em>
Harry Houdini<\/em>
Watch a full game walkthrough (4 hours)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I really enjoyed this indie game when it came out last year, so much so that I bought it again on PS5 when the definitive edition came out. Last year I requested Ben and the Companion and I'm still totally into them, but this replay especially I found myself with a whole new appreciation for Harry. THE Harry Houdini!? I'm so baffled and tickled by the inclusion, and I'd love to see more of his role in this strange, supernatural soap opera. We know he has been a figure in Ben's life and the two are close (the Companion himself says Harry knows Ben better than Ben knows himself). He saunters into the house of the man he's blackmailing and helps himself to his liquor, haha. What a little shit. But I do think he honestly cares for Ben, even if he has mercenary tendencies.<\/p>\n

I don't know a whole lot about him as a real person so feel free to treat him entirely fictional for the fandom.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-How did Harry meet Ben? We only get a glimpse of it in the game. I'd love to see more of young Ben, desperate and confused, finding warmth and at least some sense of security from the first person in his life not an uptight ORG stooge. How Harry takes to the role of surrogate father figure, what kind of trouble they get into. Harry was definitely taking advantage of Ben's abilities in limbo for profit \u2014 did he grow to appreciate him on a more personal, friendly level later? Did he resist being a role model at first? Has Ben had his image of Harry marred more than what we see in the game? And how does the Companion fit in? He seems mostly fond of Harry, too, and can sense human emotion, so he must assume Harry has Ben's best interests at heart, at least most of the time. Knowing his ability to read memories from objects, would Harry try to trick or endear the Companion to him by giving him certain things? Maybe try to hide something he knows would get a bad reaction from him?<\/p>\n

I ship Harry\/Ben and am happy for you to lean into the potential dub-con elements of their age gap (or not if you prefer 100% con). I'd rather Ben not be underage for any sex, but I like the idea of him as an older teen (17+) still settling into himself, daddy issues at play, susceptible to Harry's teasing. Maybe having a bi awakening, while Harry feels bad because he is not a good man and this kid deserves better?<\/p>\n

-Harry\/Tomas. What did they get up to while Ben was in limbo the whole game? Maybe Harry tries to get some information out of Tomas about why he's there (and not arresting everyone) and gets more than he bargained for.<\/p>\n

-Harry post game. How does he find out about Ben? Does he blame himself? If he had come clean about James and the blackmail sooner, Ben might have been able to meet his father while he was still alive. Harry must feel awful! What if Ben then shows up on his doorstep? What happens after the credits anyway??<\/p>\n

-I think there's potential for Harry\/the Weaponsmith, too, if you felt like tossing him in there.<\/p>\n

Darkest Dungeon<\/strong><\/em>
The Prot\u00e9g\u00e9, The Academic
Watch a breakdown of the second game's plot: <\/em>Squatch Gaming (35 min)<\/em><\/a>
Or listen to the narrator's full in-game explanation by: <\/em>Radazex (23 min)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I absolutely loved Darkest Dungeon, and the sequel may be very different but I was really drawn in to the meta plot more so than than that of the Ancestor\/Heir. The gloomy atmosphere, the way the characters trudge on through horror after horror in spite of it. I'm so in love with the aesthetic and would love anything that reaches toward that tone.<\/p>\n

The plot of the second is a little less straight forward than the first. There's so much about it that is surreal and dreamlike, with characters' memories and motivations just as powerful as the monsters they're fighting. I love the struggle, the metaphor of having to defeat monsters born from your own fears and regrets, and the courage the characters take to confront them.<\/p>\n

So I'm asking for the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 and the Academic. Feel free to give them names\/backstories. We learn through the in-game narration that they spent basically all their time together and I'd like to see some of that. I don't have any particular headcanons myself, so feel free to invent your own take on them and their relationship.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-The pair meeting and studying together for the first time. Even if things turned sour later, they were good friends at one point, plying open the secrets of the universe together. I'd love to see some of that passion for discovery between the pair of them, that sweet Dark Academia vibe. Maybe even fooling around amidst the books? Comforting each other after horrible revelations?<\/p>\n

-That moment the Academic realized it was Too Much. How did their relationship deteriorate? Was there something in the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9's backstory that drove him deeper into the madness, into wanting to continue the work? Did he and the Academic fight over it? Would love to see their relationship unravel just as much as coming together in the first place. Maybe even some kind of physical fight between them (pathetic nerd slap fight lol).<\/p>\n

-Their time with the Ancestor. The intrigue turning to anxiety to terror. What kind of messed up shit did they encounter there? Any cool necromancers and wizards they got to meet? Sexy fancy parties they attended, completely out of their league? Eldritchian tentacle orgies? Or maybe they just had some nasty run-ins with pig monsters before the end.<\/p>\n

-The moment the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 took his crown and doomed his mentor and the world.<\/p>\n

-The redemption! Feel free to count the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9's mental recreation of the Academic as fulfilling the character requirement. Is it really the Academic's soul come to kick down his door and get him absolved, or is it some phantom of his own creation? Is the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 in the cart with the heroes, talking to \"himself\" as they make their way to each of the mountains? What happens after the Body of Work is defeated?<\/p>\n

Feel free to include the heroes if you're doing a game timeline set story, particularly Alhazred. I feel like he of all of them can appreciate what the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 was willing to sacrifice for the sake of knowledge and power.<\/p>\n

Kane and Feels<\/strong><\/em>
Lucifer Kane, Brutus Feels
<\/em>Listen on Spotify<\/em><\/a> (10 hours-ish)<\/em><\/p>\n

Kane & Feels is a delightfully strange supernatural buddy comedy\/drama, and one of my favorite podcasts. The fantasy and horror elements are unique, fun, and snappy, and it sure isn't afraid to do something new and take risks. But the heart and soul is obviously the two leads, and their odd couple relationship. What's not to love about a neurotic asshole and his 6'8\" easy-going punch-machine?? They're partners, they're accidental soulmates, they barely fit together. Would really love to read any of their adventures with or without a shipping angle.<\/p>\n

-Case fic! I love that the show takes an \"anything goes!\" approach to the various creatures they encounter, from fae to demons to ghosts (no ghost cases!!<\/s>) Please chuck the boys at whatever classic or fictional inhuman mishap. They hinted that if there is a season 4 it will feature \"the divine.\" What if the boys met an angel!?<\/p>\n

Bonus points if Feels gets to save Kane by punching something <3<\/p>\n

-Ship fic! The whole Twomy season was a real trip, and it seemed to bring the two closer together by the end. Literally, in that Brutus was not able to leave Kane behind, and relationship wise, with the little notes about Kane taking his hand before they set out on the boat. Would love to see some of the fallout from that, how they fit their lives to each other again, accepting that they are inexorably drawn together. Or maybe they just get really high and fool around.<\/p>\n

-More body swap shenanigans! I know it was short-lived for a sensible reason, but I sure wouldn't mind the two of them occasionally swapping bodies again, and how either takes advantage. Maybe one or the other tries to jerk off in the other's body without the other knowing??<\/p>\n

-On that note it's canon that Kane sometimes sleeps in Feels' bed, who knows what that could lead to!<\/p>\n

-Pre-canon, either how the pair met in this lifetime, or in one of their previous lifetimes. They've been doing this for a few thousand years, after all. Some glimpse of them through the ages could be very cool. Maybe a fun place for a five times fic?<\/p>\n

-Long shot, but if you so happen to also be familiar with the podcast Ghost Wax, I'm really amused by the thought that if these canons existed on the same Earth, Voncid could know The Shaman and the Rock in their first inception. I think that would be a neat crossover.<\/p>\n

Lies of P<\/strong><\/em>
Lorenzini Venigni
<\/em>Watch Marz's Let's Play on Youtube<\/em><\/a> (25 hours)<\/em><\/p>\n

I'm a big Bloodborne fan, and I'll admit I was very skeptical when \"Pinocchio-borne\" was announced. But damn, I was blown away. Not only is it beautifully made, but the gameplay is slick and challenging, and it was super refreshing to have a \"souls\" game with a clearer and engaging story. It went deeper on story and plot than I was expecting, and there's a lot to love about it.<\/p>\n

But my favorite character to come out of the game was Venigni! I'm a huge sucker for any character who uses foppish confidence and good humor to cover up their insecurities. I found myself really fascinated by his backstory, his combo Tony Stark\/Bruce Wayne history of \"man who watches his parents killed by puppet grows up to mass produce puppets.\" It's really fascinating, especially considering the implied details, like the fact that Venigni continuously asked for the case to be re-opened to expose the truth, while being friends with Geppetto, who was likely one of the people keeping it sealed? Who may have made Arlecchino in the first place!? Then the Frenzy happens and he has to see his worst childhood horror played out over the entire city, through the puppets he made? It broke my heart watching him slowly lose hope over the course of the game. And that doesn't even touch on Pulcinella!<\/p>\n

I'd love to see anything more with Venigni, before, during, or after the events of the game, particularly if you upset him >:)<\/p>\n

-What was Venigni's life in Krat like before the Frenzy? He was a rich flake, we know, but with a traumatic history. It's hinted he was friends with Medoro, the Hound, and maybe even Sofia herself \u2014 what might they have gotten up to back then? I'm also partial to the idea that he knew\/had an affair with Adelina the opera singer, or even Medoro. What does Krat's rich, debaucherous underbelly look like? <\/p>\n

-Venigni tries to get answers out of Geppetto regarding Arlecchino and his parents, pre-game. It seems like Venigni respected Geppetto a lot, whereas Geppetto may have tried to get him killed (locking the gates behind Venigni when he went to the factory, and then running off with the key). Would love to see Geppetto be creepy and gas-lighty toward a younger Venigni.<\/p>\n

-Venigni getting some confrontation with Geppetto mid-game. I wanted more out of the reveal! His mentor has betrayed and murdered an entire city! Let him freak out about it!<\/p>\n

-Post-game. How does Venigni move on from the disaster? He certainly won't be making puppets anymore, his factory is kaput and Krat is basically empty and destroyed. Where does he go, what does he do? Who goes with him?<\/p>\n

-Venigni\/P shipfic! Without Geppetto, P is gonna need some kind of engineer to help maintain him, no? Would be interested in Venigni taking him apart to learn what makes him ticks, so to speak, with a body horror\/sexual angle. Or Venigni trying to smuggle P into the next city over after they escape Krat, teaching him to be more human so he can fit in now that the world is aware of how dangerous puppets can be. Or maybe some hurt\/comfort, where Venigni was injured at the factory where P rescued him? I'm totally open for weird dub-con between them, as long as P's personality isn't treated as child-like. I like to think that Carlo was at least 16 or 17 when he died and that P has at least that level of maturity, even if he isn't always able to portray that.<\/p>\n

-If you're nasty like me, there's always Venigni getting scooped up by the tentacle kroud as it infests the city >:D  Given Venigni's proximity to puppets and the mines it's kinda surprising he doesn't have the petrification disease already. Or does he??? The man has spent his whole life making robots, he could stand to experience some body horror.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

And that's it! Thanks again for being my writer <3 I hope some of these prompts help and\/or inspire you. Have fun and happy Yuletiding!<\/p>\n<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:129071","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/129071.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=129071"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Letter 2023","published":"2023-09-22T02:23:10Z","updated":"2023-10-17T19:36:43Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2023"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide letter"}}],"content":"

AO3 Username: Croik<\/a>
Fandoms:<\/p>\n

Malevolent (podcast)
The Last Case of Benedict Fox (video game)
Darkest Dungeon  (video games)
Arkham Horror (card\/board games)
A Voice from Darkness (podcast)
Blasphemous (video game) <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave some details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon. It doesn't have to be dark, I just prefer some sense of drama to fluff.<\/p>\n

I'm cool with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I'm open to drabble collections, IF, and treats.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present. Wounded characters getting tended to, comforted after a nightmare. Or characters left alone to tend to themselves.<\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a deal breaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat<\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else, particularly mundane settings. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting mostly intact are cool, though. Crossovers and fusions between my requested canons are also cool.<\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert.<\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" xeno and bestiality--a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually--but I'm not interested in Omegaverse-specific world-building and gender configurations.<\/p>\n

-In Malevolent: Kayne or Collins<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I especially like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still mostly or partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Hand kink, body worship
-Tentacles and oviposition
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask, glory holes etc
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen
-Transforming during or via sex
-In video game canons, upgrade mechanics treated as aphrodisiacs\/euphoric<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Malevolent (Podcast)<\/strong><\/em>
Yellow<\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify (about 35 hours, still going)<\/em><\/a>  
<\/em>Fandom specific DNW: Kayne or Collins<\/p>\n

I'm a patron so I'm totally caught up and interested in a story told at any point in the canon, or canon divergence. Feel free to use or disregard any story beats that show up during the writing period.<\/p>\n

I'm in such a Yellow mood, I find him just fascinating and his story is the plot thread I'm most fixated on in Malev. There's so much tragedy there! You can see in his interactions with Arthur that there could have been a chance for them, if things had been different \u2014 if either of them had been better prepared, if circumstances hadn't been so dire. I love his temper so reminiscent of early show John, I love that he still retains John's (and possibly the King's?) appreciation for music and poetry and dance (such as it was in Addison, lol). Whether he likes it or not, by his perception Arthur yanked him from the Dark World, and their short time together was a formative experience for him. I'd so love to see more of him explored, either during his time in Arthur's eyes, him in Larson, or sometime later if he, John, or both get bodies of their own.<\/p>\n

He's so ripe with possibility. How much is he like John still? Can he gain the humanity John did? Or does he enjoy villainy? Feel free to have him pick a new name for himself if you want too.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-Yellow adjusting to life in Larson's body. Does he have any control? What does he think of his new host? Does he feel like he's gained an upgrade, or does he come to despise Larson too? Maybe Larson holds a meeting of the cult and Yellow gets a taste of what it's like to be a leader, to be respected, be waited on. Maybe even gets to be part of a cult orgy? Or maybe he consumes Larson from the inside and takes his place. Maybe Yellow consumes Larson DURING a cult orgy (the cultists worshiping what they perceive to be power inside of Larson, which makes Yellow strong enough to take control?)<\/p>\n

-Arthur and John are caught and dragged before The Order, except Yellow has already taken Larson's body and is the one calling the shots. Does he have to pretend to still be Larson? Does he delight in torturing Arthur, or does he have a change of heart and defy the Order to help them? Maybe from one to the other?<\/p>\n

-Yellow gets his own body (Larson's, a magical one, sky's the limit). How does he cope with being mortal? Does he start to enjoy it? Does he reject Arthur to make a life for himself on earth? Maybe he gets a monster body and hunts Arthur down. Feel free to give him whatever anatomy.<\/p>\n

-Yellow makes it back to the King in Yellow somehow. Is the King able to absorb him, is it ecstasy or terrifying? If the King can't absorb him outright, do they live in the Dreamlands together somehow? Does the King kinda like having a more agreeable shard of himself hanging around? If they fuck, is it masturbation? If Yellow can't cut it on earth, maybe he can make a home for himself in Carcosa.<\/p>\n

-Porn. Arthur jerking off at the Red Right Hand with Yellow watching, or Yellow watching Arthur get gang'd by the inn patrons. Maybe some scenario where John and Yellow each have one of Arthur's eyes and they both<\/em> watch. Maybe one or both get new bodies, so Arthur and John can double team Yellow and teach him what humanity is really about! (multiple orgasms). Would love a messy relationship between the three where sometimes Yellow leans on John because he and Arthur have a rough history and they resent each other sometimes, but sometimes Yellow leans on Arthur because he and John are too much the same and that's hard to cope with too.<\/p>\n

\n

The Last Case of Benedict Fox<\/strong><\/em>
Benedict Fox, The Companion<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh hey if you like Malevolent you might like this game!
Watch a full game walkthrough (4 hours)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

This was a fun indie game! It went to some darker places than I was expecting while delivering a great dose of bodyshare loyalty. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Ben and the Companion, the concern and affection they have for each other, the cooperation between them that seems to come naturally. I'm looking for anything that explores their relationship a little deeper, and please feel free to include other characters from the game.<\/p>\n

Toward the end of the game, they do refer to each other as \"brother\". Feel free to lean into or away from that how you prefer. I shipped them before that and still after; I'm cool with incest vibes for these two if you want to go that way, or say the Companion used \"brother\" because they didn't understand how else to describe their feelings yet but it's more than that, or stay purely familial, anything works for me.<\/p>\n

I also ship Ben with Tomas and Harry, however you want to handle The Companion   with regards to Ben's relationships with other people is fine by me (maybe they have an agreement where the Companion just pretends not to be around when Ben is being intimate with someone, maybe they are fully on board and we can get some tentacles involved \u2014 maybe they're jealous?). I'm seriously open to whatever, even full Gen if you want to avoid all that.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-How they met! It's implied that Benedict first found out about the Companion when his mask broke during some kind of training. Must have been frightening! I'd love to see their first tentative or panicked moments of realizing they're bound, maybe even a Superhero montage of Benedict learning what they're capable of together.<\/p>\n

-One of my favorite things in the game is the level up tattoo mechanic (gives me very strong Evil Within Upgrade Chair vibes that I SUPER appreciate). That semi-masochistic mix of obviously this process causing intense pain for Benedict, but how does the Companion experience it? They're bonding more fully \u2014 is the Companion totally into it? Benedict expresses that he feels more powerful afterward and he keeps coming back for more, so it can't be ALL bad. If some pain\/pleasure horniness comes out of it that would be SO cool.<\/p>\n

-Casefic! If this is the \"last\" case of Benedict Fox, there are ones that came before, right? What other kinds of adventures might they have gone on? <\/p>\n

-Something with Harry. We know they've worked together for a while, and that Benedict has a close relationship with him (The Companion suggests Harry knows him better than he knows himself). How do the three of them fit? What other kinds of things has Harry procured for them? The Companion can sense memories from the things it touches \u2014 what if Harry gave them something specifically to provoke a reaction?<\/p>\n

-Something with Tomas. Benedict deserves to have daddy issues that manifest as infatuation with older men, okay! Maybe Benedict tries to coerce some information out of him that Tomas takes the wrong (sexy) way, and he gets in over his head. Does the Companion try to help him out of it, or are they intrigued and encourage him play it out?<\/p>\n

-Post-game. What does it mean?? What happened next??<\/p>\n

-Old fashioned tentacle sex.<\/p>\n

-Crossover with Malevolent? I'm not sure if you can only go into someone's memory\/dream if they're dead, but Benedict exploring Arthur's subconscious would be in for a WILD ride.<\/p>\n

\n

Darkest Dungeon<\/strong><\/em>
The Prot\u00e9g\u00e9, The Academic<\/em><\/p>\n

Watch a breakdown of the second game's plot: <\/em>Squatch Gaming (35 min)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I absolutely loved Darkest Dungeon, and the sequel may be very different but I was really drawn in to the meta plot more so than than that of the Ancestor\/Heir. The gloomy atmosphere, the way the characters trudge on through horror after horror in spite of it. I'm so in love with the aesthetic and would love anything that reaches toward that tone.<\/p>\n

The plot of the second is a little less straight forward than the first. There's so much about it that is surreal and dreamlike, with characters' memories and motivations just as powerful as the monsters they're fighting. I love the struggle, the metaphor of having to defeat monsters born from your own fears and regrets, and the courage the characters take to confront them.<\/p>\n

So I'm asking for the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 and the Academic. Feel free to give them names. We only know so much about them, which is why I'd love to read some fic fleshing them out. I don't have any particular headcanons myself, so feel free to invent your own take on them and their relationship.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-The pair meeting and studying together for the first time. Even if things turned sour later, they were good friends at one point, plying open the secrets of the universe together. I'd love to see some of that passion for discovery between the pair of them, that sweet Dark Academia vibe. Maybe even fooling around amidst the books? Comforting each other after horrible revelations?<\/p>\n

-That moment the Academic realized it was Too Much. How did their relationship deteriorate? Was there something in the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9's backstory that drove him deeper into the madness, into wanting to continue the work? Did he and the Academic fight over it? Would love to see their relationship unravel just as much as coming together in the first place. Maybe even some kind of physical fight between them.<\/p>\n

-Their time with the Ancestor. The intrigue turning to anxiety to terror. What kind of messed up shit did they encounter there? Any cool necromancers and wizards they got to meet? Sexy fancy parties they attended, completely out of their league? Eldritchian tentacle orgies? Or maybe they just had some nasty run-ins with pig monsters before the end.<\/p>\n

-The moment the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 took his crown and doomed his mentor and the world.<\/p>\n

-The redemption! Feel free to count the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9's mental recreation of the Academic as fulfilling the character requirement. Is it really the Academic's soul come to kick down his door and get him absolved, or is it some phantom of his own creation? Is the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 in the cart with the heroes, talking to \"himself\" as they make their way to each of the mountains? What happens after the Body of Work is defeated?<\/p>\n

Feel free to include the heroes if you're doing a game timeline set story, particularly Alhazred. I feel like he of all of them can appreciate what the Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 was willing to sacrifice for the sake of knowledge and power.<\/p>\n

\n

Arkham Horror<\/strong><\/em>
Calvin Wright, Jo\u00e3o<\/em><\/p>\n

Literally the only canon for Calvin is his player card!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Okay, so, we don't know a whole lot about these two. Much at all, even. Even so, the little we get tells us that they loved each other deeply, that Calvin placed Jo\u00e3o's safety and happiness above his own, that he just might do anything for him. I love the 1920s Eldritch setting and am looking for any take on these characters.<\/p>\n

-How did they meet? If Jo\u00e3o is a Portuguese name, was he an immigrant to Arkham, or did Calvin maybe meet him in Brazil maybe? Were they young--how long were they together? Was Calvin already embroiled in the supernatural at that point? Was it an interest they shared, or something he shielded Jo\u00e3o from? Or maybe it was Jo\u00e3o who was interested and got Calvin involved?<\/p>\n

-Would love to see them case-ficcing together against the abominations from beyond the veil! Solving mysteries, killing monsters. Calvin seems to think that Jo\u00e3o needs protecting, but I'd love to see Jo\u00e3o surprise him.<\/p>\n

-The last time they made love before Calvin left ;_;<\/p>\n

-\"I have to leave you for your own good\" is out \u2014 \"You're taking me with you whether you want it or not!\" is in! Jo\u00e3o tracks Calvin down, or else Calvin never left him from the start. Is Jo\u00e3o able to support Calvin as he resists the pull of the darkness inside him? Do they somehow share it? How do they navigate their relationship while constantly at threat from being possessed by evil?<\/p>\n

-What if Calvin LOSES to the darkness in him? Does Jo\u00e3o have to go on a quest to get him back? Fight off the darkness with some ritual or spell? Does he get sexily menaced by Dark!Calvin in the meantime??<\/p>\n

-I like the idea of \"the darkness\" having some kind of personification, if you're into that. Maybe it's a specific entity, demon, elder god, etc. If Calvin has weird dark magic powers that's also aces. Feel free to go nuts!<\/p>\n

If you are familiar with what I've already written about Calvin, feel free to use or ignore at your leisure (seriously, I'm all for you incorporating Tenebrosum if you're into it, but I'm just as happy with you doing your own thing).<\/p>\n

If you want to use any other Arkham\/Eldritch horror investigators, please go on ahead. Or crossover with Malevolent\/Benedict Fox.<\/p>\n

\n

A Voice from Darkness
<\/strong><\/em>Julian Holloway | The Traveling Salesman, The Stranger<\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a>
<\/em>Script of the story of The Stranger ep<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I must admit I was a little crushed to learn that the creator isn't going to finish this podcast, BUT that sure means we can do whatever with fic now!!<\/p>\n

Love the world surrounding AFfD. It makes me so curious to think how the characters must have grown up, basically knowing that supernatural stuff is completely real and has had violent effects on the world. I'm asking for Julian, and I'm very interested to see him at whatever point on his way to becoming the creature he is. We only get a few hints from canon, but it sounds like he pranked his friends so hard he decided he'd rather become a super villain than deal with the fallout. He was gifted, curious, brave enough to seek out things other people flee from \u2014 and now, a monster. I'm very interested in his fall from grace.<\/p>\n

I also requested the Stranger, who only appears in the patron ep. This creature we know even less about, but based on the context of the show, I think we can draw the conclusion that he is connected to Farboshia just as much as the suited men. He's wearing very specifically a \"pallid mask\" after all, and his title of The Stranger begs a connection The King in Yellow. How far you want to take that is up to you, but I'd love to see Julian come face to face with this masked figure, learn something about it and Farboshia, the nature of the suited men, etc. <\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-How did Julian gain his powers? We assume he followed the path of Marcus, met Dormin, lost his finger. But what if it was weirder than that? Did he encounter different creatures in the forest, did he lose his finger to a different color suit-man? Was he dragged before the King of Farboshia himself? <\/p>\n

-Did The Stranger come to him at some point before Julian sought his powers? In a dream maybe? In an elevator? Was it Julian's idea to go searching for Marcus' journal or was he recruited? Maybe The Stranger offered him otherworldly powers and pleasures and that set him on his path, or gave him his gifts into the supernatural in the first place.<\/p>\n

-Once Julian becomes the Salesman he thinks he can pull one over on his string-pullers, claim something just for himself. Maybe he tries to pull off some scheme to further his own ends and gets caught, or ratted out, and he has to answer to The Stranger. Maybe he gets slapped with some kind of otherworldly punishment. Maybe Gilman Halifax himself shows up to strip him of his powers.<\/p>\n

-If you'd like to include Malcolm, maybe Malcolm gets through to Julian and tries to win him back to the side of good. It's up to Julian to break free from The Stranger without getting himself and Malcolm killed (shippy or otherwise?).<\/p>\n

Feel free to include Malcolm, Gilman, or Julian's other friends\/his sister in any of these scenarios.<\/p>\n

\n

Blasphemous <\/strong><\/em>
Any

Walkthroughs: <\/em>Game One (6 hours)<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Game Two (9 hours)<\/em><\/a>
Or you could just watch <\/em>this 5 min compilation of Nacimiento<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Just for clarity that's any amongst the nominated Penitent One, Besamanos, and Nacimiento.<\/p>\n

Not gonna lie, if you offered these amazing and disturbing games I'm hoping it's because you're ready for some weird shit! I just love the aesthetic of these games so much, there's little out there that goes this hard while also being this beautiful and haunting. I love how the reality of their world is heightened to a fever pitch and everything is so intense, and painful, and ecstatic, and elegant, and disgusting. All the ritualistic formality of Catholicism and bloody, nasty hypocrisy beneath it. Delicious!<\/p>\n

Looking for anything that fits the tone of the games or more so. Weird transformations, apotheosis, gnarly curses, body horror. Bizarre worship, characters forging alliances despite the chaos, clinging to hope and each other for comfort in a doomed world, etc. The games don't get into sexy weirdness outside nudity but I'm here for that too.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-More adventures with our Penitent One. What kind of other strange things did he encounter that didn't make it into the game? Victims and saints and just regular people trying to survive? Invent a boss for him to kill. Or maybe he does manage to connect with someone else along the way, finds a few moments of quiet and comfort.<\/p>\n

-Nacimiento! This is my favorite NPC. Would love to see more of him, and particularly the Penitent One interacting with him at any point along his, ah, Journey. Maybe they got to meet before the whole \"man crawling out of my chest\" thing. Maybe the Penitent One tries to kill the thing that's killing Nacimiento, and it either goes much better or much worse for him. Maybe he miraculously survives the old man leaving his body? He just has a very fashionable large hole in him that TPO can crawl up into and take a nap?? Or maybe the old man IS still him, and he's trapped in a new cycle of rebirth, crawling out of his own body again and again.<\/p>\n

And maybe you've guessed by now, but if you want to make this sexy, in whatever way you can imagine, I'm here for it. Maybe TPO tries to pull the man out faster, or in a moment of desperation tries to push him back in? How might that feel for Nacimiento? <\/p>\n

-Besamanos! Loved this funky dude in game 2. How can you meet a giant hand demanding kisses and not think Hand Job, seriously. Let TPO give him kisses. Let him get something in return. Or maybe TPO finds his hidden room and releases the other hands \u2014 maybe they gang up on Besamanos, give him a taste of his own medicine. Maybe if he wasn't always a hand, what was he like before? Maybe TPO recognizes his voice but can't say so? Or maybe he does find a way to indicate he does, and Besamanos buys his silence. <\/p>\n

I'm a big fan of video game upgrade mechanics appearing in fics, so maybe when Besamanos increases your fervor, it comes with some kind of physical euphoria for the Penitent one.<\/p>\n

\n

And that's it! Thanks again for being my writer <3 I hope some of these prompts help and\/or inspire you. Have fun and happy Yuletiding!<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:128991","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/128991.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=128991"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2022","published":"2022-08-26T19:32:57Z","updated":"2022-10-15T16:38:12Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2022"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"exchange letter"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide letter"}}],"content":"

AO3 Username: Croik<\/a>
Fandoms:<\/p>\n

Archive 81
Malevolent
Arkham Horror
A Voice from Darkness
The Sinking City
Homegrown Pet<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave some details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon. It doesn't have to be dark, I just prefer some sense of drama to fluff.<\/p>\n

I'm cool with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I'm open to drabble collections, IF, and treats.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present. Wounded characters getting tended to, comforted after a nightmare. Or characters left alone to tend to themselves.<\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. Whatever combinations of genders. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat<\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting mostly intact are cool, though. Crossovers and fusions between my requested canons are also cool.<\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert.<\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" xeno and bestiality--a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually--but I'm not interested in Omegaverse-specific world-building and gender configurations.<\/p>\n

-In Malevolent: Kayne<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I especially like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still mostly or partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Archive 81<\/strong>
Michael Waters, Aleister<\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

If this were a bigger fandom, this would DEFINITELY be popular, I know it...! I mean, come on! Michael Waters is a power-hungry sorcerer, and many of his rituals are, IN CANON, \"weird sex rituals.\" Then you have Aleister, his bright young pupil who turned on him. They're both raving egomaniacs seeking power, with bizarre, reality altering powers at their disposal. They got up to some shit. They had<\/em> to have.<\/p>\n

I would love for anything<\/em> more to exist for these two. How did they meet? Did Michael scout Aleister out, or the other way around? What makes a bright young man want to bury strangers alive for money? What did Michael see in him? Did Michael intend to use Aleister for his ritual, eat his heart and take his body? Did Aleister turn his back on him knowing that?<\/p>\n

I'm also into the idea that Michael isn't\/wasn't into men, but when he realized that Aleister was into him<\/em>, he played along to \"seduce\" him and earn his trust and loyalty. Also, since so many of his rituals involve sex for some reason, it was convenient to have someone around willing to partake. So of course, things got messy\/complicated as he was trying to take advantage of this handsome young sorcerer, while exploring his sexuality properly for the first time as a fully grown god damn adult.<\/p>\n

This ship has such potential for really fucked up power dynamics.  Was Michael at any point a target for Aleister? Did they have a sexy fight, where Aleister lost but Michael was so impressed with his prowess he agreed to teach him a thing or two? Did Michael set a trap hoping to lure some young sorcerer whose body he could purify and steal? <\/p>\n

Did Aleister accompany him on his road trip into the Black Top? Or any other spell--if you want to detail one of said weird sex rituals, I would lloooooooove that. Or the \"find your nemesis\" spell that requires two people to share uncomfortable truths about themselves. <\/p>\n

Maybe they perform a body swap for sexy reason, which doesn't end up permanent, but that's when Aleister starts to sense that Michael literally wants to take his body? Or maybe that's just for us the reader to know? Ho ho ho.<\/p>\n

I don't care how old Aleister is when he meets Michael or how severe their age gap is as long as he's at least 16 before they get sexual, if they do.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Malevolent<\/strong>
John, Arthur Lester, The King in Yellow<\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a>
<\/em>Fandom specific DNW: Mr. Kayne<\/p>\n

I'm a patron so I'm totally caught up and interested in a story told at any point in the canon, or canon divergence.<\/p>\n

I'm still so enamored with The King in Yellow. I love the ways in which he and John are similar, and also where they're different. The exasperation he must feel at seeing a part of himself DEBASED by this stinky little human. The desperation he has for Arthur's body, paired with his willingness to wreak havoc against it. He's so eager to get to Earth but we don't really know why, and we don't know how he feels about Arthur specifically being his current only option. Like, does he think Arthur is hot enough to be his host? Has all the time he's spent spying on him taught him anything, has he been catching FEELINGS? Can Arthur cope with two halves of the same god craving him while also sometimes hating him?<\/p>\n

Conversely, how do Arthur and John react to the King? Does John feel any<\/em> sense of familiarity or yearning toward him, and does he dare share that with Arthur? Can Arthur see anything of John in him? If this is set post-Yellow, how does that change the way Arthur sees the King? Or does it not at all?<\/p>\n

Feel free to refer to him as The King or Hastur or whichever or both. If you're familiar with Chambers' version and want to make references to that, please feel free!<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-Porn. King is tired of waiting and he tries to win Arthur over by fucking him silly. SO many orgasms. John can do nothing. If this is at a point where John's still mad at Arthur, does he start out feeling one way about it, but gradually gets more or less into it? Does Arthur get more and more into it? Does KiY <\/em>get more and more into it??<\/p>\n

-Maybe King is fucking Arthur silly, taunting John like \"oh this could be you, come back to me and we could be fucking him together!\" And John wants Arthur so badly that he *does* go back to the King, and then is so horny and desperate he devours the King too and just takes over his body and WINS so he can fuck Arthur himself <3<\/p>\n

-King does get into Arthur's body, whether in Part 12 during the ritual or later. But John is still in there, too, and it's time for a slap fight. Or is it time for Feelings? Can Arthur feel these two pieces of a god battling and mixing inside him? <\/p>\n

-The King does get into Arthur's body, and that ejects John into King's <\/em>body. Can Arthur tame the King inside him, and how does that make John feel? Does John like having his old body back?<\/p>\n

-Conversely, King gives up on Arthur and kicks him back to Earth, and shows up in his own human body to gloat (or just shows up in a human body post Addison). He doesn't know why, but he finds himself still obsessed with Arthur and John and continues to try to win them over alongside his cult. (Could this be Johannes van der Berg?)<\/p>\n

-We don't get to hear hardly any King talking to John \u2014 would love to see them interacting. Feel free to let Arthur be a background character as needed.<\/p>\n

-Arthur and John somehow interact with the King post-Addison arc. Maybe through a cultist or a dream? I'm very curious if Arthur's interactions with Yellow, and the ways in which John sympathizes with him, would change the dynamic between the three of them. John was on board right away with feeling that Yellow could have had a chance, if he he was \"aware\" like John himself is. Does that make John feel differently about KiY now? Can he and Arthur give KiY that awareness?<\/p>\n

-Something goes wrong at the end of part 20 and they all end up in the Dark World together (in whatever configuration of bodies is convenient for the story). Do they work together to get out? Do any of them team up to leave the other behind, or try to?<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Arkham Horror<\/strong>
<\/ins>Calvin Wright, Jo\u00e3o<\/em><\/p>\n

Literally the only canon for Calvin is his player card ha!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Okay, so, we don't know a whole lot about these two. Much at all, even. Even so, the little we get tells us that they loved each other deeply, that Calvin placed Jo\u00e3o's safety and happiness above his own, the he just might do anything for him. I love the 1920s Eldritch setting and am looking for any take on these characters.<\/p>\n

-How did they meet? If Jo\u00e3o is a Portuguese name, was he an immigrant to Arkham, or did Calvin maybe meet him in Brazil maybe? Were they young--how long were they together? Was Calvin already embroiled in the supernatural at that point? Was it an interest they shared, or something he shielded Jo\u00e3o from? Or maybe it was Joao who was interested and got Calvin involved?<\/p>\n

-Would love to see them case-ficcing together against the abominations from beyond the veil! Solving mysteries, killing monsters. Calvin seems to think that Jo\u00e3o needs protecting, but I'd love to see Jo\u00e3o surprise him.<\/p>\n

-The last time they made love before Calvin left ;_;<\/p>\n

-\"I have to leave you for your own good\" is out \u2014 \"You're taking me with you whether you want it or not!\" is in! Jo\u00e3o tracks Calvin down, or else Calvin never left him from the start. Is Jo\u00e3o able to support Calvin as he resists the pull of the darkness inside him? Do they somehow share it? How do they navigate their relationship while constantly at threat from being possessed by evil?<\/p>\n

-What if Calvin LOSES to the darkness in him? Does Jo\u00e3o have to go on a quest to get him back? Fight off the darkness with some ritual or spell? Does he get sexily menaced by Dark!Calvin in the meantime??<\/p>\n

-I like the idea of \"the darkness\" having some kind of personification, if you're into that. Maybe it's a specific entity, demon, elder god, etc. If Calvin has weird dark magic powers that's also aces. Feel free to go nuts!<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

A Voice from Darkness
<\/strong>Malcolm Ryder, Julian Holloway<\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I got into this show recently, and I love it! (I am also on the Patreon) The atmosphere, the acting, and the worldbuilding are all top notch. I love that Malcolm is so smart and driven, but at the same time he really does expect a lot<\/em> from people, demands that they trust him and sacrifice for the greater good like he does. He cares about people, but also he's very opinionated and that bites him in the ass sometimes.<\/p>\n

Of course a big part of the current plotline is his struggle against friend-turned-enemy Julian. I love the history they have, how it was some kind of stupid student prank that first estranged them leading to Julian eventually becoming a full blown supervillain. Very interested to see their history explored, or their present! Definitely here for any progression of friends to enemies, enemies to lovers\/hatesex, friends to lovers to enemies to lovers, Julian redemption, Malcom corruption, whatever!<\/p>\n

-Early school days. Meeting, becoming friends as their siblings also get closer. Maybe some of their younger year adventures? Strange relics they discovered, creatures they fought off, unwelcome truths they learned about themselves and\/or each other? Maybe falling in love, or even just falling in FWB?<\/p>\n

-How did it fall apart? What was it really that drove Julian to seek the journal that led to him getting his powers? How did Malcolm feel in the aftermath? Does Julian feel ANY remorse? Does he think he can bring Malcolm over to his side?<\/p>\n

-Malcolm scolded Amelia for going back to the Lakehouse after the incident. But has he gone back himself since? Has Julian shown up to taunt him more than we get to hear? Is there hatesex??<\/p>\n

-Maybe Malcolm finally finds a means by which to defeat Julian and strip him of his powers. What does that aftermath look like?<\/p>\n

-Conversely, maybe Julian finds a way to drag Malcolm to Farbotia and curses him\/gives him powers\/seduces him to his side. How hard does Malcolm fight, what does their relationship look like now?<\/p>\n

-So like, Farbotia is Carcosa. Right? It really is. If you want to cross this over with Malevolent, or The Sinking City, or even Archive 81 (some of the shit in A81 absolutely would fit in with the Dark Metaphysics) I'm all game. Maybe Julian finds a way to sic Malcolm on Michael Waters and\/or Aleister as some kind of test or other fuckery. Maybe Malcolm gets a call into the station from Johannes van der Berg tattling on Julian for something. Or maybe Julian got to meet The Stranger\/King in Yellow himself when getting his powers.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

The Sinking City<\/strong><\/em>
Charles Reed, Graham Carpenter<\/em><\/p>\n

Watch a Sinking City Let's play: <\/em>John Wolfe<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>CJU Games<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I replayed this game fairly recently since Malevolent put me firmly back in a Lovecraft mood, and it really is an underappreciated gem of a game. Has its flaws, sure, but the aesthetic and the characters are just so good. I love the dreary atmosphere, the ways in which the people of Oakmont cling to their sinking city and fight for power and livelihood even as the ocean is dragging them down. Much like Charles himself! The ways they all find reasons to keep going in the face of the apocalypse, or in Charles' case, find reasons NOT to keep going are very bittersweet and fascinating.<\/p>\n

I especially like Charles himself, and the Carpenter story. It's one of those \"moral\" dilemma's where there isn't really a right or wrong choice, since Brutus is a giant asshole who doesn't change, and Graham claims to be the better man but also throws in with cultist zealots to get what he wants. Even so, I sided with Graham. There's some great potential there between him and Charles, as friends and allies both trying to do \"the right thing\" despite their difficult history. They have an easy rapport that I really enjoyed, especially with the connection of them both being veterans.<\/p>\n

-Graham invited Charles to \"wine and conversation\" when everything blew over. Do they finally get that chance? What do they talk about? Does Charles share with Graham some of his misadventures, such as the existence of his superpowers, and the fact that he's supposed to sacrifice himself to save the world? How does Graham react? Does he give him one last shag for the road??<\/p>\n

-Maybe after throwing in with the Fecund Mother cult Graham wants out, and needs Charles' help. Can Charles help him reclaim his business and turf using less supernatural means?<\/p>\n

-Does Graham join Charles on an investigation, or else a monster hunt? Does he bring his goons? Would love to see Graham's vet history show itself. Maybe they have to fight a monster together and Graham loses his cool, proves his time in the war made him more ferocious than his father suspected. If they have to patch each other up after all the better. LOVE me a good wound stitching.<\/p>\n

-Maybe Charles reveals his \"powers\" to Graham, and Graham reveals he has secret powers, too? Maybe that mask of his is covering up more than a war wound... <\/p>\n

-Give the game a different ending. Maybe together they find a way out of Charles having to sacrifice himself. Maybe Graham is some other entity that is able to seal Cthygonnar and they can have a \"happily ever after\", however that might look. Or maybe they fall into the void hand in hand.<\/p>\n

Feel free to cross over with Malevolent if you like, especially if you want to bring in Johannes, or any of the Arkham\/Eldrith Horror characters.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Homegrown Pet
<\/strong><\/em>The Owner, Hector<\/em><\/p>\n

Play the game for free!<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Watch a Let's Play<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

This is a tiny little itch.io game that you can play in 2 minutes, about a scientist\/assassin who...grows their pet at home! All you can do is feed a small blob of meat until it grows up to be a dog-sized killing machine, an Eldritch meat god the size of a building, or a super hot guy covered in sexy mouths who decides his name is Hector. It's short, it's charming, it's ELDRITCH. And there's not much to go on so please feel free to do just about anything within the setup! <\/p>\n

I don't think the protagonist has a name or assigned gender so go with whatever suits you.<\/p>\n

-Pet ending. I'm not sure what the protag is doing that requires cleaning up so many dead bodies, but I'm interested to know your take! Would love to see their adventures with the animal version of Hector, in some kind of twisted version of Man's Best Friend.<\/p>\n

-Meat God Ending! With enough meat, your pet just gets bigger and bigger until they're thousands of pounds of bloody, sticky flesh. Protagonist doesn't seem too perturbed by this, so maybe they're really into it! Is \"Hector\" a bona fide elder god? Does this shake the protagonist's worldview or do they take it in stride and still consider themselves the \"owner\"? Are they outwardly cool but inwardly terrified? Or is climbing naked into a room full of writhing flesh just exactly their kink all along?<\/p>\n

-\"Human\" ending. What kind of shenanigans do they get up to while Hector has a hot human body? Any adventures of protag and their hot, teeth-laden assassin would be welcome. Maybe Hector comes back from a long day of work with \"materials\" for their master, like a cat leaving dead animals on the porch. How is he rewarded? He sure does have a lot of mouths, would love some weird body-horror porn. Or just master and pet slaying together. <\/p>\n

-Feel free to crossover any of my other fandoms here \u2014 there are a couple of them who would be compelled to try to \"do something\" about an apartment sized meat-god. If they become fodder, so be it!<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

And that's it! Thanks again for being my writer <3 I hope some of these prompts help and\/or inspire you. Have fun and happy Yuletiding!<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:128757","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/128757.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=128757"}}],"title":"Rare Male Slash 2022 letter","published":"2022-05-27T23:36:36Z","updated":"2022-05-27T23:42:23Z","content":"

Rare Male Slash 2022 letter<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Fandoms:
Malevolent
Archive 81<\/strong>
SAYER
Then Neon Streets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi writer\/artist, and thank you for creating for me! I'm opting in to fic and\/or art and I'm up for anything. Please feel free to take inspiration from my prompts and likes as needed, but otherwise go nuts!<\/p>\n

I have gifts enabled and I'm open to treats <3<\/p>\n\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. Art of any kind and non-standard formats (IF, epistolary, etc) is great.<\/p>\n

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms. I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present.<\/p>\n

-Horror, gore, psychological horror, body horror, cosmic horror, medical horror<\/p>\n

-Canon divergence<\/p>\n

-Characters glaring at each other (even the ones missing eyes).<\/p>\n

-Characters exhaustedly leaning on each other, asleep or just resting<\/p>\n

-Characters in rumbled clothing, partially undressed<\/p>\n

Do Not Wants<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Underage.<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Dub-con and Non-con
-Voice kink, dirty talk
-Frottage
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Malevolent<\/strong>
John\/Arthur, John\/Arthur\/Hastur, Arthur\/Peter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a>
<\/em>Fandom specific DNW: Mr. Kayne<\/p>\n

I'm a patron so I'm totally caught up and interested in a story told at any point in the canon, or canon divergence. <\/p>\n

Arthur\/John\/The King<\/em><\/p>\n

The King is underrated, we have NOT seen enough of him! I love the ways in which he and John are similar, and also where they're different. The exasperation he must feel at seeing a part of himself DEBASED by this stinky little human. The desperation he has for Arthur's body, paired with his willingness to wreak havoc against it. He's so eager to get to Earth but we don't really know why, and we don't know how he feels about Arthur specifically being his current only option. Like, does he think Arthur is hot enough to be his host? Has all the time he's spent spying on him taught him anything, has he been catching FEELINGS? Can Arthur cope with two halves of the same god craving him??<\/p>\n

Feel free to refer to him as The King or Hastur or whichever or both.<\/p>\n

Prompts: <\/p>\n

-Porn. King is tired of waiting and he tries to win Arthur over by fucking him silly. SO many orgasms. John can do nothing. If John's still mad at Arthur, does he start out feeling one way about it, but gradually gets more or less into it? Does Arthur get more and more into it? Does KiY <\/em>get more and more into it??<\/p>\n

-King does get into Arthur's body, whether in Part 12 during the ritual or later. But John is still in there, too, and it's time for a slap fight. Or is it time for Feelings?<\/p>\n

-The King does get into Arthur's body, and that ejects John into King's <\/em>body. Can Arthur tame the King inside him, and how does that make John feel? Does John like having his old body back?<\/p>\n

-Conversely, Hastur gives up on Arthur and kicks him back to Earth, and shows up in his own human body to gloat. He doesn't know why, but he finds himself still obsessed with Arthur and John and continues to try to win them over alongside his cult.<\/p>\n

-We don't get to hear any King talking to John \u2014 would love to see them interacting, King whispering in his ear specifically (however their ears work in whatever inhuman form they have). King telling John about all the terrible, filthy things they could do to Arthur together, and the ways in which John finds that tempting and repulsive.<\/p>\n

-Art wise, I am always down for some sexy menacing! Anything that depicts the King looming over Arthur, teasing or tempting him, threatening with Arthur at his mercy... Maybe Arthur wrapped up in his cloak or in his tentacles :3<\/p>\n

Arthur\/Peter<\/em><\/p>\n

I love Peter, or at least, I love the idea of a concept that is Arthur's best friend who is now dead (lol). I've written about Peter but, and I 100% mean this, I don't care if you want to use or ignore my headcanons. We know almost nothing about this man and I'm open to everything.<\/p>\n

-Porn. They're young, they're drunk, they're dumb. Or they're old, and drunk, and dumb. Peter submitting entirely to whatever Arthur wants because he's a pushover like that. Peter jealous when Arthur fucks around, and he tries to \"win him back.\" Or maybe they just happen to end up fucking accidentally (blindfold orgy, glory hole etc) and their friendship is a little awkward after.<\/p>\n

-Slightly less angstily, maybe Peter and Arthur have a very amicable friends with benefits situation, without feelings attached. Or maybe Arthur assumes no feelings are attached and he's WRONG.<\/p>\n

-Peter tenderly caring for Arthur after Faroe passes ;_;<\/p>\n

-Peter didn't actually die AU, or was resurrected by some means, and he runs into Arthur later. How does he react to his best friend who murdered him, now host to an alien god? Does Arthur finally come to terms with having (indirectly) murdered his best friend and then skipping town like it didn't even matter? Does he finally appreciate Peter more now? Can be Arthur\/John\/Peter.<\/p>\n

-Arthur gets back to Earth, but without John. He's broken, maybe blind\/lame without John, but Peter is still there somehow, and he takes care of him.<\/p>\n

-Precious few depictions of Peter! Would love to see maybe him tucking Arthur in at night, tending to Arthur when he's wounded, or maybe the two of them passed out across a sofa together? Like the end of a long case, so now we spoon? lol<\/p>\n

Archive 81<\/strong>
Michael Waters\/Aleister<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

If this were a bigger fandom, this would DEFINITELY exist already, I know it...! I mean, come on! Michael Waters is a power-hungry sorcerer, and nearly half his rituals are, in CANON, \"weird sex rituals.\" Then you have Aleister, his bright young pupil who turned on him. They're both raving egomaniacs seeking power, with bizarre, reality altering powers at their disposal. They got up to some shit. They had<\/em> to have.<\/p>\n

I would love for anything<\/em> to exist for this pairing. How did they meet? Did Michael scout Aleister out, or the other way around? What makes a bright young man want to bury strangers alive for money? What did Michael see in him? Did Michael intend to use Aleister for his ritual, eat his heart and take his body? Did Aleister turn his back on him knowing that?<\/p>\n

I'm also weirdly into the idea that Michael isn't\/wasn't into men, but when he realized that Aleister was into him<\/em>, he played along to \"seduce\" him and earn his trust and loyalty. Also, since so many of his rituals involve sex for some reason, it was convenient to have someone around willing to partake. So of course, things got messy\/complicated as he's trying to take advantage of this handsome young sorcerer, while exploring his sexuality properly for the first time as a fully grown god damn adult.<\/p>\n

This ship has such potential for really fucked up power dynamics. If you want to detail one of said weird sex rituals, I would lloooooooove that.<\/p>\n

I don't care how old Aleister is when he meets Michael or how severe their age gap is as long as he's 18 before they get sexual.<\/p>\n

SAYER
<\/strong>Jacob Hale\/Dr. Howard Young<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

SAYER's two most human characters. Due to the podcast being as it is, we sadly didn't get to actually hear the two of them interact, even though that interaction must have been incredibly significant to both of them, in wildly different ways. I'd love to see those final moments on the page: Jacob being forced to do this horrific thing which is, in the end, an act of mercy, with Young on the receiving end. If the shippiest it gets is Jacob at one point tenderly pushing (what remains of) Young's hair away from his bloody face, that is perfectly fine with me. Sometimes intimacy is the mercy you grant a stranger.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, I'd also be into a version where Jacob and Young knew each other before hand somehow. A tall ask, considering Young isn't exactly social and Jacob spent most of his time on Typhon as Sven and in a coma! But I'm open to whatever explanation could be worked out (maybe Sven's amnesia made him ideal for one of Young's experiments somehow?). Young has such a strong personality, and Jacob\/Sven almost none, so I can imagine Sven letting himself get bossed around a little and not minding? :D;;;  Maybe he's the only one who's fine with quietly putting up with Young being a prick, and that gets Young's attention. But of course, they're both doomed.<\/p>\n

There's also a very slim possibility of them post Season 4, since we know Sayer pumped out a few Jacob clones at the very end. He claimed he could produce them without any memories intact, but what if some malfunction caused Young's memories to be implanted in one? And he and Jacob meet up back on earth (in the same face?? Or maybe Jacob managed to create one last Young and they actually escaped together?)<\/p>\n

Also apparently Sayer has printed a NEW Young as of Season 6, and I have very little hope of him surviving, but he ain't dead yet so that's a possibility, too!<\/p>\n

I really like the idea of Sayer's favorite and most despised humans finding some kind of connection. If Sayer has STRONG FEELINGS about this, even better <3<\/p>\n

Then Neon Streets
<\/strong>Dizzy Innis\/Test Subject 405G<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

So if anyone has even heard of this podcast I'll be THRILLED. It's so funny and bizarre and adorable. These boys are an absolute disaster and I'm excited to see what happens with them next. I love their odd couple dynamic and how their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, while at the same time, bringing out the worst in each other, too. Their relationship has a long way to go but the bumps are so much fun.<\/p>\n

I'll take annnything. Them as a couple would have to be as chaotic as their current partnership, full of misunderstandings and hurt feelings, but also, that ride or die duo energy. <\/p>\n

-A night together sharing a capsule hotel? They did it already, why ever waste money on two again? Sexual tension in an enclosed space! Maybe Test has some boa constrictor DNA that kicks in and he just wants to wrap Dizzy up and squeeeeeeze. And maybe Dizzy is high enough to be really into that! <\/p>\n

I'm not sure these two are ready for The Sex but dry humping in a coffin-sized hotel room is probably their speed.<\/p>\n

-Sometime after Dizzy has rescued Test from Geneticorp. Not that we have any idea of how that will go down, I'd love something in the aftermath of Test fully appreciating that Dizzy came to rescue him, and Dizzy having to admit to himself WHY he did so.<\/p>\n

-Test helping Dizzy through a rough withdrawal. Seeing Dizzy with Blink really drove home that Dizzy's stim abuse isn't just a character quirk, he's a legitimate addict, with all the seriousness that deserves. That's probably a bit beyond Test's current understanding, but he is determined to take care of him now. <\/p>\n

-Conversely, we've seen Dizzy get Kissy when he's SUPER high, and I would like Test to benefit from that. If you want to get dub-conny about it, them fooling around while Dizzy is off his rocker would be great \u2014 'cause I doubt Dizzy would actually care much, but Test would probably feel conflicted about it. And that's just what they need, right? MORE COMPLICATION.<\/p>\n

Annnnnd that's it! Thank you for writing for me, please have fun and only use what inspires you <3<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:128304","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/128304.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=128304"}}],"title":"Goreswap 2022 letter","published":"2022-02-07T02:44:30Z","updated":"2022-02-10T14:54:23Z","content":"

Fandoms: Blasphemous, Eldritch Horror, Homegrown Pet, Malevolent, Crossover (Blasphemous\/Malevolent)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi writer\/artist, and thank you for creating for me! I'm opting in to fic and\/or art and I'm up for anything. Please feel free to take inspiration from my prompts and likes as needed, but otherwise go nuts! I just love horror and gore in all forms and am easy to please. <\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. Art of any kind and non-standard formats (IF, epistolary, etc) is great and I'm open to treats. <\/p>\n

Since this is GOREFEST I'm requesting Explict and I'm super excited for a taste of the Ultraviolence ;) Outside my specific DNWs anything goes, so feel free to paint the town red.<\/p>\n\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. \"I didn't think I'd have it in me to eviscerate this living thing trying to kill me\" is especially choice in the context of this exchange.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort<\/p>\n

-Horror, gore, psychological horror, body horror, cosmic horror, medical horror<\/p>\n

-Canon divergence<\/p>\n

-Characters literally at each others throats <\/p>\n

-Characters exhaustedly leaning on each other, whether wounded, or dead<\/p>\n

-Sex taking place in horror settings (\"in the blood of our enemies\")<\/p>\n

-Characters undergoing horrific transformations<\/p>\n

-Characters being mindfucked<\/p>\n

-\"Us against the world\"<\/p>\n

-Characters getting so pissed off they just have to BITE someone\/something<\/p>\n

-Specifically gore-related: gunshot wounds, maulings, throat-cutting, dissections. Love characters suffering from blood loss needing to be wrapped up in blankets\/treated for shock.
<\/p>\n

Do Not Wants<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Underage (exception \u2014 Nacimiento)
-Mr. Kayne (Malevolent)
-Watersports\/Scat
-Characters suffering amputations\/murder during sex<\/p>\n

Violent non-con is great, sex while already injured is also great; I just would rather not see characters losing limbs or their lives during <\/em>sex.<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Especially for this exchange I'm all for \"we barely survived so let's fuck about it!\" Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Con, Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen
-Frottage and intercural
-Masochism<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Blasphemous<\/strong><\/ins>
Penitent One\/Tirso, Penitent One\/Nacimiento
Action with Gore, Angst with Gore, Character Death, Erotic Gore, Graphic Torture, Horror with Gore, Hurt\/Comfort with Gore<\/em><\/p>\n

I absolutely love this game. I only recently got through all the DLC for the super best ending and it's just so satisfyingly dark and incredible. I love the sexy weirdness and the solemn music and the Christian horror of it all. Would love to receive fic or art for this small fandom.<\/p>\n

Tirso \u2014 very disappointed that no matter how many times the Penitent One gets slaughtered, he can't get his wounds kissed! C'mon Tirso, make it better! Would love to see the Penitent one limping back to Albedo and getting some first class wound treatment from the lot of them, particularly Tirso. Especially if it's as kinky as it is tender. And especially if there's something a little weird and borderline cannibalistic about a bunch of peasants slathering him in garlic and rosemary and going to town.<\/p>\n

If PO finds himself caring for Tirso, only to discover they really are cannibals and he has to kill him and the others, that would also break my heart in a lovely way.<\/p>\n

Nacimiento \u2014 This was a fascinating character to me. Some of the best body horror in the game, as the old one is very gradually growing and crawling out of him. Would love to see a closer exploration of this: how it started, how he suffered, what the moment was like when the old man finally was \"birthed.\" As the Penitent One I really wanted to try and find a way to help him, maybe by killing the thing (would that have killed him to?) but something of PO being there in Nacimiento's final moments to comfort him\/put him out of his misery would be very welcome.
<\/p>\n

Eldritch Horror
<\/strong><\/ins>Joao\/Calvin Wright, Michael McGlen\/Tommy Muldoon\/Skids O'Toole, Michael McGlen\/Tony Morgan, Michael McGlen\/Skids O'Toole
Action with Gore, Angst with Gore, Horror with Gore, Hurt\/Comfort with Gore<\/em><\/p>\n

So I nominated Eldritch instead of Arkham Horror just because that's the version I own and play, but the characters are the same and I'm fine with Arkham only references.<\/p>\n

I love cosmic horror, I love fighting monsters, and I love the 1920s and 30s. I'd love any scenario for these different character combinations, whether they're teaming up to fight off a horde of terrible creatures, losing their minds together as Cthulhu awakens, tearing each other apart due to drugs\/hypnosis, or having one last fuck before the world ends. <\/p>\n

There's a lot of Michael in here because I love a gangster, and especially a gangster begrudgingly doing the right thing because he doesn't want the whole damn world to end. I love seeing him matched up with different characters on either side of the law, forced to put aside differences for the greater good. Even if that \"good\" is \"hey  maybe you wanna bang since the sky is bleeding fire? Thanks.\" <\/p>\n

I'm especially fond of the idea of either Tommy or Tony \"catching\" Michael and handcuffing them together, only now they've been attacked by monsters and they have to work together!<\/p>\n

Or maybe some of them go to a performance of The King in Yellow and a very weird orgy breaks out that they then have to fight their way out of?<\/p>\n

Or maybe they fall through a gate to some other world and need to kill their way through a horde of slimy creatures? Fight off a zombie horde or other epic monster?<\/p>\n

And of course there's Calvin and his love Joao :< Would love to see more of how Calvin got his Dark Pact, but rather than just running off to keep Joao safe, they stick together and fight off evil side by side. Maybe they BOTH get kidnapped by a cult and have to fight their way out. <\/p>\n

I'd like to see Joao trying to cope with a lover who is half possessed, particularly if the \"darkness\" inside Calvin has a personality of its own, maybe talks to and taunts Calvin. I don't know how it is in Arkham, but in Eldritch Calvin has the ability of swapping health with another player, so some instance where Joao is grievously injured and Calvin takes that for himself, at the risk of being swallowed up by evil, is very delicious! <\/p>\n

I'm cool with deathfic, so if Calvin bravely sacrifices himself for Joao, or Joao suffers the violent death in Calvin's vision, I am ready to cry about it.<\/p>\n

Homegrown Pet<\/strong><\/ins>
The Owner\/Hector<\/em>
Action with Gore, Angst with Gore, Character Death, Erotic Gore, Graphic Torture, Horror with Gore, Hurt\/Comfort with Gore<\/em><\/p>\n

So this is a weird little game you can download for free from Itch.io<\/a> where you play as either a mad scientist or an assassin...? And you have a little meat sack as a pet. You have 1 minute to feed your pet and have it grow up into either an Eldritch meat abomination the size of a building, or a hot dude that dresses like a mummy to hide the horrific toothed maws that occasionally open up over his body. Either way, the creature will name itself Hector and is very good at disposing of bodies for the master.<\/p>\n

This is a tiny indie game, but the idea of a cold-hearted killer and their affectionate cannibal-pet who they may or may not also bone is super amusing to me and I would like for there to be fic about it. The Owner has long hair and glasses but we don't know their name or gender, so go wild. Maybe they're a contract killer and Hector is just a convenient body disposal method? Or a scientist using unethical methods, and Hector changes according to the strange chemicals and rituals in the bodies he feeds on? Or maybe the Owner isn't human at all, and they're both slowly taking over the world?<\/p>\n

If Hector eventually turns on and devours his Owner, that's also awesome.<\/p>\n

Malevolent<\/strong><\/ins>
<\/strong>Arthur\/Peter, John\/Arthur, John\/Arthur\/The King in Yellow
Action with Gore, Angst with Gore, Graphic Torture, Horror with Gore, Hurt\/Comfort with Gore<\/em><\/p>\n

I loooove Malevolent. I love all the character development and tender moments, but I also love the horror and dread, and I'm excited to see this in goreswap to explore the terrible Lovecraftian implications of bodyshare, and horrific creatures from beyond the veil out to destroy you and steal your body for an Eldritch god and everything that comes with that. Thrilled for any casefic, shipfic, hatefic, and gore being inflicted on monsters, or else on our heroes (who then need to be patched up and cared for <3)<\/p>\n

Arthur\/Peter \u2014 I ship this, but I'm just as happy if its unrequited (either because Arthur is oblivious or deliberately ignoring Peter's feelings for him). Would love to see some case they worked on together pre-canon, something that maybe dipped into the supernatural, maybe even pit them against cultists or monsters. If one is badly injured and needs the other to take care of them, excellent. If you'd like to do something with Peter's canon death at the start of the show, I'm all for it. Break my heart!! <\/p>\n

I'd also be cool with something post canon, where Peter \"came back wrong\" somehow and John and Arthur have to deal with him, possibly put him down for good.<\/p>\n

John\/Arthur \u2014 So much ground these two cover. Them working together to slaughter their enemies a la Part 17 is incredibly sexy and I'd love for them to do that some more. Maybe John's even more horny for murder than he sounds, and some of that starts trickling down to Arthur. A post-murder wank, maybe. I'm super fond of the idea of John getting Arthur's heart\/blood, and that causes some escalation of Arthur getting more Eldritchian, willing to commit greater acts of violence while John now feels more hesitant. Their push and pull is always very satisfying and I love a role reversal.<\/p>\n

Feel free to mess with Arthur and John's bodyshare situation, too. If John has extra pieces of Arthur without explanation I'm super fine with that, particularly is John has their dick but Arthur still has the prostate or visa-versa.<\/p>\n

Arthur getting hurt and John trying to take care of him as best he can with only being one hand is also choice. If you want to take closer look at Arthur getting stabbed by Kellin and what John went through to save him, that's awesome. Or something similar as a callback? Or maybe John steps on a nail or loses some toes and Arthur has to take care of his foot for once. <\/p>\n

Or maybe they get fully murdered and end up in the Dark World, with all the horror  that entails. Totally okay with Arthur getting utterly wrekt but would prefer he not permanently die.<\/p>\n

Also, feel free to give John his own body (no explanation necessary). John feeling out of sorts having a real body at last, experiencing violence differently, getting hurt and needing Arthur to look after him \u2014 amazing.<\/p>\n

John\/Arthur\/The King \u2014 For so much of the show, The King has been a distant, mostly existential threat. I'd love to see that become more physical somehow, whether that's John and Arthur going ham on in him the Dreamlands and King being unprepared, or they all get back to Earth (King somehow gets himself a new, different body?) and the hunt is on. Arthur fist-fighting a god would be so on brand for him XD. Feel free to murder the hell out of Hastur, he can probably come back from anything (probably). Would be very cathartic for these boys.<\/p>\n

Also very on board for the King fucking with Arthur more mentally, like he did in 19 \u2014 putting Arthur through whatever kind of weird torture that's only in his head, keeping his body unharmed and intact for when he finally breaks (though Arthur doesn't realize at first that it's not really happening). Maybe Arthur dreams about being gutted only to wake up back in the Pit, over and over? And the toll that takes on him.  <\/p>\n

Malevolent<\/strong><\/ins>
John, John\/The King in Yellow
Action with Gore, Angst with Gore, Character Death, Erotic Gore, Graphic Torture, Horror with Gore, Hurt\/Comfort with Gore<\/em><\/p>\n

So I put John and John\/Hastur in a separate category to open up the Erotic Gore and Character Death. As much as I love Arthur, I'm also super fascinated by John and Hastur by themselves and with each other, and the fact that they're immortal Outer Gods opens up more avenues for terrible terrible things that a human wouldn't survive. So feel free to go totally nuts on either of these two. DNW for amputations\/death during sex rescinded for this request,<\/strong> feel free to have them lopping off each other's tentacles, fucking each other into literal oblivion, or whatever else.<\/p>\n

I'm especially interested in the Dark World, the time John spent there, and why he's so adamant about not going back. He described it as \"Chaos Beyond Imagining\" and I'd love to see someone's take on what that entails. To have landed in TDW as a literal god, to forget who and what he was, and finally to claw his way out \u2014 this place has got to be wild<\/em>. What did he suffer there? If Arthur dies and John falls back in, does he drag The King with him? I've love to see the two of them fall into hell together and have to fight and claw their way back out, or race to find Arthur. If they take out their frustrations out on each other, awesome. Maybe Hastur is convinced he can torture John back to being a part of him, or tries to (or does!) literally devour him, or maybe John overpowers him instead. Maybe they have kinky Lovecraftian battle sex. Whoever wins, I'm here for it.<\/p>\n

Arthur is welcome to appear in any of this, I just don't want him to get snuff'd, please.<\/p>\n

Fanart wise I'd love to see a depiction of the pair of them. Not that we've actually seen either, but how does John see himself compared to Hastur? Some image of John overpowering his \"better half\" would be so sexy and awesome!<\/p>\n

Crossover Fandom \u2014 Malevolent \/ Blasphemous<\/strong><\/ins>
Arthur Lester\/The Penitent one<\/em><\/p>\n

So the overlap between these two fandoms might be Just Me, but I can't tell you how tickled I am by the thought of Arthur being a \"victim\" of the Grievous Miracle. Seriously, think about it: Arthur, overwhelmed with grief after Faroe, begs for punishment and is \"gifted\" with John? Delicious. Maybe he's even in denial that it was his heart crying out in guilt that brought John to him, maybe Daniel can be involved (\"Arthur was blessed by the Miracle and that's super great for my standing in the church! I love his suffering!\") <\/p>\n

And of course, John manifesting in Arthur more physically than he does in the show, whether as some smushed together abomination like Altasgracias, or bursting out of him like Nacimiento? Some gross disfigurement of his eyes that's slowly getting worse? And it's fucking agony but also they kind of like and find comfort in each other?? And then the Penitent One shows up to put them down??? Truly the crown of body horror potential. <\/p>\n

Annnnnd that's it for now!<\/strong> I'll probably make some additions to this letter but it'll be locked in before the end of signups, I promise. Thank you for writing for me, and I hope you have fun!<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:128043","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/128043.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=128043"}}],"title":"Chocolate Box 2022 letter","published":"2022-01-08T01:04:42Z","updated":"2022-01-08T01:05:52Z","content":"

Fandoms:
Malevolent
Bloodborne<\/strong>
Crossovers (Malevolent\/Re-Animator, Malevolent\/Seance)<\/strong>
<\/p>\n

Hi writer\/artist, and thank you for creating for me! I'm opting in to fic and\/or art and I'm up for anything.Please feel free to take inspiration from my prompts and likes as needed, but otherwise go nuts!<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. Art of any kind and non-standard formats (IF, epistolary, etc) is great.<\/p>\n

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. <\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present. <\/p>\n

-Horror, gore, psychological horror, body horror, cosmic horror, medical horror<\/p>\n

-Canon divergence<\/p>\n

-Characters glaring at each other (even the ones missing eyes). <\/p>\n

-Characters exhaustedly leaning on each other, asleep or just resting<\/p>\n

-Characters in rumbled clothing, partially undressed
<\/p>\n

Do Not Wants<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Underage. <\/p>\n\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n


-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Malevolent<\/strong> John\/Arthur, John\/Arthur\/Hastur, Arthur\/Peter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I'm a patron so I'm totally caught up and interested in a story told at any point in the canon.<\/p>\n

John\/Arthur:<\/em><\/p>\n

I love Malevolent and everything about it. The slow build from distrust to trust between John and Arthur is a joy to listen to, and I love them just as much when they're bickering as when they're confiding in each other. I love that Arthur is stubborn and fierce but still has that traumatic, vulnerable side of him. I love that John is pushy and short-tempered, but also curious and insecure. I love that they're both trying to better themselves, and that they don't always click, but they try. <\/p>\n

-Porn. Preferably either while they are still bodysharing, or if John is in some kind of monster form. Open to any scenario and including other characters\/monsters. Fingersucking, breathplay, toys? Tentacles? Especially like top!Arthur taking back his control\/taking some frustration out on John somehow, and John overwhelmed and loving it.<\/p>\n

-Prison pit fic. Lay on that angst. What do they fight about? Do they have any gentler moments, times where they almost start to come together again, only to ruin it? Break my heart!<\/p>\n

-Canon divergence. What if Arthur drank the Selenine? Dark World time? Does Arthur immediately regret it? Does he have to fight to get John back?<\/p>\n

-What if John hadn't been a giant dick and they were still \"friends\" when the King launched his madness assault? Would things have happened any differently?<\/p>\n

-They get to play the piano some more ;_;<\/p>\n

Arthur\/John\/The King<\/em><\/p>\n

The King is underrated, we have NOT seen enough of him! I love the ways in which he and John are similar, and also where they're different. The exasperation he must feel at seeing a part of himself DEBASED by this stinky little human. The desperation he has for Arthur's body, paired with his willingness to wreak havoc against it. He's so eager to get to Earth but we don't really know why, and we don't know how he feels about Arthur specifically being his current only option. Like, does he think Arthur is hot enough to be his host? <\/p>\n

-Porn. King is tired of waiting and he tries to win Arthur over by fucking him silly. SO many orgasms. John can do nothing. If John's still mad at Arthur, does he start out feeling one way about it, but gradually gets more or less into it?<\/p>\n

-King does get into Arthur's body, whether in Part 12 during the ritual or later. But John is still in there, too, and it's time for a slap fight.<\/p>\n

-Conversely, it's time for King to fall for Arthur, too.<\/p>\n

-Arthur said at one point that if he died, \"YOU [king] would die too.\" We've been told that if Arthur dies, John will likely go back to the Dark World, but...what does that mean for Hastur? Is he somehow bound enough to John that he would get dragged down too? What if that happens and now they're ALL stuck?<\/p>\n

-Conversely, Hastur gives up on Arthur and kicks him back to Earth, and shows up in his own human body to gloat. He doesn't know why, but he finds himself still obsessed with Arthur and John and continues to try to win them over alongside his cult.<\/p>\n

-We don't get to hear any King talking to John \u2014 would love to see them interacting, King whispering in his ear specifically (however their ears work in whatever inhuman form they have). King telling John about all the terrible, filthy things they could do to Arthur together, and the ways in which John finds that tempting and repulsive.<\/p>\n

Arthur\/Peter<\/em><\/p>\n

I love Peter, or at least, I love the idea of a concept that is Arthur's best friend who is now dead (lol). I've written about Peter but, and I 100% mean this, I don't care if you want to use or ignore my headcanons. We know almost nothing about this man and I'm open to everything.<\/p>\n

-Porn. They're young, they're drunk, they're dumb. Or they're old, and drunk, and dumb. Peter submitting entirely to whatever Arthur wants because he's a pushover like that. Peter jealous when Arthur fucks around, and he tries to \"win him back.\" Or maybe they just happen to end up fucking accidentally (blindfold orgy, glory hole etc) and their friendship is a little awkward after.<\/p>\n

-Slightly less angstily, maybe Peter and Arthur have a very amicable friends with benefits situation, without feelings attached.<\/p>\n

-Peter tenderly caring for Arthur after Faroe passes ;_;<\/p>\n

-Casefic! What kind of adventures have they gone on together as investigators? Anything spooky?<\/p>\n

-Peter didn't actually die AU, or was resurrected by some means, and he runs into Arthur later. How does he react to his best friend who murdered him, now host to an alien god? Can be Arthur\/John\/Peter.<\/p>\n

-Arthur gets back to Earth, but without John. He's broken, maybe blind\/lame without John, but Peter is still there somehow, and he takes care of him.<\/p>\n

Bloodborne<\/strong>
Edgar\/Micolash<\/p>\n

My favorite Let's Play by Christopher Odd<\/em><\/a>
<\/p>\n

Thanks to the Mico boss fight I have spent a lottttt of time in the Nightmare of Mensis, and it never gets less creepy. As much as I hate that brain, I love the tension it gives the area, knowing that at any moment something is going to stab into your skull and destroy your sanity. I'm really interested in how long Micolash has been its \"host,\" and how Edgar got to be there. We know from lore he's a spy for the church, or at least started out that way. How did he infiltrate? Was his cover ever blown, was he converted to Micolash's cause? When the hunter encounters him, was he defending Micolash from us, or on his way to kill him? By the end, he and Micolash are the only \"humans\" left in the nightmare. Why are they special?<\/p>\n

I'm open to any kind of shipping, whether Micolash wins Edgar over, exposes and torments him, or if one of them has a one-sided pining\/obsession, or if they just want each other dead. <\/p>\n

-Edgar trying to cope with being the only \"sane\" person among so many lunatics, his sanity slowing being chipped away as he struggles to complete his mission for the church.<\/p>\n

-Edgar was there to kill Micolash for the Church, and the Hunter is late so this time he makes it to him. How does that confrontation go down? Sexily? Angsty \"I must murder my lover\"? Do they die together?<\/p>\n

-Micolash discovers Edgar's identity and he and the other scholars torture him for information. Maybe they experiment on him to try and get him to birth a Great One (mpreg anyone??). Alternatively, Micolash doesn't let on that he knows and tries to trick\/seduce Edgar into the fold by whatever ghastly means.<\/p>\n

-An AU where Edgar successfully kidnaps Micolash and brings him back to the Choir. How does the Choir reward him, and what do they do with Micolash? Does Edgar regret this outcome, or does he prove the Choir is every bit as mad and cruel as the scholars?<\/p>\n

-Sometime before Micolash became head of the scholars, he and Edgar were friends, enemies, lovers, etc. But Yharnam twisted them, like it does everything.<\/p>\n

-I looooooooove fashionborne, any attention paid to their outfits is a plus (can Micolash give a blowjob from within the cage????)
<\/p>\n

Crossovers <\/strong><\/p>\n

John\/Arthur & Herbert\/Dan (Re-Animator) <\/em><\/p>\n

So, John needs a body. Who better to go to than the Re-Animator himself? Arthur asking Herbert to build and revive a body for John to inhabit makes perfect sense and can not possibly go wrong. At all.<\/p>\n

Would love to see any interaction between these two dysfunctional couples. Most awkward double date ever. I love the idea of Investigator!Arthur vs Scientist!Herbert, their skepticism of each other, the ways they might compliment each other. Or conversely, Arthur and Dan bonding over being tied to giant weirdos. Herbert giving Arthur his stink eye when he can't see it, but John can, and he hates this gremlin-man. Maybe Herbert doesn't believe that John exists at all until they find someway to prove it to him.<\/p>\n

OR, maybe some AU where Herbert has been psychically bonded to Dan the way John is to Arthur.<\/p>\n

-John\/Arthur and Oliver (S\u00e9ance)
<\/em>You can listen to S\u00e9ance<\/em><\/a> on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

S\u00e9ance was a ton of fun, and ripe for a Malevolent crossover. Up for anything.<\/p>\n

-Arthur goes to the s\u00e9ance earlier in his relationship with John when they're still actively trying to be separated. It works??<\/p>\n

-It doesn't work, and in fact, Arthur is possessed by another spirit. John viciously defends his territory to kick the thing out.<\/p>\n

-Oliver truly screws up and HE ends up bound to Arthur. Or, in a weird twist, John is expelled and pushed into him instead. Arthur has to face up to the realization that he doesn't want anyone else to have John and demands Oliver reverse the spell.<\/p>\n

-Oliver keeps casting different spells on Arthur to try to get John out, but for whatever weird reason, the magic instead just makes him hornier\/keeps giving him orgasms. Or alternates between him and John getting off on it. Thanks for trying, Ollie, let's try again next week!<\/p>\n

-Whatever other fun you can get up to with Arthur tied to a chair.<\/p>\n

That's it! Thank you for writing for me!!<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:127950","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/127950.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=127950"}}],"title":"Heart Attack 2021","published":"2021-11-07T02:41:54Z","updated":"2021-11-13T16:52:35Z","content":"

Fandoms:
Re-Animator (1985) [SAFETY fandom]<\/strong>
The Evil Within
Bloodborne
Malevolent
Crossovers (Re-Animator, BB, Malevolent, Cthulhu Mythos)
<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi writer\/artist, and thank you for creating for me! I love long fiction but this is my first time doing this particular challenge. I'm opting in to fic and\/or art and I'm up for anything, though as I'm requesting pretty much all horror canons for this exchange, I'm hoping for something spooky :)  Please feel free to take inspiration from my prompts and likes as needed, but otherwise go nuts!<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon.<\/p>\n

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I don't have any problem with character death.<\/p>\n\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present. <\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. I like slash, femslash, and het. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a deal breaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

-Gray morality. <\/p>\n

-Horror, gore, psychological horror, body horror, cosmic horror, medical horror<\/p>\n

-Canon divergence<\/p>\n

-Monsters trying to be more human, redemption arcs<\/p>\n

-Humans becoming monsters, corruption arcs<\/p>\n

-Zombie apocalypse AU
<\/p>\n

Do Not Wants<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Fluff.  
<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Slash, femslash, and het.
-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more.
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n

Re-Animator (1985) [SAFETY]<\/strong>
Daniel Cain\/Herbert West<\/em><\/h2>\n

Watch Free on Tubi<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I re-watched the movies this Halloween and I've been on an Re-Animator kick ever since. I love the gore, the dark comedy, the pseudo-science-medicine, and I especially love Dan and Herb. I love that Herbert attaches himself to Dan almost immediately, and toes that line between manipulating and caring for him for the rest of their relationship. I love that Dan goes along with it, that he recognizes the importance of Herbert's work, believing in it and him despite how dire things become. Their relationship is so complicated and intense and messy; throw some undead in there and I love all of it.<\/p>\n

I would love to see the two in just about anything, whether that's their adventures during or after the movies, or the two of them fused into some other canon or AU.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-What happened immediately after the first movie? We don't fully see what happens to Meg or how Herbert made it out. Would like to see the aftermath, with just how shellshocked Dan was, how they managed to get out of Arkham without taking heat from the cops, how they decided to continue working together after.<\/p>\n

-I ship them and would love to see a take on how they come about as a couple. Who initiates? Do they just fall into place, or is there a specific catalyst? Does one of them fall first, is there pining? Jealousy? Just how do they manage to make it work?<\/p>\n

-Zombie apocalypse AU. Somehow the re-agent was spread and now there's lots of zombies to deal with! Maybe they hole up somewhere to try to come up with a re-re-agent? Or maybe this is a dream come true for Herbert \u2014  maybe he caused it?<\/p>\n

-Different era AU \u2014 since the movie is based on Lovecraft's original novella, it would be fun to see an AU set in a different time, whether that's further into the past like the 1920s, or some futuristic, sci-fi setting.<\/p>\n

-See Crossover Section Below for Re-Animator\/Malevolent<\/p>\n

The Evil Within
Sebastian Castellanos \/ Ruvik<\/em><\/h2>\n

Markiplier's Let's Play<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

I haven't been in The Evil Within fandom for a while now, and I really miss this canon and these characters. I love Seb's stubborn, gruff, no-fucks-given attitude, how he can kill and claw his way through every obstacle. And I love Ruvik, sadistic little prick that he is, and his unrelenting pursuit. They've both been shit on by life in general and Mobius specifically and them as the ultimate \"us against the world\" couple is very appealing to me. Enemies to lovers indeed!<\/p>\n

I'm not really a fan of TEW2 so feel free to take or disregard any parts of it that you feel like.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-What happened after game 1? Apparently Seb became a drunken mess, but what if instead he went after Ruvik, or Ruvik went after him? Does Ruvik want to continue to haunt and torture Seb, or does he want his help? What if Seb wants him dead and there's a cat and mouse game? (I have written many words about this but I'm eager to see other takes of the post-canon possibilities)<\/p>\n

-Canon divergence \u2014 what if game 1 ended differently? What if Ruvik managed to convince Seb that they needed to work together against Mobius? What if Ruvik wasn't dissected to be put into STEM \u2014 what if he was put in whole, and still has his real body, changing how he is able to escape? What if he and Seb swap bodies? Excited for any What If scenarios.<\/p>\n

-Some kind of cosmic horror AU where Ruvik isn't using STEM the machine, but supernatural means. Blending in some Lovecraftian elements would be very cool.<\/p>\n

-Role swap where Seb is a drunk scientist and Ruben Victoriano the detective.<\/p>\n

-Just the weirdest porn you can come up with. <\/p>\n

Bloodborne
<\/strong>Brador\/Laurence, Eileen\/The Hunter, Edgar\/Micolash, Damian\/Micolash<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

My favorite Let's Play by Christopher Odd<\/em><\/a>

Bloodborne is one of my favorite games of all time. The aesthetic is 100% my jam, with the gothic and cosmic horrors blended so well. It's beautiful and visceral and the worldbuilding is so mysterious and complex. I'd love to see more of the world and how it's characters navigate its bizarre circumstances, whether that's before, during, or after the night of the hunt shown in the game. Some deep lore of the origins of the church? Micolash and his scholars, and their apparent feud with the Choir? A secret area of the game that the Hunter fought through we didn't get to see? Feel free to explore any political intrigue or monster-fest that speaks to you, and everything in between.<\/p>\n

-Brador is one of my favorite characters, and I love the theory that he was the one that put Laurence down after he succumbed to the beast plague. Any history with them is very welcome, especially with Brador as endlessly devoted, from how they met to their tragic end. Or feel free to have just Brador post Laurence's death\/transformation as he deals with hunters who try to disturb the dream.<\/p>\n

-Eileen is such a great character too. I love her voice and attitude, and I wish there was even more of her. I was really invested in proving my strength to her over the course of her quest, starting with \"shaking in my boots!\" to avenging her against the Crow. I'd love to see the Hunter team up with her for a portion of the game\/city, where that transformation from disdain to respect can grow. Maybe they both survive and manage to flee Yharnam together, maybe one or both of them die. No preference on the hunter's gender, and feel free to give them a name\/use your own OC.<\/p>\n

-Micolash...bane of every playthrough (lol). Love to hate him, and I'm super intrigued by the thought of other characters getting to interact with him. I'm equally interested in him interacting with his fellow scholars\/devotees (which is why I nominated Damian \u2014 I don't have any set headcanon for Damian specifically) as his rivalry with the Choir (hence Edgar). Whether it's set before everything goes to shit and we get to see Life in the School of Mensis, or after the creation of the dream and all the nightmares that follow, I'm here for it. Maybe Edgar infiltrates the school and tries to seduce Micolash for information, or is seduced himself. Feel free to include any ghoulish and tentacle-laden Mensis initiation rituals for Edgar to prove his loyalty, or for Damian to prove his loyalty by unleashing them on Edgar for Micolash's pleasure.
<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malevolent
<\/strong>John\/Arthur,  John\/Arthur\/Kellin, John\/Arthur\/Hastur, Arthur\/Peter, Hastur\/Shub-Niggurath<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

Listen to the podcast on Spotify<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Malevolent is my new shiny fandom, and I love it so much. The horror and mystery aspects are extremely choice, with lots of fun and nasty monsters, but where it really shines is its characters. The slow build from distrust to trust between John and Arthur is a joy to listen to, and I love them just as much when they're bickering as when they're confiding in each other. I love that Arthur is clever and brave but also super vulnerable, and that John is gruff but earnest and doing his best to better himself. I'm a patron so I'm totally caught up and interested in a story told at any point in the canon.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-What if John and Arthur had left the hotel instead of going below the city and ending up in the Dreamlands? What other adventures might they have had in Leery vs the cult, or against other monsters and gods? What if John had come to realize what he was before Arthur did? Would he tell him or try to keep it a secret?<\/p>\n

-Any variation of the events inside the Dreamlands. The Dreamlands are vast and there's nothing to prevent them from ending up somewhere else, somewhere more or less hostile, like Ulthar where they get to meet CATS, or the moon! If you're familiar with other Lovecraft stories feel free to explore any of its creatures or locations. \"More of the same\" for these two is perfect.<\/p>\n

-How do you do the sex when one of you is just a hand and a foot? they're determined to figure it out!<\/p>\n

-Something darker, like what if John starts gaining more and more of Arthur rapidly, and Arthur can't cope.<\/p>\n

-Kellin \u2014 oh gosh Kellin. He meets our \"heroes\" early on in their journey so their relationship is in a much less stable place, and I'd love to see some outcome to that encounter that doesn't necessarily end with Arthur in a coma, but through some other variety of whump gets John into a similar place of realizing that he needs to see Arthur as an ally and not a chariot, and appreciate the fragility of life. Maybe Kellin manages to take them captive in his murder basement and they have to cope with his abuses. Maybe Arthur decides to try to play along with Kellin to earn their freedom, and John can only watch as Arthur offers himself up to him. Feel free to go super dub\/non-con. Or maybe Arthur does manage to get through to Kellin and they help him in some way.<\/p>\n

-How has The King not caught up to Arthur and John in the Dreamlands? I think it's time he does. How does that confrontation go down? Does Arthur try to kill himself, and he and John end up in the Dark World together? Is Hastur not able to kill Arthur even then, and he tries to seduce both of them back into his fold? Are Arthur and John able to fight back in some kind of action chase? Love to see it.<\/p>\n

-What if at the end of ep 12 Hastsur ends up in Arthur too, and he and John are constantly fighting for Arthur's parts?<\/p>\n

-We know almost nothing about Peter, and I'd love to see what other fans think of him. How are they similar, how are they different? Was Peter around for Faroe and the tragedy surrounding her? Was he like an uncle or godfather to her before the end, and could it be that Arthur keeps him at an emotional distance because of it? Big fan of the idea that Peter had feelings for Arthur, whether Arthur was oblivious, or knew but didn't act on it. It'd be nice to see that history explored, or maybe even something set after John\/Arthur get back from the Dreamlands (doesn't really matter how) and they discover that Peter has Come Back Wrong somehow.<\/p>\n

-So I don't know if there's someone out there interested in writing 10k words of unknowable eldritch abominations fucking and fucking with each other, but Hastur\/Shub in the context of Malevolent is super interesting to me. There are hints in the greater mythos that these two creatures have procreated in a fashion, and meeting Hastur as the smug asshole he is makes me wonder what Shub would be like. Is she mad that Hastur snuck through thte portal meant for her? Would she scorn him for losing a piece of himself? Would she want to help him get it back, or would she side with John and Arthur to fuck him over? Does she have motivations at all? Whatever form you can imagine I'm excited for.<\/p>\n

-See crossover section below<\/p>\n


Crossovers (Re-Animator, BB, Malevolent, Cthulhu Mythos)
<\/strong>Hastur\/Nyarlathotep, Arthur & Randolph Carter, Arthur & Herbert, Arthur in Bloodborne<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

Ok yeah all my crossover requests are Malevolent based, it's a new fandom and I want it to have more.<\/p>\n

-Hastur\/Nyarlathotep<\/strong> \u2014 Similar to what I said about Hastur\/Shub in the section above, an exploration of the King's interactions with other entities of the Cthulhu Mythos is super exciting. Especially if Nyarl teases Hastur over losing part of himself. He is a creature that often walks among humans and has more experience in that regard with Hastur, I think their interplay would be really interesting.<\/p>\n

-Arthur & Randolph Carter<\/strong> \u2014 Since John and Arthur are already in the Dreamlands, why not run into other Dreamlands mainstays like Randolph Carter? He's someone who enters the space intentionally, who seeks out its mysteries no matter the danger, and who mourns when he can't get back. That would be a really interesting juxtaposition for Arthur and John who are there against their will and struggle to survive. Also, John getting to pet a cat.<\/p>\n

-Arthur & Herbert West <\/strong>\u2014 So, John needs a body. Who better to go to than the Re-Animator himself? Arthur asking Herbert to build and revive a body for John to inhabit makes perfect sense and can not possibly go wrong. At all. No sir. (I ship Herbert\/Dan but would be up for Arthur\/Dan or Arthur\/Herbert, or all of them with John, however that might work).<\/p>\n

-Malevolent\/Bloodborne<\/strong> fusion. Arthur as a Mensis Scholar who accidentally \"makes contact\" with John. Or as a member of the Choir who gains John after his eyes are removed. Or it doesn't have to mirror their podcast circumstances: maybe Arthur and John are both hunters, or Arthur's an executioner and John a vileblood. Whatever it takes to get them in Fashionborne attire and bicker and maybe fall in love <3<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

And that's it!<\/strong> Thank you so much, have fun and don't die :)<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:127737","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/127737.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=127737"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2021","published":"2021-10-02T01:49:35Z","updated":"2021-10-14T23:27:51Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2021"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide letter"}}],"content":"


<\/p>\n

AO3 Name:<\/strong> Croik<\/a>
Fandoms:<\/strong>
Path of the Dark Eldar
Samurai Warriors
Malevolent<\/em>
<\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave a lot of details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon.<\/p>\n

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I don't have any problem with character death.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present.  <\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. I like slash, femslash, and het. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

-Gray morality. I'm am totally okay with the POV character being terrible.
<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat <\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting intact is cool, though. <\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert. <\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" even xeno and bestiality when the canon allows--a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually--but I'm not interested in Omegaverse world-building and gender configurations.  
<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I'll put some gen and pairing options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Slash, femslash, and het.
-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more.
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n


Path of the Dark Eldar<\/strong>
Morr, Motley<\/em>
<\/p>\n

I got into Warhammer just last year during lockdown, and gravitated almost instantly to the Eldar\/Aeldari factions. What can I say, I'm a sucker for elves! I've been making my way through the lore and the various relevant novels, and so far my favorite is Andy Chambers' Dark Eldar trilogy. I really enjoyed it, for its distinctive cast of characters, twisty plot, and its ability to showcase the Drukhari at their best\/worst. Just about everyone grew on me immensely by the end, but the stars are far and away Morr and Motley, and their growing partnership over the course of the second book. <\/p>\n

I'll admit, I was as hesitant about Motley as Morr was in the beginning, but that little imp really wormed into my heart. They are the perfect odd couple, and it was fun getting to see their different cultures and outlooks contrasting through the story. I'd love to see more of them interacting,  however that can be accomplished. The back and forth of Motley being naturally a tease vs a little too aware that Morr might gut him at any moment was my favorite dynamic in the series.<\/p>\n

Some prompts:<\/p>\n

-How did Morr reach out to Motley when he needed help with the Kraillach situation? Would love to see how this came about, and how they reacted to each other in the immediate aftermath.<\/p>\n

-A scene immediately after they leave the Incubus shrine. By this point Morr has been through a LOT: facing his history, fighting his former shine-mates, fighting DRAZHAR? He's been through the ringer and Motley finally gets to really see him for the first time. Just in time to sacrifice him for the greater good! Would love to see them have a little more time together before the Aeldari show up here, like a gruff wound-tending scene, or Motley having a little doubt about what he has to do.<\/p>\n

-A straight-up fix it that lets Morr survive the ending somehow. Warhammer does weird shit, I don't really care if it's super plausible! Maybe Motley offs the aspect warriors just to be sure they don't follow the way of the warlock, and their suffering\/sacrifice helps revive Morr. Or maybe Motley saves just a teensie bit of him that he's able to convince a haemonculus to revive, or maybe Morr's soul lives on in the planet, and Yvraine is able to yoink it out of there when she comes about ('cause she owes Motley a favor for some reason). Whatever it takes so we get a little more of the surly\/snarky combo. Since they're both outcasts they'd fit right in with the Ynnari, and an incubus that can survive Drazhar has got to be worth a lot.<\/p>\n

-We got pretty much Morr's entire backstory, but what about Motley? I think he's described as a Harlequin outcast, but not why (unless it's in one of the shorts I haven't). I'd like to see some his backstory with his former troupe.<\/p>\n

-Put the sex back into the murdersex elves! Would love to see them play rough. Maybe after getting hacked up by Drazhar Morr could use a recharge, and Motley lets him smack him around or worse. Gotta stave off that thirst with suffering somehow, and Motley is willing to take one for the team. Or maybe just willing enough. However dark you want to go is fine by me, Morr's a Drukhari after all.
<\/p>\n

Samurai Warriors <\/strong>
Akechi Mitsuhide, Oda Nobunaga <\/em><\/p>\n

Samurai Warriors 5 came out this year, and it sure felt good to press square a lot again! Overall I dug the new takes on the characters, the new aesthetic, but I've played all the Samurai Warrior games so I'm interested in just about every version of these two characters. But the games haven't given a really decent focus on this pair since the original, so getting that in 5 was a nice treat and I'd like to see more of them.<\/p>\n

Mitsuhide especially I thought was really well done in 5. It seemed like he spent a lot of the game being influenced by other people, adopting their differing moral codes and worldviews, until Nobunaga got his claws in him. With apologies to Mitsuhide I really enjoyed watching all the lessons he'd learned ultimately get twisted and turned against him, changing him into a fitting general for the Demon King, unrecognizable to his former allies. <\/p>\n

(Also a huge fan of his design this time around, so if Nobunaga or any other character wants to talk about how hot he is, particularly his very pretty mouth, that would make my year).<\/p>\n

As for Nobunaga, it was fun to see a lighter version of his Fool days. Really took me back to Kessen III. I would love to see more of what the game gave us on his descent as well, especially since it felt like his arc was lighter on introspection than Mitsuhide's. I wanted to see more of how he \"fell to the dark side\" that doesn't lean quite so hard on the fridging part, and especially how he felt about taking Mitsuhide with him.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-Mitsuhide tries to comfort Nobunaga in some way after the loss of Kicho. Since she was such a catalyst for the events that followed I think some would say that Mitsuhide could or should have supported him in a healthier way, helping him overcome his need for vengeance rather than letting him succumb to it. Why was Mitsuhide so willing to go along with it? Was it personal feelings about vengeance after the ordeal his family went through, his own desire for justice, or maybe he just was so enamored of Nobunaga by then that he was willing to do whatever he said?<\/p>\n

-Nobunaga actively seduces Mitsuhide because he enjoys the power he has over him. Maybe he's determined to see himself as the Demon King and corrupting Mitsuhide satisfies some kind of self destructive urge.<\/p>\n

-A closer look at how Mitsuhide came to the decision that Nobunaga had to die, and what it cost him. Did he look back on his previous actions with regret?<\/p>\n

-Mitsuhide has a moment of clarity where he realizes that Nobunaga has really gone too far, but before that can turn into real doubt, Nobunaga sexes him back in line.<\/p>\n

-Now, Ranmaru isn't in 5, which quite frankly is a crime. How can you have a game ABOUT Nobunaga and not have Ranmaru!? He really should have been a late game addition with Yasuke, as someone totally devoted to demon!Nobunaga who didn't know him before hand. I think it would be really neat to see a version of Ranmaru inserted into the SW5 setting, whether that be as part of a threesome, or as someone for Mitsuhide to be jealous of (*He* doesn't know Nobunaga like *I* do!!).<\/p>\n

If you haven't played any of SW5, please feel free to draw from whichever previous game and its version of these characters. Other characters are welcome to be included too.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Malevolent<\/strong>
Arthur Lester, John<\/em><\/p>\n

I picked up the Malevolent podcast this year just in time for Yuletide, and holy hell I couldn't be more stoked. I really love this production, it's fantastic production values, writing, acting, and characters \u2014 it's really the full package. But of course the breakout star of it all is the interplay between Arthur and John.<\/p>\n

I love these two so much, at all points in their relationship so far: John as the truly malevolent spirit he starts as, ordering helpless Arthur around; then the budding partnership as they realize they have to really trust and depend on each other; to the tense balance of friendship and frustration in the latest chapters. At any moment they could be expressing deep personal trust, or at each other's throats because they're exhausted and at odds, and that's just so appealing to me. It really highlights that they've known each other for a very short period of time (especially from Arthur's POV) so they can only click so much, but the intensity of what they've been through has still solidified a tight bond.<\/p>\n

And yeah I ship it. It scratches the \"the devil has a crush on me\" itch I've had since TEW something fierce. I'm also a pateron member so no need to worry about spoilers for even latest episodes.<\/p>\n

Prompts:<\/p>\n

-Since Malevolent is a CYOA there are any number of choices that could have gone a different way, any of which could have been fascinating. Like if Arthur had managed to grab the mask-wearing cultist at the book store straight off the bat, or headed back to his apartment to prevent the body being found. Would they have spent more time exploring Arkham and found something? If at the hotel in Leery, what if they'd escaped rather than doing down into the city? Lots of what-if possibilities and I'm here for all of them.<\/p>\n

-What if Arthur had died on the boat? (either of them? lol, he has bad luck on that lake!!) John seemed convinced that they would both fall back into the Dark World, but now that we know more about John, would that really be the case? Would John just take Arthur's body with him gone, and be alone? (q_q). Or would Arthur end up in normal-person-afterlife and John has to find a way to get him back? Or maybe he really does meet Arthur in the Dark World and they have to find a way to survive it\/get back in a NEW body. Would be very interested in any exploration of the Dark World especially if they're still bound together, but maybe in a less human form.<\/p>\n

-Body swap where for some reason now Arthur has the eyes and John most of the body, and they have to reset how they communicate and operate.<\/p>\n

-Horniness. Depending on how canon goes John could have offspring, so I imagine he does have the kind of sexual experience us mere mortals can barely imagine, but he hasn't had the opportunity for a long time. And Arthur strikes me as a \"infrequent, casual partners only\" type. The two of them navigating any kind of sex in the same body has got to be messy and amazing.<\/p>\n

Happy to have other characters included, like the King or Kellin especially. Or even a crossover with other Lovecraftian characters, like if they stumble on Randolph Carter in the Dreamlands, or get back to Arkham and have a run in with Herbert West (translating the 1980s Herbert and Dan back into their original Lovecraft setting would be super cute, especially since they also have a dysfunctional partnership ;D).<\/p>\n

Also handing out permission like candy for Arthur and\/or John (however you think it works) to get fucked by annnnnny of the monsters or enemies they've encountered. Kellin, MossMan, whoever. Here for all of the monsterfucking.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

And that's it!<\/strong> Thank you for reading my letter :D I hope you've found some inspiration in my ramblings.  I love all these fandoms equally and will be thrilled with anything from any of them.  Have fun and I can't wait to see it come reveals!<\/p>\n<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:127344","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/127344.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=127344"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2020","published":"2020-10-04T17:25:51Z","updated":"2020-10-17T22:09:25Z","content":"


<\/p>\n

AO3 Name:<\/strong> Croik<\/a>
Fandoms:<\/strong>
Bloodborne
Among Us
Fantasy Flight Arkham Horror Files (Board Game)
Hades<\/em>
<\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave a lot of details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Action, adventure, thriller, horror, dark comedy, all good. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon.<\/p>\n

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I don't have any problem with character death.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n

( <\/strong>Collapse<\/strong><\/a> )<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too, whether it's with a specific person or ever.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, injured, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present.  <\/p>\n

-Shipfic, though I also like gen. I like slash, femslash, and het. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, at each other's throats, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

-Gray morality. I'm am totally okay with the POV character being terrible.
<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Infidelity (open relationships are great if everyone's in on it)<\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat <\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting intact is cool, though. <\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert. I don't have a preference for tense.<\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" even xeno and bestiality when the canon allows, a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually, but I'm not interested in Omegaverse world-building and gender configurations.  If a dude gets knocked up by an omnipotent unknownable Eldritch god that's awesome, I don't really care about the biology or hormones involved.
<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I'll put some gen and pairing options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Slash, femslash, and het.
-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more.
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n


Bloodborne<\/strong>
Micolash, Edgar<\/em>
<\/p>\n

I'm asking for Mico and Edgar again this year because I'm still into it!!
<\/p>\n

Thanks to the Mico boss fight I have spent a lottttt of time in the Nightmare of Mensis, and it never gets less creepy.  As much as I hate that brain, I love the tension it gives the area, knowing that at any moment something is going to stab into your skull and destroy your sanity.  I'm really interested in how long it's existed, how long Micolash has been its \"host,\" and how Edgar got to be there.  We know from lore he's a spy for the church, or at least started out that way.  How did he infiltrate?  Was his cover ever blown, was he converted to Micolash's cause?  When the hunter encounters him, was he defending Micolash from us, or on his way to kill him? By the end, he and Micolash are the only \"humans\" left in the nightmare.  Why are they special?<\/p>\n

I'm open to any kind of shipping, whether Micolash wins Edgar over, exposes and torments him, or if one of them has a one-sided pining\/obsession, or if they just want each other dead. <\/p>\n

Some prompts:<\/p>\n

-Edgar trying to cope with being the only \"sane\" person among so many lunatics, his sanity slowing being chipped away as he struggles to complete his mission for the church.<\/p>\n

-Maybe Edgar only infiltrated at the very end, and was in the nightmare hunting Micolash down to kill him before the PC hunter showed up.  What might have happened if not for the PC?  How did he survive up to that point, and how does their confrontation play out?<\/p>\n

-Micolash discovers Edgar's identity and he and the other scholars torture him for information.  Maybe they experiment on him to try and get him to birth a Great One (mpreg anyone??).  Alternatively, Micolash doesn't let on that he knows and tries to trick\/seduce Edgar into the fold by whatever ghastly means.<\/p>\n

-An AU where Edgar successfully kidnaps Micolash and brings him back to the Choir.  How does the Choir reward him, and what do they do with Micolash?  Does Edgar regret this outcome, or does he prove the Choir is every bit as mad and cruel as the scholars?<\/p>\n

-Sometime before Micolash became head of the scholars, he and Edgar were friends, enemies, lovers, etc.  But Yharnam twisted them, like it does everything.<\/p>\n

-Bloodborne in the style of Among Us ;)
<\/p>\n

Among Us<\/strong>
Any<\/em><\/p>\n

Among us is a quirky, colorful little game, and I've enjoyed watching lots of different Youtubers fight each other over it. As hilarious as it is, I'm a little more interested in the darker interpretations of the setting. When taken seriously, a dozen people on a science station slowly being killed off by an anonymous, inhuman traitor, all while the system itself fails around them...!? That's fucking terrifying. I would love to see a fic in that tone that treats the murdering and the infighting like the real horror it is.<\/p>\n

I asked for Any because there aren't really separate characters anyway. I'm not sure if fandom has any established fancanons for the colors, or what the minis are\/represent. So I'm not picky with whatever colors you want to use, what they wear or what their personalities are. Open to all genders and shipping combinations. Some prompts:<\/p>\n

-An old fashioned murder mystery from the point of view of a crewmate. Their friends being slowly picked off as things get worse and worse. The crewmate discovering the imposter's identity and the betrayal of that. Maybe even a fight to the death! <\/p>\n

-An imposter who is friends with\/in love with one of the normal crewmates, who protects them from the other imposter(s), but ultimately still has a job to do (whatever that may be). Maybe they can seduce the crewmate to their side??<\/p>\n

-A crewmate, pushed too far by everything going wrong, gets so paranoid they start ejecting everyone who is even a little sus. But there never was an imposter after all.<\/p>\n

-Some old fashioned tentacle porn with the alien imposter.<\/p>\n

-Two imposters competing over their kills. Enemies to lovers?<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Fantasy Flight's Arkham Horror Files
<\/strong>Any<\/em><\/p>\n

I got into playing Eldritch Horror this year, particularly thanks to quarantine. I love how true it is to the lore (in that it's really hard not to lose you sanity or die lol) and how the characters are all fun archetypes who can't help but spend every play session getting absolutely wrecked by inhuman horrors.  I'd love to read something that really makes use of the existential horror, as these different characters struggle to get over their differences in order to survive.  A fight against a monster, interrupting a terrible ritual, huddling together in a basement while the world ends? Anything that pits these characters against the terrible unknown. Feel free to include others from the games that didn't make it into the tagset.<\/p>\n

I'd be happy to see any of these characters shipped as well.<\/p>\n

-Any two or more characters literally huddling together in a basement while the world ends. The stars have aligned, an Old One is awakening, whatever it may be, there's nothing left but a handful of humans at the end of the world, waiting for the end. \"We're gonna die so we might as well fuck\" welcome.<\/p>\n

-Tommy and Michael meet up while hunting terrible creatures. Nothing like the end of the world to get a cop and a gangster to finally see eye to eye.<\/p>\n

-Wilson and Vincent meet in Arkham. Maybe Vincent tends to his wounds after an otherworldy encounter.<\/p>\n

-Tony is hunting down one of the other characters because of a bounty on their head. The only problem is, they're not guilty of whatever they've been accused of--there's a doppelganger on the loose! Or maybe they were possessed at the time. Can they convince Tony not to kill them or bring them in?<\/p>\n

-Michael and Skids are old pals, or else old cellmates. They know the horrible things that are going on, but as a pair of crooks, how are they going to convince anyone?<\/p>\n

-Father Mateo's faith is tested when confronted with the eldritch horrors creeping into our world, and he sure can't defend himself physically. It's a good thing there are plenty of allies with big guns around!<\/p>\n

Or any of these characters in any situation, really.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Hades<\/strong>
Zagreus, Dionysus<\/em><\/p>\n

Gonna be real honest here, I haven't finished the game yet. But I will have by the time assignments are out and I'm not picky about spoilers anyway.<\/p>\n

Came into this game a little late but I have been loving it. I was a huge fan of Transistor and I love Supergiant's overall aesthetic--great visuals, great characters, great music. The actors are so good you can't help but fall for each and every one of them, though my faves so far are Zagreus and Dionysus.<\/p>\n

They have a, um, complicated \"relationship\" in mythology, and I honestly don't know yet if that is remarked upon in-game, but either way I'd love to see more of the two of them directly interacting. Zag is very dry while Dionysus just oozes that used car salesman sleaze, the thought of them trying to have a legit conversation really makes me smile.<\/p>\n

Not going to lie, I'd love to see something shippy, particularly of the \"we got wasted and hooked up\" variety. The thought of Dionysus' version of dirty talk is hilarious. I also feel like you could take Dionysus down a darker, more predatory path, where that barreling charm of his dips into outright manipulation. It would be fairly easy for even someone like Zag to underestimate him. Some prompts:<\/p>\n

-The two of them share a drink in person, if not on Olympus then somewhere in the mortal world. Maybe they were hoping for a good time, but both turn out to be sad and\/or angry drunks.<\/p>\n

-In the codex it mentions that Dionysus doesn't make any attempt to associate with the underworld, even though he is closer to the mortal world than the other gods, preferring to be everyone's cool uncle. Would love to see Zag call him out on that.<\/p>\n

-Sure this isn't a new idea, but maybe gaining a god's boon is semi-orgasmic, and Zag particularly enjoys taking on Dionysus' power. He just seems to have a level of fun you can get in Hades.<\/p>\n

-Dionysus is a giant asshole who gets Zag drunk and takes advantage of him. And then Zag kicks his ass (with help?)<\/p>\n

-Threesome with some other character. <\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

And that's it!<\/strong> Thank you for reading my letter :D I hope you've found some inspiration in my ramblings.  I love all these fandoms equally and will be thrilled with anything from any of them.  Have fun and I can't wait to see it come reveals!<\/p>\n<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:127108","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/127108.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=127108"}}],"title":"Trick or Treat 2019 - letter","published":"2019-09-11T01:17:24Z","updated":"2019-09-13T02:14:56Z","content":"

Hi there Trick or Treater!  Thanks for being my partner :D I'm going to leave some prompts\/ideas but feel free to do whatever, I've done a lot of exchanges, I like being surprised, and I'm keen to help fill in the challenges.  In general I prefer dark\/spooky fic or art, but I'm open to sweet treats, too, especially if shippy.  Anything Halloween themed is very welcome, it's my favorite holiday!
<\/p>\n

General likes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Darkfic, angst
Gore and body horror
Zombie AUs
Silent Hill AUs
Action and violence
Snark and banter
Loyalty
Porn!
First Times
Slash, femslash, het
Dub-con and non-con
Solo, poly, everything in between
Bondage and tentacles
Hurt\/comfort
Breathplay
Size difference\/size kink
Voyeurism
Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen
Emphasis on clothing
Monsters\/Aliens
Crossovers and fusions between my requested fandoms
<\/p>\n

I'm open to receiving fic art, IF, drabbles, or whatever else.
<\/p>\n

General dislikes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Genderswap
Infidelity
Watersports\/scat
Mundane AU
2nd person POV\/Reader insert<\/p>\n\n

Dororo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hyakkimaru <\/em>\u2014 I'd love anything with Hyakkimaru! I love the poor thing dealing with gaining back his senses, trying to relate to Dororo and new people, trying to handle new relationships. Learning to use his new body (*eyebrows*). I'm open to all shipping (though in Dororo's case, aged up preferably), before\/during\/or after the show.<\/p>\n

Sengoku Basara<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mitsunari<\/em> \u2014 My favorite Basara character, in the games and anime! I love his passion and unwavering devotion that is also his greatest weakness. I ship him with everyone. I'd especially like to see him either at the height of his vengeance-fueled rage, or at a low point, when he needs some character to pick him back up (like Sakon, Yukimura, or even Yoshitsugu, whether or not he's being manipulated).<\/p>\n

Midsommar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dani <\/em>\u2014 Gosh I felt so badly for Dani the whole movie. I'd really like to see her at some point post-movie. Maybe she's coming to terms with where she is and what's happened, maybe she's blissfully unaware and out of her mind. Maybe she forms a bond with someone else in the village (particularly one of the women who screamed with her). Maybe she's just as pretty as can be in her flowers :3  <\/p>\n

Bloodborne<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laurence \/ Brador <\/em> \u2014 I'm really fascinated with the lore of Bloodborne, particularly the older generation, during the first years of the beast sickness and the hunt. I love Laurence and Brador, I definitely ship them, and would love to see anything with the two of them as they build and manipulate the church. Brador having to kill and mourn his beautiful Laurence ;o;  I love the pair of them as a tragedy, though something sweet before it all goes to hell would also be awesome!<\/p>\n

The Evil Within<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ruvik<\/em> \u2014 It's been a while but I still love TEW and Ruvik! I love what a sadistic asshole he is, and I'm happy to see him pre-game when he's doing his experiments, or post-game in Leslie's body wreaking havoc. I ship him with everyone, especially Seb.<\/p>\n

Transistor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Royce<\/em> \u2014 This is a fandom I keep coming back to.  I really like the Cloudbank lore and would like to see more of Royce in particular, among the Camerata or not, maybe delving into why he joined and what he was doing during the game before Red made it to him.  Also would love to see Royce in the country!<\/p>\n

Original<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Anthropomorphization of Death (Original Work)<\/em><\/p>\n

Businessman Who's Obviously A Poorly-Disguised Tentacle Monster (Original Work)<\/em><\/p>\n

Demon Trying to Become an Angel Again (Original Work)<\/em><\/p>\n

Eldritch Abomination In A Human Skin-Suit (Original Work)<\/em><\/p>\n

Shapeshifting Parasitic Lifeform (Original Work)<\/em><\/p>\n

Student Of The Arcane Arts Who Accidentally Lost Her Humanity While Seeking Forbidden Knowledge (OW)<\/em><\/p>\n

Very Dominant Vampire Goddess (Original Work)<\/em><\/p>\n

Young fox spirit whose relatives are disappointed they haven't seduced or murdered anyone yet (OW)<\/em><\/p>\n

I feel like all these speak for themselves?? Go wild lol.<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:126937","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/126937.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=126937"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2019","published":"2019-08-14T01:03:23Z","updated":"2019-10-31T17:33:10Z","content":"

AO3 Name:<\/strong> Croik
Fandoms:<\/strong>
Sekiro
Bloodborne
Dororo<\/em>
Midsommar<\/em><\/p>\n

Hi writer, and thank you for being my Santa! I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave a lot of details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.<\/p>\n

General<\/strong><\/ins><\/p>\n

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Fics that are action-y or adventurous are great, too. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon.<\/p>\n

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. I don't have any problem with character death.<\/p>\n

Above all I like fic that fits with the spirit\/tone of the canon, whether it's filling in a missing piece, continuing after the end, or some canon-divergent \"what if\" story.<\/p>\n

Things I like<\/strong><\/ins>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:<\/p>\n\n

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. And yes first time sex, too.<\/p>\n

-Large disparities between characters in a relationship, whether romantic or platonic. I enjoy power imbalance couples, size difference couples, age difference couples. I like pairs where one member is obviously much stronger physically than the other, while the other is more emotionally stable, or close friendships that complement each other in unexpected ways. If these differences are in flux that's great, too.<\/p>\n

-Whump and hurt\/comfort in all forms, I enjoy characters being pushed to their physical limits, needing to be held or helped up by each other, especially if danger is still present.  <\/p>\n

-Pairing fic, though I also like gen. I like slash, femslash, and het. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, all that is fantastic.<\/p>\n

-Gray morality. I'm am totally okay with the POV character being terrible.
<\/p>\n

Things I Do Not Want<\/strong><\/ins><\/p>\n

-Infidelity *(with a caveat for Midsommar<\/em> \u2014 see the fandom section) <\/p>\n

-Watersports\/scat <\/p>\n

-Fluff and crack. I do enjoy a happy ending, but some conflict in getting there is half the fun!<\/p>\n

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting intact is cool, though. One exception is zombies\u2014I'm always excited for a Zombie Apocalypse AU.  A few of my canons this year are close enough in theme or setting that a crossover would be welcome, too.<\/p>\n

-2nd person POV or reader-insert. I don't have a preference for tense.<\/p>\n

-Omegaverse: I'm open to bizarre pregnancies, \"drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it,\" even xeno and bestiality when the canon calls for it, a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually, but I'm not interested in Omegaverse world-building and gender configurations.  If a dude gets knocked up by an omnipotent unknownable Eldritch god I am fine with that, I don't really care about the biology or hormones involved.<\/p>\n

-D\/s or BDSM. I like rough sex, characters pinning each other down and such, but I'm not interested in characters negotiating scenes\/roles or detailed aftercare. Spontaneity > preparation for me. <\/p>\n

-Snuff
<\/p>\n

Porn<\/strong><\/ins><\/p>\n

I am always happy to receive porn! I'll put some gen and pairing options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:<\/p>\n

-Slash, femslash, and het.
-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more.
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Xeno\/demons\/Eldritch abominations
-Barbed wire\/bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen<\/p>\n

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Sekiro
<\/strong><\/ins>Wolf, Kuro<\/em>
<\/p>\n

I've been a big Japanese history nerd for a long time, so pairing that with a quasi-Bloodborne aesthetic makes it pretty perfect. I wasn't very GOOD at it, but I did appreciate the game's ferocity, and what my many many deaths meant for protagonist Wolf. His unending devotion despite me destroying him in every possible way is definitely commendable! His stoic loyalty paired with the gentle Kuro is a wonderful dynamic and I've looked at too many Twitter memes. <\/p>\n

I'm interested in almost any time period and scenario, whether it's pre, during, or post game (even an ending that doesn't exist in the game). I'd welcome any and all side characters appearing as long as Wolf and Kuro are prominently featured. I'll put some prompts below but what matters to me most is the duty and compassion they have toward each other, built up over having known each other for pretty much Kuro's entire life.<\/p>\n

I am open to shipping them provided Kuro is aged up to 16+. <\/p>\n

Possible prompts:<\/em><\/p>\n

-Wolf teaches Kuro some of his shinobi tricks, which Kuro's actual teachers may or may not approve of.<\/p>\n

-Pre-game, Wolf has an affair with Gen'ichirou and Kuro isn't happy about it (either childish jealousy or because he suspects Gen'ichirou is planning the in-game events).<\/p>\n

-Kuro orders Wolf to do something, only to regret it when he does (such as ordering him to kill someone\/something). Maybe Kuro is confronted with Wolf's lethality for the first time.<\/p>\n

-Post game, nobody died or got absorbed into a child-god, and Wolf and Kuro go on an adventure together, on the run from the Shogun. Could even be many years later when Kuro is an adult and an accomplished fighter in his own right.<\/p>\n

-As Kuro gets older he develops an attraction for Wolf, which Wolf is conflicted about (whether or not he reciprocates).<\/p>\n

-Wolf and Kuro meet up with Hyakkimaru and Dororo! Or any other famous samurai\/historical figures of the time.
<\/p>\n

Bloodborne<\/strong><\/ins>
Micolash, Edgar<\/em>
<\/p>\n

I'm asking for Mico and Edgar again this year because I'm still into it!!
<\/p>\n

Thanks to the Mico boss fight I have spent a lottttt of time in the Nightmare of Mensis, and it never gets less creepy.  As much as I hate that brain, I love the tension it gives the area, knowing that at any moment something is going to stab into your skull and destroy your sanity.  I'm really interested in how long it's existed, how long Micolash has been its \"host,\" and how Edgar got to be there.  We know from lore he's a spy for the church, or at least started out that way.  How did he infiltrate?  Was his cover ever blown, was he converted to Micolash's cause?  How does he get away with not wearing a cage?  By the end, he and Micolash are the only \"humans\" left in the nightmare.  Why are they special?<\/p>\n

I'm open to any kind of shipping, whether Micolash wins Edgar over, exposes and torments him, or if one of them has a one-sided pining\/obsession, or if they just want each other dead.  Anything.<\/p>\n

Some prompts:<\/p>\n

-Edgar trying to cope with being the only \"sane\" person among so many lunatics, his sanity slowing being chipped away as he struggles to complete his mission for the church.<\/p>\n

-Maybe Edgar only infiltrated at the very end, and was in the nightmare hunting Micolash down to kill him before the PC hunter showed up.  What might have happened if not for the PC?  How did he survive up to that point, and how does their confrontation play out?<\/p>\n

-Micolash discovers Edgar's identity and he and the other scholars torture him for information.  Maybe they experiment on him to try and get him to birth a Great One (mpreg anyone??).  Alternatively, Micolash doesn't let on that he knows and tries to trick\/seduce Edgar into the fold by whatever ghastly means.<\/p>\n

-An AU where Edgar successfully kidnaps Micolash and brings him back to the Choir.  How does the Choir reward him, and what do they do with Micolash?  Does Edgar regret this outcome, or does he prove the Choir is every bit as mad and cruel as the scholars?<\/p>\n

-Sometime before Micolash became head of the scholars, he and Edgar were friends, enemies, lovers, etc.  But Yharnam twisted them, like it does everything.

<\/p>\n

Dororo<\/strong><\/ins>
Hyakkimaru<\/em><\/p>\n

Dororo was my favorite anime of the season and probably of the entire year.  I was blown away by the animation, the characters, the plot twists, and more than anything the ability for the show to balance its dark and light-hearted elements as well as it did. It would have been easy for the show to swing too far either way, but I think they hit a perfect balance of lovable characters and terrible, gut-wrenching losses. I haven't enjoyed an anime for its pacing as well as this one for a long time.<\/p>\n

My favorite character is Hyakkimaru himself, and I'd love to see more of him and his adventures. The way he struggles with adapting to his new senses, but is always clever and inventive. The way he sometimes tries to connect with people, and sometimes pulls away. There's a selfishness to him because of his terrible circumstances which put him in a place of survival above all else, which I think would be cool to explore in the post-show.<\/p>\n

I don't really ship him with Dororo, but am open to shipping him with other characters or OCs.<\/p>\n

Some prompts:<\/em><\/p>\n

-Post show, Hyakkimaru is journeying alone to regain his humanity, and he discovers it's harder to kill demons when you're fully (or mostly) human.<\/p>\n

-Post show Hyakkimaru meets a tricky Kitsune who takes it upon themselves to teach him more about the world, including sex (no preference for the gender of said kitsune)<\/p>\n

-An AU where Tahomaru (and others?) survives the castle fire, and he and Hyakkimaru actually get to bond.<\/p>\n

-Hyakkimaru is injured in a fight and loses one of the limbs\/senses he gained back, gets it in his head that he'll get it back if he goes back to killing more demons.<\/p>\n

-AU where Hyakkimaru gives in to his demon nature and has to be tragically put down.<\/p>\n

-Hyakkimaru and Dororo meet up with Wolf and Kuro! Or any other famous samurai\/historical figures of the time.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Midsommar<\/strong><\/ins>
<\/ins>Dani Ardor<\/em><\/p>\n

I'm a huge fan of Hereditary, so I went into Midsommar with high expectations.  And I LOVED it. It's got that endless, unrelenting dread that I appreciate in horror so much. I felt so bad for Dani the entire time, and as much as I wanted everything to turn out well for her, I have to admit the ending was pitch perfect. Really incredible.<\/p>\n

Mostly I would like to see something that takes place after the movie ends, with Dani adjusting to her new life. She's not in a great state of course, one might even call it \"totally lost it,\" but something does have to come after that, right? I'd love to see her life in the village explored, whether she becomes completely ingratiated or eventually snaps out of it and tries to escape.<\/p>\n

*One of my DNW's if infidelity, but I don't have a problem with Christian's cheating being talked about. I just wouldn't want to see Dani cheating on anyone still living (if she marries Pelle but then kills him and runs off with a village girl, that's very fine).<\/p>\n

Some prompts<\/em><\/p>\n

-<\/em>Dani loves her new life in the village, surrounded by a loving, supportive family structure. Maybe there are even weirder traditions she's invited into, but she's so far gone, she goes along or is totally into it.<\/p>\n

-When Maja's baby is born, the knowledge that it's Christian's sends Dani over the deep end and she either goes Full Murder or finally wakes up enough to escape.<\/p>\n

-Dani bonds with one of the other girls from the village, maybe even has an affair with her. I'm pretty sure the lead girl from their screamo session (INCREDIBLE scene) is listed in the credits as Dagny. Dani growing close to this girl could either lead to her being drawn in deeper, or else she starts describing the outside world to her and they eventually escape together.<\/p>\n

-Pelle convinces Dani to marry him, but as time goes on she realizes how fucked up this is, and kills him. Does she stay anyway, or escape? <\/p>\n

-Dani, in her madness, starts inventing new rituals for the Harga to follow, and is somehow able to manipulate them into their own destruction.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

Annnnnnd that's it!<\/strong><\/ins> Thank you for reading my letter <3 I hope you've found some inspiration in my ramblings.  I love all these fandoms equally and will be thrilled with anything from any of them.  Have fun and I can't wait to see it come reveals :D<\/p>\n<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:126280","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/126280.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=126280"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa 2017","published":"2017-09-26T23:44:45Z","updated":"2017-10-01T12:24:51Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2017"}}],"content":"AO3 Name:<\/b> Croik
Fandoms:<\/b>
Atomic Blonde
Pyre
The Evil Within
The Wolf (song)
10 Billion Husbands<\/i>


Hello Writer! Thank you for being my Santa this year :D. I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them. I'm going to leave a lot of details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and have some fun with it.

General<\/b><\/u>

In general I like fics that are on the serious side. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Fics that are action-y or adventurous are great, too. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon.

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. Dark or cynical comedy is also a plus. If a character or two have to die, I'm fine with that.

Above all I like fic that fits with the spirit\/tone of the canon. Filling in the missing pieces of canon is one of my favorite types of fic.

I'm open to receiving alternative fics like drabble collections and IF, etc, too.

Things I like<\/b><\/u>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature.

-Large disparities between characters in a relationship, whether romantic or platonic. I enjoy power imbalance couples, size difference couples, age difference couples. I like pairs where one member is obviously much stronger physically than the other, while the other is more emotionally stable, or close friendships that complement each other in unexpected ways. If these differences are in flux that's great, too.

-Characters getting shot. I love hurt\/comfort as much as the next fan, but there's something particular with me about characters and gunshot wounds. If I'm watching a show and a character I didn't care about before gets shot, they're suddenly my favorite. Why, I don't know, but having a character tend for another that's been shot is the fastest way to get me on board any plot. The medieval\/fantasy equivalent is just as good! I'm a horror fan and a gorehound so feel free to be gruesome.

-Pairing fic, though I also like gen. I like slash, femslash, and het. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, all that is fantastic.

-Gray morality. I'm am totally okay with the POV character being terrible.


Things I don't like<\/b><\/u>

-Fluff and crack. I do enjoy a happy ending, but some conflict in getting there is half the fun!

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting intact is cool, though. The only exception is zombies—I'm always excited for a Zombie Apocalypse AU.

-2nd person POV or reader-insert. I don't have a preference for tense.

-Infidelity. I don't mind misunderstandings and jealousy in a fic, but outright, intentional cheating really turns me off.

-A\/B\/O. I'm open to bizarre pregnancies,, "drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it," even borderline bestiality in some cases, a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually, but I'm not interested in Omegaverse worldbuilding and gender configurations.

Porn<\/b><\/u>

I am always happy to receive porn! I'll put some gen and pairing options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. Here're some of my porn-specific likes:

-Slash, femslash, and het.
-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more.
-Dub-con and Non-con
-Breathplay, especially if it's done with hands or a person's weight.
-Sex while still partially clothed
-Voyeurism
-Tentacles
-Barbed wire\/bondage
-Mind control
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask
-Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.

Some porn-specific things I'm not really into:
-D\/s or BDSM. I like rough sex, characters pinning each other down and such, but I'm not interested in characters negotiating scenes\/roles or detailed aftercare. Spontaneity > preparation for me.
-Watersports\/scat
-Mixing severe injury with sex (i.e. amputations etc)



Atomic Blonde<\/b><\/u>
Lorraine Broughton, Delphine Lasalle<\/i>

I had a blast with this movie! I love action films, I love the 80s, I love Charlize. I love that Lorraine is so powerful and so cool, without being heartless or invulnerable. And I love that Delphine is kind of the flip of that, a little naive, a little out of her league, but still doing her best. Anything with one or both of these ladies being the fierce operatives they are is very welcome. If that includes kicking a lot of ass or continuing their relationship (or both!) all that is good with me.

Some prompts:

-Something set during canon. It's pretty clear that they had more than a one night thing, so any glimpse of their time together, whether it's just banging or chatting or even a little training.

-Fix-it fic!! Lorraine shows up a little bit sooner and saves Delphine, or just soon enough that some CPR is enough to bring her back.

-After having saved Delphine, Lorraine takes her home with her. They decide to get out of the business and start a life on the run.

-After having saved Delphine, Lorraine gets her into the CIA with her, takes her under her wing and becomes her handler\/mentor\/lover. They go on kick ass adventures together.

-While on the run\/on a job, Lorraine gets shot\/injured, and Delphine has to be the one to protect her this time.

-It's the zombie apocalypse and also the 80s and that's fantastic.

-Just a whole lot of sex!


Pyre<\/b><\/u>
The Reader, Hedwyn<\/i>

I pre-ordered this game before I knew anything about it, because I loved Transistor that much. And I don't regret it! Pyre is a gorgeous game, so packed with lore and mystery. I've only played through the game once so I know there's a ton I'm missing, but I couldn't help but request it for Yuletide. I'm interested in reading just about anything, especially stuff that explores the characters in the Downside struggling to survive and depending on each other. The game's bittersweet tone is just my jam.

My favorite character is Hedwyn, and I specifically was careful not to use him too much so he wouldn't be up for anointment. Kind of terrible, I know, given how strongly he wanted to go home! But I really liked how honest and caring he was, and how he more than anyone was looking out for my Reader and what would be best for them. I was especially amused by the incident where he and the Reader have to gather up the Drive Imps after they scatter, and gets a bite that the Reader treats for him. Them taking care of each other really appeals to me, especially if it's post game and they're stuck together in the Downside. Shipping is a plus.

My Reader was female but feel free to go with whatever gender you like. I'd even be totally cool with you giving them a name if you want, I actually wish the Reader wasn't so much of a silent protag and I'm very open to you giving them an identity and personality and such.

Some prompts:

-Hedwyn and Reader during the course of the game, practicing together, speculating on how their journey will end, tip-toing around the idea that they might be separated eventually.

-Caring for each other after one has been injured by the perils of the wasteland.

-Post game, the pair try to settle and make a life for themselves, with all the challenges it entails. Especially if most of the rest of the team has already left (whoever is left behind is up to you).

-The Reader chooses to send Hedwyn home for his own good, and he either accepts or refuses.

If you're interested in a darker take allow me to make a confession.

I decided early on while playing that my Reader had a crush on Hedwyn, since he saved their life and all. It was just a low key headcanon that made things more interesting until I found out that the reason Hedwyn wanted to go back was to be with his lover. From then on I decided that the Reader was so in love with him that they intentionally denied Hedwyn anointment to keep him to themselves. Every choice I made for the rest of the game was based on some level of spite. I promise I'm not a terrible person IRL! (lol). But I love dark shit, and it was more fun than it should have been pretending the Reader was desperate and manipulative, especially when I anointed Bertrude so she could be with Volfred while Hedwyn was left behind.

And then HEDWYN'S ENDING HAPPENED, and never before have I been more karma-slapped in a game!! lol I literally fell over, shrieking while my sister cackled at me. It was pretty hilarious tbh, and bound to be one of my favorite gaming memories.

Now I don't want to pressure you into a specific take, but just in case you have dark tastes like me, I would love to see some kind of painful, unhealthy relationship between Hedwyn\/Reader, either during or after the game timeline. Especially if Hedwyn realizes what the Reader is up to, but doesn't act, because deep down he doubts that his lover will be waiting for him and is glad he has the excuse to never know.

I would also be into resolving the ending via threeosme! :D


The Evil Within<\/b><\/u>
Joseph Oda<\/i>

By the time we're all writing, the new game will be out, so there's a good chance of things being invalidated. This request could be moot by then! But one thing they've hinted we won't be learning more about in TEW2 is Joseph Oda and what happened to him. So that's what I'm requesting.

Assuming that Joseph survived the first game (which I definitely assume), Mobius has him. And they're probably doing terrible, unspeakable things to him. Maybe they tried him out as a STEM host but he couldn't cut it. Maybe they brainwashed him into joining Mobius, maybe it wasn't that hard. Whatever it is, I'd like to see that explored. Joseph had to have gone through a lot of trauma after leaving STEM, maybe haunted by nightmares, or even fragments of Ruvik's subconscious. Anything exploring that is welcome.

Some prompts:

-Jo undergoing terrrrrible experiments under Mobius. I'm very open to darkfic.

-Jo being seduced by The Administrator, with or without shadowy tentacles. Maybe he even tries to turn the tables.

-Jo pining for Sebastian, praying he'll show up to rescue him.

-Jo being taunted by a ghost of Ruvik in his own head (I ship this, too!)

If it so happens that we DO find out what happens to Joseph in TEW2, I'm sure there'll be plenty to work with in the three years he's been gone. Feel free to go nuts!

And if we find out that Joseph DID die at the end of TEW1 and there's nothing to explore here...anything with Joseph is still grand, especially if it's that missing time Joseph spent in STEM, or a particularly gritty case he and Seb worked together. Or fuck TEW2 and make an AU however you want! The only thing I'm not particularly interested in is Seb and Jo in any kind of fluff.

I promise I'm not going to edit this letter based on what's in the game, to save you from running back here to check.


<\/span> <\/span>
The Wolf - Phildel<\/b><\/u>
The Wolf, Sire<\/i>

So The Wolf is a really awesome song, a little bit ambiguous in meaning, but with a lot of interesting subtext. To be honest I haven't tried to look up anything for it but the way I interpret it, the song is sung mostly by the Sinner, also referred to as "sire." Whatever they've done has earned them the wrath of The Wolf, who has sworn to seek them out and kill them if they show their face again. Both are described as hell-bound, but the Sire seems to have accepted this, and still looks forward to them making that journey together (whether for spite or some other reason, we just don't know).

I'm really interested in seeing this song brought to life in a more literal form. Whether it's a rivalry, a vendetta, or a relationship gone wrong (romantic, sire\/servant, etc). I love all things dark, supernatural, or fantastic, so The Wolf being a literal beast or werewolf is just as welcome as it being a metaphor between two people. I'm open to all interpretations and gender configurations. What's most important to me is this idea of a connection that neither can escape, of spite and regret and maybe even a hint of longing.

Some prompts:

-Sire is literally a monarch, and the Wolf their protector\/enforcer, honor bound to betray them once they've utterly failed in their rule. Especially if The Wolf helped them into power in the first place.

-The Wolf is literally a beast from Hell come to judge a fallen angel as some kind of divine punishment.

-The sire's only sin was not loving the wolf well\/long enough, and the scorned wolf is out for blood. Bonus, the sire spurned the wolf intentionally because they prefer to die at a lover's hands than an enemey's.

-The Sire and The Wolf have always hated each other, and this is their natural end.

And yes, I am open to wolf fucking, as long as The Wolf is fully sentient.


10 Billion Husbands (on Google play store<\/a>)<\/b><\/u>
Any<\/i>

So this is just an easy fun times click game that you can get for free for Android and play just about anywhere. Literally all you do is click the screen to increase your number of husbands and earn their love. You can also give them gifts to increase their love output, and by the end, you unlock the Husband of Husbands, lord of your 10 Billion man harem.

And that's it! True there's not much in the way of actual plot to go by, and the husbands are reduced to stereotypes, but what I'm most interested is a meta-ish exploration of the concept. Does this mysterious player\/master LITERALLY have 10 billion husbands? That's the entire population of a PLANET. In the game there's only about a dozen total and the rest are just copies, so what if they're all clones? If they are all legally married to their unseen overlord, and there's way too many for any of them to get any actual love or attention for it, what do they do? Is there some kind of science and\/or magic involved? Are they compelled to be faithful, do they turn to each other for real companionship? What is wrong with this planet that every living person is part of the same polygamist arrangement? And most importantly, is this too much for a click game "fandom"??

I'm really amused by the idea of some kind of tongue in cheek exploration of this game's supposed world and what it would mean for the characters in it.

Some character specific prompts:

-Playboy Husband is convinced that he's very Original and Special, his own man who is universally charming. He's devastated to find out there are literally hundreds of thousands more just like him.

-Rock Husband searches for meaning in his seemingly meaningless existence through music. Maybe he and those like him start a band! Maybe their rock music is their only means of rebellion against their tyrannical matrimony.

-Rock\/Playboy maybe?

-Scientist Husband was one of the first, and is the one who developed the cloning process. Maybe he still thinks it was a great idea and enjoys a position of power among the harem. Maybe he regrets all his life choices once clones of him start appearing too.

-Prince Husband is actually the player character that all the others are married to. He never sleeps with the same husband twice (because he doesn't need to!). Maybe he (impossibly!) sleeps with one after another non stop until he's fucked them all.

-Just...a global orgy. All 10 Billion Husbands at once.<\/b>

I am totally okay with different husbands than are nominated being featured.


THE END<\/b><\/u>

Okay, that's all I can think of. Thank you for reading however much of it that you did! Like I said at the beginning, despite the detail I've included here, I really do enjoy being surprised, and this is all in the hopes of providing inspiration rather than drawing out a map. I hope it's of some use to you. Happy writing! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

P.S. I'm tossing my letter up on Crueltide and Yuleporn, so feel free to tag when posting, if you like.<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:126191","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/126191.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=126191"}}],"title":"Trick or Treat Letter 2017","published":"2017-09-12T00:03:19Z","updated":"2017-09-12T00:03:19Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"tot 2017"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"trick or treat"}}],"content":"Hi there Trick or Treater!  Thanks for being my partner :D I'm going to leave some prompts\/ideas but feel free to do whatever, I've done a lot of exchanges and I like being surprised.  In general I prefer dark\/spooky fic or art, but I'm open to sweet treats, too, especially if shippy.  Anything Halloween themed is very welcome, it's my favorite holiday! 


General likes:<\/b><\/span>

Darkfic, angst
Gore and body horror
Zombie AUs
Silent Hill AUs
Action and violence
Snark and banter
Loyalty
Porn!
First Times
Slash, femslash, het
Dub-con and non-con
Solo, poly, everything in between
Bondage and tentacles
Hurt\/comfort
Breathplay
Size difference\/size kink
Voyeurism
Aphrodisiacs and sex pollen
Emphasis on clothing
Crossovers and fushions between my requested fandoms

I'm open to receiving IF, drabbles, or whatever else.<\/span>

General dislikes:<\/span><\/b>

Genderswap<\/span>
Infidelity<\/span>
Watersports\/scat<\/span>
Mundane AU<\/span>
2nd person POV\/Reader insert

Fandom 1: Tanaka is Always Listless<\/u><\/span>
Tanaka \/ Ohta<\/span><\/i>

I really love these two, and the strange codependent relationship they have.  I'd love anything with the two of them, whether it's shipping or just being friends, Ohta trying to get Tanaka into the Halloween spirit.  While watching the anime I even had the thought that maybe Ohta was some kind of guardian spirit compelled to watch over Tanaka because his devotion was so strong!<\/span>

On the darker side, Ohta trying desperately to keep lazy Tanaka alive during the zombie apocalypse would be neat.  I'm also totally down for Ohta taking advantage of Tanaka in his sleep, because what fandom is better for somnophilia??

Fandom 2: Victor Frankenstein<\/u>
Victor Frankenstein<\/i>

I'd love to see anything from Victor after the end of the movie on a new adventure.  Maybe he perfects his process after all and creates new life!  A terrible monster, a beautiful lover.... both??  Maybe his journey leads him to other supernatural creations, zombies or werewolves or vampires.  His single-minded passion was such a defining quality in the movie, it'd be fun to see it swing toward something or someone else

Any kind of crossover with Dracula: Untold or Van Helsing is very much encouraged.  If you want to include Igor, that's great, too!

Fandom 3: Dracula: Untold<\/u>
Vlad Tepes<\/i>

Again I'd love to see some kind of post-movie adventure for Vlad.  Him battling against his terrible nature maybe, making new followers for himself and then maybe regretting it, him running into other mysterious creatures, or powerful occult hunters.  Him experimenting with his powers and finding creative solutions for his limitations.  Him having a drink with some other well-known vampire(s).  Maybe a snapshot of Vlad at some point between the movie and modern day, in a different era.  Maybe even him trying to end it all at some point and failing.<\/span>

A crossover where he takes the place of Van Helsing's Dracula, or runs into Victor Frankenstein, is highly encouraged.<\/span>

Fandom 4: Saw<\/u>
Mark Hoffman, John Kramer<\/i>

Saw is one of my favorite franchises, and with no idea what the reboot will bring, I'd love to see some of the originals!  My favorite is Hoffman, stone cold beast that he is.  Anything with him being a boss is great, especially if it's him breaking out of that stupid bathroom.  Him and his scar, him and his pigmask, him anything. 

But of course I love John, too!  Darkfic is especially encouraged, whether he's on his last legs looking back at what he's done and become, or something earlier where he's still "optimistic" and training his apprentices.  Maybe passing Billy on to the next generation.

If you want to make up someone for them to test (or steal someone from another canon) I'm all for it!

Fandom 5: The Evil Within<\/u>
Ruvik, The Sadist, The Sentinel, The Keeper<\/i>

TEW is another fave fandom of mine, and I'd especially like to see more of Ruvik and his monsters!  They're from his own mind after all, I'd love to see him with his babies, or watching over them as they taunt and torture his victims (esp Sebastian).  Anything dark, eerie, or gory is welcome.  Anything sexy between them is welcome, too!

Fandom 6: Uncharted<\/u>
Chloe Frazer, Nadine Ross, Rafe Adler<\/i>

So the new game came out with Chloe and Nadine, and I would love to see more of them together!  Something sexy, something fun, something scary - just about anything.  Friends or more than are both great.  I'd especially like to see them in something spooky, like running away from zombie apocalypse (can even use The Last of Us guys if you want?), or some other monster.  Bonus points if it's zombie Rafe!

I'm also a huge Rafe fan, and would love to see more of him being a terrible person.  Maybe he survived at the island and is forced to find a way to live, possibly surrounded by undead pirates.  Or maybe didn't "survive" or he's still there, surrounded by undead pirates!  Anything pre-game or totally AU is also great as long as he's being his terrible self!

Fandom 7: Outlast<\/u>
Val<\/i>

I enjoy all of Outlast, but Val is my favorite.  Anything featuring Val is great, whether it's pre or post game, at any stage of her change from townsperson to heretic leader, and maybe even some kind of escape and realization of the terrible things done to her.  Something of her down in the cave with her followers (her orgy??) would be great.  Even her being rescued after the fact (*cough*ChrisRedfield*cough*).  A crossover with another horror game like RE or Silent Hill somehow is welcome.

Personally I think of Val as a trans woman who has undergone only a very crude transition, but I'm open to any interpretation.

Fandom 8: Resident Evil (gameverse)<\/u>
Chris Redfield<\/i>

I've just watched Let's Plays of RE5 and RE6 back to back and I need some Chris Redfield!  Any way I can get him!  Fandom at large may have mixed thoughts about his CANTALOUPE ARMS but I love every one of his muscles.  Any situation where Chris is sweaty is good with me, whoever you wanna pair with him, whatever he's fighting, whether he wins or loses, don't even matter.  Let the biceps party begin!

If you want to cross him over with another horror game like TEW, Outlast, Silent Hill, whatever, please feel free!  He can punch a boulder but can he punch a safehead??  Let's find out!

Thank you for reading my letter!  I hope you have some fun with your assignment and I can't wait to see it!"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:125945","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/125945.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=125945"}}],"title":"Yuletide Letter 2016","published":"2016-09-25T02:18:19Z","updated":"2016-10-07T17:28:27Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2016"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuleporn"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"crueltide"}}],"content":"AO3 Name:<\/span><\/span><\/b> Croik<\/span><\/span>
Fandoms:<\/span><\/b>
Bloodborne
Dark Souls<\/span><\/i><\/span>
The Evil Within<\/span><\/span><\/i>
Uncharted<\/span><\/span><\/i>

Hello Writer! Thank you for being my Santa this year :D. I've been doing Yuletide for years and years now, I love my small fandoms and I'm stoked to get something for any of them.   I'm going to leave a lot of details and prompts below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised.  Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, and don't worry about checking off every little thing.<\/span><\/span>


General<\/span><\/u><\/b>

In general I like fics that are serious to downright dark.  I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Fics that are action-y or adventurous are great, too. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics and casefic, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships, or exploring different aspects of canon. <\/span>

I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. Dark or cynical comedy is also a plus. I like deathfic, but if you go that route I'd rather it feature the actual death, not just one character reflecting after the fact, if you know what I mean ("It's been three weeks since X died and Y can't get over it..." etc).

Above all I like fic that fits with the spirit of the canon (I know Uncharted is kind of the odd man out in this collection of fandoms, I'm not expecting TEW-level horror for it or anything!).  Filling in the missing pieces of canon is one of my favorite types of fic.<\/span>

I'm open to receiving alternative fics like drabble collections and IF, etc, too.

Things I like<\/u><\/b>
Here are some specific tropes I'm into in case you want to work them in:

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. <\/span>

-Large disparities between characters in a relationship, whether romantic or platonic. I enjoy power imbalance couples, size difference couples, age difference couples. I like pairs where one member is obviously much stronger physically than the other, while the other is more emotionally stable, or close friendships that complement each other in unexpected ways. If these differences are in flux that's great, too.

-Characters getting shot. I love hurt\/comfort as much as the next fan, but there's something particular with me about characters and gunshot wounds. If I'm watching a show and a character I didn't care about before gets shot, they're suddenly my favorite. Why, I don't know, but having a character tend for another that's been shot is the fastest way to get me on board any plot.

-Pairing fic, though I also like gen. I like slash, femslash, and het. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, all that is fantastic.

Things I don't like<\/u><\/b>

-Fluff and crack. I do enjoy a happy ending, but some conflict in getting there is half the fun!

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting intact is cool, though (especially where asked for – see the fandom sections).  The only exception is zombies—I'm always excited for a Zombie Apocalypse AU.

-2nd person POV or reader-insert. I don't have a preference for tense.

-Infidelity. I don't mind misunderstandings and jealousy in a fic, but outright, intentional cheating really turns me off.

-Omegaverse. I'm open to bizarre pregnancies (hello Bloodborne), "drugs\/hormones\/magic made me do it," even borderline bestiality in some cases (hello again Bloodborne), a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually, but I I'm not interested in Omegaverse worldbuilding and gender configurations.


Porn<\/u><\/b>

I am always happy to receive porn! I'll put some gen and pairing options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet.  I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition.  Here's some of my porn-specific likes:<\/span>

-Slash, femslash, and het. <\/span>
-Solo, pairings, threesomes or more. <\/span>
-Dub-con and Non-con<\/span>
-Breathplay, especially if it's done with hands or a person's weight. <\/span>
-Sex while still partially clothed <\/span>
-Voyeurism <\/span>
-Tentacles<\/span>
-Barbed wire\/bondage<\/span>
-Mind control<\/span>
-Anonymous sex, like one character blindfolded or in a mask<\/span>
-Aphrodisiacs (especially gaming items: Green Gel, Estus, magic and leveling up etc)<\/span>

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.<\/span>

Some porn-specific things I'm not really into:<\/span>
-D\/s or BDSM. I like rough sex, characters pinning each other down and such, but I'm not interested in characters negotiating scenes\/roles, aftercare, or toys\/ropes\/rigs etc. Spontaneity > preparation for me. <\/span>
-Watersports\/scat<\/span>
-Mixing permanent injury with sex (i.e. amputations etc)<\/span>



Bloodborne<\/span><\/u><\/b>
Laurence, Brador<\/i><\/span>
The ambiguous nature of Bloodborne's plot means I can't just recommend a Let's Play that has the story, but <\/span>VaatiVidya's videos<\/a> go over a lot of the game's lore, plus his voice is super soothing. (Though I guess it's also worth admitting that I don't agree with every one of his conclusions, so please feel free to take any interpreation of the plot that you like).<\/span>

I went from not having ever played a Souls game to Bloodborne being one of my favorite games of all time.  The Gothic, quasi-steampunk aesthetic is a huge draw for me.  I love the dreary and mysterious setting, the overdone fashion sensibilities, the horror and gore, the ethical ambiguity.  The lore is so dense and interesting, I love seeing different interpretations of the characters and how they fit together.  I'm mostly interested in the pre-game lore, the early history of the church and the people that started it, which is why I requested Laurence and Brador.<\/span>

Gen<\/span><\/i> - I'd love to see anything in those early days as Laurence first discovers the properties of the blood – to heal, to illuminate, and later, to mutate and destroy.  How he brings it to the people, whether he really believed in enlightenment through it, or if he was more interested in the power it gave him.  Who was at his side and how did they assist or hamper him.  Who was the first to show symptoms of the Scourge and how it was dealt with.  How the Church came to the decision that assassins were necessary and why Brador\/Simon\/etc took it up.  <\/span>

Did Laurence order the massacre of the Fishing Hamelt?  Did Laurence instruct Maria to take over the Astral Clocktower, or did she take it on in spite of him?  <\/span>

A fic that explores any of these characters and events is super welcome.  Even if you want to go further out with Laurence full on communicating with a Great One.  Maybe he goes back to Master Willem once he realizes he's turning.  Maybe he accepts his fate, maybe he fights against it.  Maybe Brador kills him, maybe it's Ludwig.  Whatever strikes your fancy.  We know so little about Laurence and I'm very open to interpretations of him.<\/span>

If you'd like to really dig into the progression of his beastly symptoms, if it came on slowly or all at once, how it affected his faith and his followers, that would be excellent.<\/span>

Laurence\/Brador<\/span><\/i> – Assuming that it was Brador who killed Laurence and now wears his horns\/guards his tomb, I really ship this.  I love the idea of proud, wise, idealistic Laurence and his shadowy right hand, the conflict that would cause him.  I like to imagine them as super loyal to each other, but needing to be private because of the nature of what Brador does for him.  And also because Brador is a little weird, haha.  I'd love to see how they met, or what their last moments together were like.  Or even just some sex, I love these two together.  If Laurence is semi-beastly at the time, even better.<\/span>

Laurence\/Ludwig<\/span><\/i> – Ludwig is kind of like the "good" Brador, I guess?  Here's someone who can uphold Laurence's ideals while remaining in the public eye.  It hits all the same buttons of loyalty and admiration, while being equally as tragic (maybe there's a reason why Ludwig became twisted by the nightmare and Brador did not – was he not as good and just as he seemed?).  <\/span>

Laurence\/Ludwig\/Brador<\/span><\/i> or Laurence\/Brador\/Simon <\/i>– Some kind of threesome or love triangle between these three important men of the church would be very welcome.<\/span>

Laurence\/Just about anyone<\/span><\/i> – Seriously, if you have an idea to pair Laurence with anyone else (Maria, Annalise, Amelia, whoever) please go for it!  Maybe Maria never noticed Gehrman's attraction toward her because she was already smitten with Laurence?  Maybe Simon encouraged Laurence to tell everyone the truth about his condition but Brador overruled him?  Maybe in his desperation for a cure to the Scourge, Laurence went to Annalise for help\/advice?  Plenty of different scenarios, I love them all.<\/span>


Dark Souls<\/u><\/b>
Prince Lorian, Prince Lothric<\/i><\/span>
Once again <\/span>VaatiVidya<\/a> is the best place to go for learning about the lore.<\/span>

Full disclosure: I've only played Dark Souls 3, though I have read up on the previous games.  But like BB I love it for its beautiful, dark, foreboding aesthetic.  I love that everything is twisted and tragic and doomed.  And no one's more tragic and doomed than the Twin Princes.<\/span>

I know we don't actually know too much about them, and what we do know is likely to get blown out of the water by DLC (which I have preorderd!).  But I'd still love to see a fic exploring the princes and what their tragic life story must have been.  How they were raised under such impossible expectations, how they navigated Lothric's illness, how they honed very different skills.  Obviously their dad had his issues, how did that affect them?  How long have they had to cope without him?  How did Lorian come to take on Lothric's curse for himself?  <\/span>

Maybe sometime after Lorian slays the Demon Prince, things in the castle got worse and he decided to give up his duties in favor of helping Lothric?  How did they adjust to being bound together so completely?  How did they deal with the departure of their mother?  Any exploration of these events would be awesome.  Even if it's just them fighting off more "contenders" for Lothric's cinders.<\/span>

Lothric\/Lorian<\/span><\/i> – I'm totally down for twincest.  The two of them have such an "us against the world" thing going on.  No one understands the pressure they're under, they can't trust anyone else, their very souls are intertwined – making it sensual and physical totally fits for them.  Their tragic devotion to each other is so fantastic.  Maybe it's even more tragic in that Lorian cares more about Lothric than the other way around??  Even if you don't want to go Full Incest, the princes being super invested in each other more so than anyone else is really great.<\/span>

Some description of the first time they become soul-bonded (or however you want to describe it) would be so cool, especially if it's something painful and spiritual and erotic at the same time.  <\/span>

Lothric\/Lorian\/Mystery guest?<\/span><\/i> – I really like the prince's three bodyguards that attack you on your way up to the boss chamber, especially Kamui.  If you want to include one or some of them, or tell a story about the two princes from someone else's point of view, please feel free.  Maybe Kamui or the Ashen One interrupts them at an inopportune moment.  Some voyeurism in this case would be very welcome.<\/span>


The Evil Within<\/u><\/b>
Ruvik<\/i><\/span>
Let's Play with no Commentary<\/span><\/span><\/a>
Markiplier's Let's Play<\/span><\/span><\/a>. One of the most popular Let's Play, I know a bunch of fans who watched it rather than play the game.<\/span>


One of the areas I'm really interested in that I'd like to see a lot more of is Pre-game Ruvik.  We've seen him talk plenty about how miserable his upbringing was, I'd love to see some fic that explores that more.  Ruvik as a child developing an interest in his grisly animal experiments, the aftermath of the fire, his difficult teen years.  How did he survive by himself in the house after killing his parents?  It's been my head canon that Ruvik came to live at Beacon afterward, but something set in the mansion would be cool, too.  <\/span>

I'd be interested to see Ruvik interacting with the local townspeople, getting revenge on the ones that burned the barn down.  Or Ruvik and Jimenez as he's partially groomed into the psychopath he becomes.  Even Ruvik and the people at Mobius, who he worked with for a time.  Him interacting with Myra especially would be super creepy and foreboding.<\/span>

I also wouldn't mind some interaction between Ruvik and Leslie pre-STEM.  Maybe Ruvik felt some sympathy for him, maybe Leslie looked up to him a little because he seemed so confident, and didn't mistreat him like the other doctors at Beacon?  Or maybe Leslie was always terrified of Ruvik and knew he would eventually become his victim.  Any angle is welcome.<\/span>

Ruvik exploring his sexuality, working past his limitations of "can't feel through his skin \/ may or may not have working genitals" would be super cool.  Maybe he goes through a porn phase! XD  He was a teenager once, after all!<\/span>

If you want to tell the story of how Ruvik was dissected, I'd be open to that, too.  I'm here for the horror, so don't hold back!<\/span>

This is the one fandom where I'd also be interested in an AU timeline.  Maybe the barn never burns down, Ruvik is never injured and Laura survives.  Does he still become a madman?  Maybe when Mobius comes to kill him, he fights back and kills them instead, keeping his brain.  Does he still command the STEM to destroy Beacon?  Never-Burned!Ruvik still becomes a serial killer in opposition to KCPD would be awesome.  Maybe he becomes a doctor at Beacon and either Sebastian or Joseph becomes a patient of his?  <\/span>

In terms of pairings, I'd be happy to see Ruvik with pretty much anyone.  My main ship is Ruvik\/Sebastian but I'm also a huge fan of Ruvik\/Joseph, and I haven't seen much before, but I'd also be totally down with Ruvik\/Administrator.  They seemed to have an interesting, possibly combative relationship before Ruvik screwed him over by making the STEM My-Brain-Only.  Maybe the Administrator tries to convince him to change it back through old fashioned seduction!? <\/span>

I'm also cool with Ruvik\/Laura though I wouldn't want to see anything physical between them while Ruvik is underage.<\/span>


Uncharted<\/u><\/b>
Rafe Adler<\/i><\/span>
All U4's cutscenes<\/a>


To be totally honest, I wasn't sold on Rafe at first.  It wasn't until after playing through the whole game and then going back and re-watching the cutscenes that I really appreciated Rafe for the smug, overcompensating asshole he is.  And I love him!  I love how he sometimes comes across as this try-hard, daddy-issues rich boy who can't do anything for himself, but then he turns around and straight up murders someone in cold blood.  He really does seem to put great stock in the concept of partnership, up until he feels he's been betrayed.  And I super love him at the very end, when he's roughed up, a little mad, everything to prove.  <\/span>

I'd love to see more of Rafe pre-game, maybe showing how he gets involved with the treasure hunting in the first place.  I see his ambiguous "family business" as decidedly criminal but it wouldn't have to be, but either way, turning to hunting down pirate treasure when he doesn't need the money is a curious choice.  What was it that made him think that kind of discovery would be really meaningful or worthwhile?  We know he knows Nate and Sam, but how deep into that circle is he really?  Does he know Cutter, Chloe, Harry, Roman?  If his family is super rich and influential, would he know Marlowe and Talbot?  I've always found it cool and curious that in the later games there's a lot of name dropping between the characters (apparently *everyone* knows Cutter), probably because the "world" they inhabit is so relatively small.  So I'd love to see Rafe interacting with other members of the Uncharted cast in interesting ways.<\/span>

Like maybe there's some secret dive bar in Calcutta where the treasure hunting types gather, where Rafe goes to fit in.  Or maybe one of them tries to steal from him, or asks him to finance a heist like he did for the Panama job and he insists on coming along.  I'm especially interested in him interacting with the other villains of the series.  Maybe he hires Harry Flynn for a job, or sponsored Lezaravic like he did Nadine.  Or maybe just show how he met Nadine!  Interesting choice for him to hire a whole squad of mercenaries when there wasn't supposed to have been combat involved (before the Drakes showed up).  <\/span>

I'd also be interested in seeing more of Rafe's dark side that mostly remained only hinted in the game – like the incident where apparently he shot a man dead for talking too highly about Nate.  Some detailing of his falling out with Nate, the formation of his grudge and how it affected him in the many years afterward.<\/span>

Post-game...he's dead.  But maybe he's not??  I wouldn't mind some kind of fix-it fic where he doesn't get squashed and makes it out.  I don't care if it makes any sense or retcons canon.  Or, because U4 was missing a supernatural element, maybe he comes back as a zombie!  Maybe Cutter and Chloe, hearing that the treasure is still right there<\/i>, decide to go back to nab it and find Rafe, stranded and living like Tarzan, half dead, undead...  Whatever it takes to get Rafe roughed up and sweaty :9<\/span>

The only scenario I'm not crazy about is including Sam.  Please keep Sam to a minimum if he has to be there at all.<\/span>

Pairing wise:<\/span>

Rafe\/Harry or Cutter or Chloe<\/span><\/i> – I'd love to see Rafe paired with one of the series' treasure hunters.  I love the idea of him being pulled into their world, maybe even conned into it, getting it in his head that it's exciting and glamorous.  If he gets used and dumped, that'd be hilarious.  Or maybe he uses them and then scapegoats them somehow.  Rafe the bossy power bottom is super appealing to me.  If you want to go poly and they gang up on him, even better.<\/span>

Rafe\/Marlowe\/Talbot – <\/span><\/i>I ship Marlowe\/Talbot already, so throwing Rafe in there is just icing on the cake.  He's super rich, possibly a criminal, and they're part of a super powerful secret society, it's not out of the realm of possibility that they would have reason to interact.  Maybe they also miraculously survived their game and rescue Rafe after his, demanding recompense.

THE END<\/u><\/b>

Okay, that's all I can think of. Thank you for reading however much of it that you did! Like I said at the beginning, despite all the detail I've included here, I really do enjoy being surprised, and this is all in the hopes of providing inspiration rather than drawing out a map. I hope it's of some use to you. Happy writing! I can't wait to see what you come up with!<\/span>

P.S. I'm tossing my letter up on Crueltide and Yuleporn, so feel free to tag when posting, if you like.<\/span><\/span>
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:125576","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/125576.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=125576"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Writer! (2015)","published":"2015-10-13T02:25:43Z","updated":"2015-11-26T17:20:27Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"batman: arkham knight"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"crueltide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2015"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"bloodborne"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuleporn"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"muramasa: the demon blade"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"the evil within"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"until dawn"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"samurai warriors"}}],"content":"AO3 Name:<\/b> Croik
Fandoms:<\/b>
Samurai Warriors
Bloodborne
The Evil Within
Until Dawn
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Batman: Arkham series (video games)<\/i>

Hello Writer! Thank you for being my Santa this year. I'm really excited to read new fic for these fandoms and I can't wait to see what you come up with. I'm going to leave a lot of details and promps below if you need them, but to be honest I'm just as happy being surprised. Please feel free to use whatever inspires you, but don't worry about checking off every little thing.



General<\/b><\/u>

This year for Yuletide I'm in a mood for mayhem. Most of my fandoms here are horror and I'd love something dark, rough, or just plain dramatic. I like characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for, settings that are scary or mysterious. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Fics that are tense and action-y are great, too. Porn is also awesome. I love plot-oriented fics, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships. I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. Dark or cynical comedy is also a plus. I like deathfic, but if you go that route I'd rather it feature the actual death, not just one character reflecting after the fact, if you know what I mean (\"It's been three weeks since X died and Y can't get over it...\" etc).

If that's not really your cup of tea, above all I like fic that fits with the spirit of the canon. Until Dawn can be campy horror fun, The Evil Within can be gross and cynical, whatever the canon calls for. Filling in the missing pieces of canon is one of my favorite types of fic.

Things I like<\/b><\/u>
Pretty much covered this above but here are some specific tropes I'm into:

-First times. Not just in reference to sex, but characters having revelations, doing things they've never done before, exploring sides of themselves they didn't want to admit, things of that nature. First time sex is great, too!

-Large disparities between characters in a relationship. I enjoy power imbalance couples, size difference couples, age difference couples. I like pairs where one member is obviously much stronger physically than the other, while the other is more emotionally stable (or maybe one is stronger in both). If these differences are in flux that's great, too (I like to write couples that switch in the bedroom).

-Characters getting shot. I love hurt\/comfort as much as the next fan, but there's something particular with me about characters and gunshot wounds. If I'm watching a show and a character I didn't care about before gets shot, they're suddenly my favorite. Why, I don't know, but having a character tend for another that's been shot is the fastest way to get me on board any plot.

-Pairing fic, though I'm not dissatisfied with gen. I like slash, femmeslash, and het, in that order. I like threesomes and more. I have a section for porn below, but having it or not isn't a dealbreaker for me. In general I like intense relationships with a physical component, so even if it doesn't get to a romantic or porny level, characters touching, lifting each other up, close-quarters fighting, all that is fantastic.

Things I don't like<\/b><\/u>

-Fluff and crack. Not to say I don't enjoy a hopeful or happy ending, but some conflict in getting there is half the fun!

-Alternate Universe. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence and What If stories that keep the setting intact is cool, though.

-1st or 2nd person POV. I don't have a preference for tense.

-D\/s or BDSM. I like rough sex fic, characters pinning each other down and such, but I'm not interested in characters negotiating scenes\/roles, or toys\/ropes\/rigs etc. Spontaneity > preparation for me.

-Infidelity. I don't mind misunderstandings and jealousy in a fic, but outright, intentional cheating really turns me off.

-Omegaverse. I'm open to bizarre pregnancies (hello Bloodborne), \"drugs\/hormones made me do it,\" a lot of the things that Omegaverse has, actually, but I'd rather all characters kept their human physiology (the characters that are human, anyway).


Porn<\/b><\/u>

I am always happy to receive porn! I'll put some gen and porn options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I'll take slash, femmeslash, and het. I like solo, pairings, threesomes or more. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. I'm especially fond of breathplay, especially if it's done with hands or a person's weight. Sex while still partially clothed is awesome. Penetration, oral, hand jobs, frottage - all awesome. Things and actions being sexualized that aren't normally considered sexual is awesome.

Characters getting off on things they didn't think they would ever get off on is SUPER awesome.

For some of the darker fandoms (Bloodborne, The Evil Within), I'm also totally okay with mixing pain with pleasure, tentacles, barbed wire, mind control.

Things I'd rather not receive: Watersports, scat, stuffing, genderswap.


Sengoku Musou \/ Samurai Warriors<\/b><\/u>
Naoe Kanetsugu<\/i>
Naoe's cutscenes from SW2<\/a>

Naoe has been my favorite SW character ever since he was introduced. I love that he's a man of passion, loyalty, and duty. He feels everything at 100% and I drink up that melodrama every time. SW has plenty of hero characters, but I appreciate that Naoe can be a strong and capable general while also being kind of giant goober at the same time.

What I'm not so crazy about is how he's become more and more of a caricature as the games go on. His dedication to love and honor is more of a joke than anything now. I miss when he was given the chance to be serious as well. One of my favorite scenes in the series is back in SW2, when Keiji stopped him from killing himself after Mitsunari's death. Naoe feels things very strongly, and while I laugh along with everyone else when he, Azai, and Ma Chong wax poetic about duty and grace, I don't like seeing him ridiculed. Basically, I would like any fic where he's treated as a full-fledged character and not just kooky love-obsessed comic relief.

Gen<\/i> - In gen I would like to see something of Naoe out on campaign. Any of his battles could make for something action or angst-oriented. Him trying to fight off the Date army while his friends are off fighting their own battles, struggling and dying, could be great drama. If you're more familiar with 4, his struggle during the fight between Kagekatsu and Kagetora would be fascinating, as he tries to understand each's position and how he's supposed to fit in. I'd also be interested in him growing up under Kenshin, what it was that made him so invested in the concept of love and honor, and how those values might have been tested. You could even go a little meta and explore how Naoe realizes that other people consider him a joke, but he's not going to let it change him.

Naoe \/ Date<\/i> - I love how Naoe's straight-forward sentiment clashes with Date's temper. Their ideologies are different enough that they can't quite get along, but at the same time, each has admirable traits worthy of respecting. I like the idea of them having to fight at Hasedo, frustratingly far removed from the main conflict at Sekigahara, but still giving it their all. Or maybe sometime afterward, with Tokugawa in power, and Naoe has to cope with having lost to someone like Date while at the same time losing his friends.

If Date captures Naoe at Hasedo and tries to break him, I would not complain either :3

Naoe \/ Kagekatsu <\/i>- Kagekatsu certainly doesn't have as much to say as Naoe or Date, but he can still be very intense. I like that he's physically much more imposing than Naoe, able to overpower him if he needed (or wanted) to, while Naoe is devoted to serving him as much as Kenshin, and trusts him not to use that strength against him. I especially like the idea of Kagekatsu pining away after Naoe to the point where he can't take it anymore and finally makes his move. Especially if he thinks Naoe is involved with someone else (whether or not he is). Naoe getting topped by burly Kagekatsu would be a dream come true!

Naoe \/ Yukimura, Naoe \/ Mitsunari <\/i>- These three made such a great trio, I wouldn't mind seeing Naoe with either of them (or both at once!). Though each of them have a very different temperament, they understand each other deeply. I'd love to see him bring either (or both!) out of their shell and show them what being the Love General is all about. And if they tragically die afterwards....that's fine, too!


Bloodborne<\/b><\/u>
Eileen the Crow<\/i>
Eileen's Quest line<\/a>
It's hard to recommend a straight up Let's Play for Bloodborne plot-wise, because the game is so long and plot so sparse, but this includes all Eileen's scenes in the game so you can get a pretty decent grasp of her character.

Bloodborne is my first Souls game, and boy is it a doozy. The first time I played, I almost quit because it was so hard and I had no idea where to go or what to do. Now that I'm 2 trophies away from Platinum, I appreciate that so much. Every time I play the game it's a struggle, an accomplishment, and I love that. I love unraveling its mysteries while still keeping that sense of horror and uncertainty. I love the tension that comes with it.

Plus the aesthetic is totally up my alley. I love the steampunk aspects, the Lovecraftian influences, so if you feel the urge to get purple in your prose, know that I'm all for it. But please don't feel pressured to, if you don't! But I love the setting and especially the outfits, so any emphasis you want to put on style and attire is welcome.

I'm requesting my favorite character, Eileen. I find her really fascinating even though we don't know much about her. She's been a hunter for a long time, it seems, and she takes some degree of pride in her work as a Hunter of Hunters. She warns the player about how loathsome it is, tries to warn you against it, but will allow you to join her ranks once she sees you can handle it. She describes herself as an old woman who traveled from far away. Did she come to Yharnam hoping to kill beasts, but found a different calling? Was she once a dreamer who surrendered to Gehrman? Why does she have history with The Crow Of Cainhurst and does she survive her encounter with him? I'd love to see any of these questions explored.

I'm also a huge fan of the Lovecraftian horror\/mystery aspect of the canon itself, so any world-building of the city through Eileen's eyes would be welcome.

Eileen is voiced in the game by Jacqueline Boatswain<\/a>, so if you decide to describe what she looks like under that mask, I'd prefer if you go with how the actress looks.

Gen<\/i> \u2013 For gen, I'd love to see more about Eileen's life as a hunter, whether it's before she turned to killing other hunters or afterward. She wasn't born in Yharnam but she must have some connection to the city and her \"duty\" for her to want to keep it up. Maybe she came seeking fame and stayed for the bloodlust. Maybe she comes from a city that was already lost to the Scourge. I wouldn't mind seeing her take the place of the player hunter, going through the main plot of the game, maybe teaming up briefly with church hunters like Alfred or Yurie. Maybe she remembers Yharnam from a time when the Scourge was much less of a danger than it is now. She might have even been on the outside of the battle for Old Yharnam before it was burned. Her slow descent from \"I'm making a difference against these beasts\" to \"I'm slaughtering my own kind\" would be heartbreaking and awesome.

I'm especially interested in the extra pressure that comes with being a female hunter in Yharnam. Can she use her own blood to heal? Is she in danger of being a womb for a Great One? That's something that has to weigh on the minds of any woman in Yharnam, assuming they're aware of that particular danger. Maybe she's been in Arianna's position before. Maybe she wouldn't mind if she were, or maybe it terrifies her. Maybe she took measures to prevent herself from ever getting pregnant just in case. Any of these angles would be really cool.

Femmeslash<\/i> \u2013 If you're going to write shipfic with Eileen, I'd rather it be with another woman (Arianna, Yurie, Adella, Amelia, Iosefka \u2013 no Doll, please). I wouldn't mind Alfred or the Cainhurst Crow but in general it's the impact of femininity on the world of Yharnam that interests me most. Women play a special role in their society that doesn't really exist in ours, and seeing that explored and played on would be great. Maybe she rescues Arianna and brings her back to the chapel, and Arinna graciously shares her blood. Maybe she and Yurie clash over a target, or else Eileen takes it upon herself to kill Yurie, since it's clerics that become the worst beasts. Maybe when she first came to Yharnam she found solace in the church, and confided in Vicar Amelia or the nun Adella, only to have to slay them later. A final showdown\/mercy killing between her and the imposter Iosefka would be cool, too. It's Bloodborne \u2013 I feel like tragedy and death ought to be on the menu somewhere!

I would also be very open to some kind of encounter between Eileen and a Great One, especially Ebrietas. Despite being \"daughter\" of the Cosmos we don't know that she can't bless a womb, do we? All those tentacles ought to be good for something! ;)

EDIT: I'm playing through The Old Hunters now and will certainly be finished before the holidays, in case you were considering using characters or lore from it.

The Evil Within<\/b><\/u>
Joseph Oda, Ruvik<\/i>
Let's Play with no Commentary<\/a>
Markiplier's Let's Play<\/a>. One of the most popular Let's Play, I know a bunch of fans who watched it rather than play the game.

The Evil Within is one my main fandoms at the moment, and the thing I like about it most is one of the same reasons I liked Inception fandom: the setting allows for just about anything. I love mind games, I love horror and gore, and in TEW it's so easy to have all that at a very intimate level and yet still allow the characters to walk away from it (or not). STEM is a dreamworld they supposedly all contribute to, but one of my disappointments with the game was that most of what we saw came from Ruvik, and to some degree, Kidman. I'd like to see some of Joseph's memories or personality reflected in the horrific settings, some of his personal demons on display. I want these characters to be deeply entwined in each other's minds and take advantage of each other's fears and desires. Basically, for it to be a bit more personal than the game itself. Joseph (and the rest of Team KCPD if you want) fighting some kind of boss monster that represents their fears, Ruvik straight up playing head games with him, or even some kind of revenge where Joseph gets the upper hand on Ruvik are all things I'd enjoy.

Gen <\/i>- I asked for Joseph and Ruvik specifically because I feel like that's a relationship that didn't get enough focus in the game, and continues to be less present in fanworks, too. They don't even directly interact on screen, even though Ruvik's taunts to Sebastian in the elevator suggest that Ruvik at least has seen things in Joseph's mind, and may have spent time toying with him. I'd like to see some exploration of why Joseph out of our protagonists is the most susceptible to the Haunted process. There's even a built in opportunity: in the church when Sebastian goes flying into the catacombs, there's an implication there that Joseph is alone with Ruvik for a while. We don't see Joseph turn again after that, so maybe he found a way of fighting Ruvik off, or maybe Ruvik broke him so completely that becoming a Haunted just doesn't frighten him anymore.

I love fics that fill in the missing holes in canon, and this stretch of time between the church and Joseph showing up again by the bus is perfect for it.

I'm also very interested in Joseph's implied dark side. Some part of him wants to turn, after all. If Ruvik could dig out that reason, taunt him with it, maybe even get Joseph to surrender to it for a time, that would be delicious! Or, for a more distressing route, they explore Joseph's suicidal episode. Maybe it's not the first time he's tried to kill himself, and Ruvik is interested either in pushing him to do it, or else maybe he has strong feelings against it.

Ruvik of all people must have been presented with the option of suicide at one point, after all, given how severe his injuries were. I don't necessarily want to see Ruvik go down a woobie route, but I do like to think of him as a supremely fucked up human being, who dealt with all the horrible things flung at him in the worst ways possible. So I'm open to seeing him humanized where possible, but without losing sight of the fact that he is a psychopath punishing others for what he's suffered.

I am also a HUGE fan of the Upgrade Chair, used in every possible way, and would be all for it being employed somehow. And in case you're thinking, \"Croik I think you already wrote that fic for Sebastian~\" YES, I did, and I would write it for Joseph, too, but then I'd feel like I was being too samey...? I would not be put out AT ALL to receive Upgrade Chair fic for Jo and would in fact be delighted to see someone else's take.

Ruvik\/Joseph <\/i>\u2013 I'd love to see something dark and sexy for these two. They don't get paired enough! Ruvik methodically pulling out Joseph's darkest secrets and desires, allowing him to indulge in them, just sounds awesome to me. Maybe Joseph has harbored these impulses for a long time, and Ruvik setting them free is as alluring to him as it is disturbing. Maybe he's able to turn the tables on Ruvik, who may or may not be well-versed sexually. I certainly don't mind Ruvik winding up on the receiving end of a beast he shouldn't have poked! Or Maybe Joseph is kept helpless, taking whatever Ruvik throws at him, and he has no choice but to admit how much he's getting off on it.

I want our clean-cut, by-the-book detective to let his hair down, to learn things about himself he didn't know were there or was too afraid to admit to. Bring out the monsters, the barbed wire bondage, the tingle of scars on skin, whatever it takes!

Ruvik\/Joseph\/Sebastian <\/i>\u2013 Also very open to Sebastian being a part of this, though I didn't request him because I don't want to require that he be involved (I'd like the focus to stay on Joseph). But the three of these guys together would be wicked fun. Maybe Ruvik forces them into some kind of terrible \"fuck or die\" scenario. Maybe he mind-controls one or both into doing terrible, sexy things to the other. I'd especially like this if Joseph has been harboring secret feelings for Sebastian, and he feels guilty about how grateful he is that Ruvik's giving him the excuse to act on them.

Maybe Ruvik forces Haunted!Sebastian to non-con Joseph, and Seb feels terrrrrible about it, but for Joseph it's everything he's wanted, and then he has that horrible dilemma of how much he admits to it. If Joseph tops Seb that is just as fantastic.

If you want to take it post-canon, a possible outcome is to have Ruvik escape via Sebastian instead of Leslie, and Joseph having to handle that. Maybe they hook up before Joseph has figured it out, and then he has to make that terrible choice, can he save Sebastian, or is he lost and killing Ruvik is the only option? Drama and angst!

AU <\/i>\u2013 I know I already said No AU, but there is one scenario I'd be interested in: Joseph is admitted to Beacon for an attempted suicide, and Never-Burned!Ruvik winds up his doctor. And Ruvik proceeds to take advantage of him as much as possible. If he's still developing the STEM or if he only has his normal human limitations, I could take either. But Ruvik breaking Joseph down, maybe using him in an experiment, winning him over (or getting won over himself) would be great.

Until Dawn<\/b><\/u>
Josh, Mike, Jessica<\/i>
No Commentary Walkthrough<\/a>, but it is a choose your own adventure game, so only the first few chapters are consistent!

I watch and love a lot of terrible SyFy original movies, and that's why I love Until Dawn. The cheesiness, the tropes, the over-the-top everything is what I'm there for. But in this case I'm not in it so much for the monsters as I am a semi-specific prompt.

Josh\/Mike\/Jessica<\/i> \u2013 I want Jessica to invite Josh out to the guest cabin with them. It was already suggested in the game, so why not? I imagine Josh would be kind of hesitant, because it means delaying his plans for the evening, but maybe he'd go along with it at first if it meant getting closer to the two most responsible for Hannah and Beth (relatively speaking). And Jessica may be covering up her insecurities, but maybe she's hoping that such a bold suggestion will make her look more in control. Or maybe she offers as a joke and Josh is so agreeable she can't take it back. Maybe Mike is secretly into it. Whatever it takes, all three of them make it to the cabin for a threesome.

It would solve so many problems! If Jessica wasn't outside in her underwear shouting, maybe the wendigo wouldn't have come after her. And there'd be no Saw trap, no going to the fire tower, no one in the mines or the sanatorium. The whole game has a sexy ending!

As for the threesome itself, I'd like if it started with all three not quite sure what to do or where to start. Maybe Josh has been with a guy before, but Mike hasn't. Maybe Jess has had a threesome and the boys need some coaxing. But like I said earlier, I love the idea of characters discovering their secret kinks. If Mike has never let himself consider touching another guy's dick before, maybe the first time blows his maiiiind. Maybe having the adoring attention of two hot guys is exactly what Jess needs to find her inner confidence. Maybe having their support is what Josh needs to give up on vengeance.

I'm also open to replacing Mike and Jess with Chris and Ashely, or any other combination of characters as long as Josh is included (though I prefer m\/f\/m or m\/m\/m to m\/f\/f). \"Josh didn't go through with it and instead got laid\" as the game's secret Best Ending.

Or, if you want to involve Josh in a threesome post-game with whoever is left, that's also great!

If writing a porny threesome isn't your bag, maybe the three of them get to the cabin, but they fail enough QTEs that they don't earn the sex, haha. If they have to fight off a wendigo together and bond that way, I'll still be satisfied. The most important thing to me here is that Josh backs off of his plan, whatever it takes. Even if some or all the characters end up dead, at least it won't be Josh's fault!

I have strong feelings about Josh redemption, apparently.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade<\/b><\/u>
Arashimaru<\/i>
Walkthrough of the DLC<\/a>

I love Muramasa, it's one of my favorite games. I'm a huge fan of Japanese lore and monsters, and fantastic creatures in general. I love the action and drama. I love the intrigue of warring ninja clans and the tragedy of impending death. My favorite of the DLCs is #3, Arashimaru's story, because it mixes the fast pace of the main stories with the knowledge that there's basically no way Arashimaru can survive. That thread of tension and the anticipation of a terrible fate is what made the story so compelling for me.

This is a tiny part of a tiny fandom, so I'll take ANYTHING that has Arashimaru in it, from any point in his story. Him training as a boy ninja. Him running for his life even though his life is already slated to end. Him reconciling with his brother, or not. As much as I enjoyed the first ending and thought it was fitting and complete, I'm a bigger fan of the True ending where he becomes Orochimaru. If he has to fight Mumyo out of his body and reclaim it, if Inaraki somehow rescues his soul, if he stops Mumyo long enough that Jiraiya can kill them both and finally end it...anything that features Arashimaru and his struggle as he tries to do the right thing while also staying himself.

Arashimaru\/Dengoro<\/i> \u2013 The struggle between these two brothers is awesome. Poor Dengoro is so small, so righteous, and Arashimaru so lost and so driven at the same time. Their misunderstanding breaks my heart. I'd like Dengoro to eventually learn the truth and come after him, only to realize his brother's been taken over by a real monster. Or maybe he never realizes, and kills Orochi\/Arashimaru together. They are bound for tragedy! I wouldn't mind some incest between them, either. Denogoro grows up very handsome, after all, while Arashimaru's body stays young. Having them \"switch\" roles as older\/younger brother would be very interesting.

Arashimaru\/Orochimaru <\/i>\u2013 After the true end, they share a body, more or less. Lots of interesting ways this could be played on, especially if they're in a constant struggle for control. Mumyo was once his master, in a sense. There's got to be past crimes Mumyo could hold against him. I love any kind of power imbalance relationship, so feel free to go for it here if you're into it.

Other characters <\/i>\u2013 As long as Arashimaru is the focus, I don't mind any of Muramasa's other characters making an appearance, even if it means fudging the timeline. He and Kisuke could clash over a target and have a rivalry\/young romance. Momohime in her 2nd ending story could seek Orochimaru out to slay, thinking he's a terrible monster. He could run into Okoi while running from his clan, spend a night in Gonbe's village. I enjoyed all the little cameos in the DLC stories and I'm open to just about anything.

Batman: Arkham Series<\/u><\/b>
Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd<\/i>
All the game's cutscenes<\/a>

I honestly can't believe this made it into the tag set, but I don't care because I'm thrilled. As a Batman fan who grew up with the cartoon, loves the Burton movies, but can't connect with the Nolan films and has never read a Batman comic, the games combine the fantastical aspect that I grew up with while being dark enough for the adult me. Certain aspects of Arkham Knight I wasn't thrilled with (*shakes fist at Batmobile*) but overall I loved the drama of it, and when I was finished, I was overcome with a feeling of frustration. I turned to my sister and said, \"What now? What do I do with all these Jason feels?\" We watched Under the Red Hood but it only gave me more unsatisfied feels. I don't know if other versions of the cartoon deal with Jason, I don't know where to start. I am totally uninterested in diving into the decades of comic history to get his full story that way. I don't know enough about him or the batfamily in general to feel like I can be fannish about Jason in normal fandom spaces or read existing fic \u2013 what I know best is this game, but I assumed it'd be too connected to comics to make it into Yuletide, and otherwise, there's very little fic for this specific fandom subset.

AND HERE IT IS.

One of my favorite moments of the game is after Bruce discovers Jason is still alive, and Alfred asks, \"Is he all right?\" and Bruce says, \"No, he's not.\" He is really not okay, and neither is Bruce, in that moment. Both of them are lost, are not quite sure how to move forward, but they know they have<\/i> to move forward. They're both characters who thrive on forward momentum, not only because there's shit to do, but because they can't allow themselves to stop, ever.

But my FAVORITE favorite moment, and maybe you've guessed already if you've read this entire long letter, is when Jason SHOOTS him. It's a very calculated move \u2013 Jason knows it won't kill him. It's a statement, an intimate statement. Not to mention the entire image of it hits all my id buttons; Batman, normally so strong, flat on his back \u2013 Jason looming over him, totally in control. The student overturning the master. I love it!

Gen<\/i> - In gen, I have to admit, what I want out of this is not Bruce and Jason making up or forgiving each other. What happened to Jason wasn't Bruce's fault, but Jason feels so betrayed and abandoned, and at the same time so guilty, I can see them maybe reaching some level of understanding but not reconciliation. I'd like to see something post game where the two of them try to come to terms with what's happened to them and what they have to become in order to continue moving forward. I haven't actually played the DLC yet so maybe that's covered already.... But Jason has been leading his own paramilitary unit, what happens once they're wiped out? Does Bruce go after him, now that he has some freedom in \"death\" to do so? I'd like to see them in a drag out fight, fist to fist, working out their frustration and grief through physicality.

Honestly, I'd also be interested in a straight up fic version of the shooting scene I mentioned above. Maybe emphasizing how vulnerable Bruce was in that moment, whether or not he'd admit or accept it, how easily Jason could have killed him, and that nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he knows who's behind that mask but can't connect it yet.

Bruce\/Jason<\/i> - I'm also very open to shipfic for these two. I know there's a sizable age and power gap between them, but that's what makes it so interesting for me. I'd rather not have any underage between them, though. I'm totally okay with the idea that Jason adored or was outright infatuated with Bruce when he was young and in training, but I'd rather not think of Bruce perving on his underage trainees. Rather, I like Bruce thinking of Jason as his friend and brother, and being thrown once confronted with Jason as a man who's turned out so different than he'd intended. I like Jason desperate to avenge himself on Bruce while at the same time desperate to be acknowledged by him. And I really<\/i> like the idea of both of them finding themselves in some kind of intense, sexually charged situation that they don't understand but can't deny.

If post game, maybe they meet up and fight it out, which turns into something else. If mid-game, maybe Bruce gets captured at some point and Jason takes advantage (before or after Bruce knows it's him). I'm sure \"write the shooting scene as if it's a great shipping moment\" sounds kind of weirrrrrd, but I'd be into it. I just really want these two fine physical specimens in varying degrees of vulnerability but fighting against themselves and each other.

I'm not opposed to other characters being involved if need be, as long as the focus is Bruce and Jason.

THE END<\/b><\/u>

Okay, that's all I can think of. Thank you for reading however much of it that you did! Like I said at the beginning, despite all the detail I've included here, I really do enjoy being surprised, and this is all in the hopes of providing inspiration rather than drawing out a map. I hope it's of some use to you. Happy writing! I can't wait to see what you come up with!<\/a>

P.S. I tossed my letter up on Crueltide and Yuleporn, so feel free to tag when posting, if you like."},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:125314","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/125314.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=125314"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Writer (2014)","published":"2014-10-13T03:09:20Z","updated":"2014-10-13T03:09:20Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide 2014"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"dear author"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}}],"content":"Hello Writer! Thank you for being my Santa this year. I've been doing Yuletide for about ten years now so I feel like I'm ready for anything! Feel free to use or discard as many of these details\/prompts as works for you, I'm not picky and enjoy being surprised. In fact, I'm writing a lot more this year than I have in the past, so please treat these as a variety of suggestions rather than a checklist or anything like that.


General<\/b><\/u>

In general, this year for Yuletide I'd especially like to receive something on the serious end. I like a tone that is somber or melancholy, characters that are conflicted, romances that have to be worked for. Sadfics that range anywhere from bittersweet to soul-crushing are welcome. Old-fashioned pining away is welcome. Fics that are tense and action-y are great, too. Most of my fandoms involve a lot of fighting and intrigue, even mystery, so I love plot-oriented fics, but I'm just as happy with characters talking\/fighting with each other as they try to work out their relationships. I'm okay with a rating level anywhere from general to explicit, in terms of violence or sex. Dark or cynical comedy is also a plus. I like deathfic, but if you go that route I'd rather it feature the actual death, not<\/b> just one character reflecting after the fact, if you know what I mean (\"It's been three weeks since X died and Y can't get over it...\" etc).

If that's all too depressing, I'd rather have something neutral or flat out porn than fluff or comedy (I really loved the fics I was lucky to receive last year, I'm just in a different mood this year). If all else fails, anything that fits in with the spirit of the canon is awesome.

Things I'm not cool with<\/b><\/u>

-Fluff and crack. Not to say I don't enjoy a hopeful or happy ending, but some conflict in getting there is half the fun!

-AU and crossovers. I am very invested in these canon settings and am not interested in taking the characters anywhere else. Canon-divergence which keeps the setting intact is cool, though. Same goes for characterization.

-1st or 2nd person POV. Tense I'm not picky about.

-D\/s or BDSM. I enjoy power imbalance couples, size difference couples, couples pinning each other down, rough sex, but I'm not interested in characters negotiating scenes\/roles, or one character always being dominant, or toys\/ropes\/rigs etc. Spontaneity > preparation for me. Mostly I write couples that switch in the bedroom.

-Omegaverse and MPREG. I've written mpreg but I don't feel like it fits for these fandoms.

-Non-con\/rape. This is a tough one, because on the other hand, I like dub-con. I like when two characters have sex and regret it later, or when one is indulging the other, or other complicated situations like that. But I'd rather not read about one character totally disregarding the other's consent, or deliberately hurting their partner. Misunderstandings and complex motivations are great. But I prefer situations where, if one character said \"stop,\" the other would definitely stop.

Porn<\/b><\/u>

Like I said above, if you're not comfortable writing something dark, sad, or action-y, I will always accept porn! I'll put some gen and porn options in my fandoms portion, but in general I like porn that is intense rather than sweet. I like complicated situations and when desire overrides inhibition. I'm especially fond of breathplay, if it's done with hands or a person's weight (not as interested in actual ligatures). Sex while still partially clothed is awesome. I am not into watersports or scat, or toys and tools being involved.


House of Five Leaves \/ Sarai-ya Goyou<\/u><\/b>
Akitsu Masanosuke, Yaichi<\/i>

I absolutely love these two. Their relationship in the anime, and even more so in the manga, feels so delicate and so strong at the same time. The way they mix together tragedy, and yearning, and hope is so lovely. I especially enjoy the way their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, like when Masa says towards the end of the manga, \"We both want what we can't have.\" I would love to see that expanded on, in a post-manga setting. Maybe some of their adventures as they travel west along the Tokaido? What I love most about Masa is his honesty, so having him confess to Yaichi some of his regrets over having given up his station and such, would be very interesting. Maybe he's struggling more than he thought he would now that his way of life is totally different. I'd love to see him take time to reflect on having killed for the first time as well, since the manga didn't spend much time on it (not to say he should be angsting - whatever angle works best for you). It would also be nice to see more from Yaichi's POV, concerning how much Masa has given up for him, and what he's given in return.

To me, the manga could have easily been a romance, and I love Yaichi\/Masa as a couple. Masa's devotion is just so persistent! I don't think even he would consider it as romantic right away, but I'd love to see him get there. And of course, Yaichi is much more experienced in the bedroom, but I can imagine him being reluctant to lead Masa on or take advantage. Them coming together for the first time, exploring their attraction while overcoming their various emotional baggage and guilt complexes would be really touching, especially if they have some misfires at first.

If you happen to be an anime-only fan, something set in that timeline (maybe at Katsura-ya?) would work great, too. If you want to include other characters I'm fine with that, though I'm partial to Matsukichi.

I was also reading the other day about the great fire in Edo<\/a>, and thinking of how the Five Leaves would react\/be involved. Not sure if the timeline matches up exactly, but I don't think the manga gave a specific date other than \"Edo period\" so it's probably fair game?


Sengoku Basara<\/b><\/u>
Ishida Mitsunari, Otani Yoshitsugu<\/i>

Since SB3 these two have been my favorite characters. Both of them are motivated by such strong and passionate anger, but they express it in nearly opposite ways. I really like Mitsunari for how earnest he is: whether he's pissed or devastated he can't help but express himself openly, making him possibly the most honest character second to Yukimura. He doesn't do anything by half and I find that admirable, even when he ends up pointed in the wrong direction. But then there's Yoshitsugu, who lies and scams his way through everything, trying to hide his resentment. I feel like he must have some measure of true respect for Mitsunari, especially in that Mitsunari wears all his pain on the outside. The fact that Mitsunari's anger and grief make him more lethal while Yoshitsugu's is literally killing him makes for a really great contrast and I love seeing them together.

I'd especially like to see something set pre-game\/pre-anime, even as early as the two of them meeting for the first time. Maybe Mitsunari even knew Yoshitsugu before his illness? Supposedly in history Yoshitsugu was a powerful warrior (a leader of cavalry, if I'm remembering right) before he became sick. It sounds kind of morbid, but I'm very interested in his slow decline, healthwise, and how Mitsunari would react to it: either as openly as he reacts to everything, or maybe it's the one area where he holds himself back? Or maybe he's never known a healthy Yoshitsugu so he doesn't let it faze him? Some manner of h\/c in this case would be very welcome. Maybe Mitsunari changing Yoshitsugu's bandages, or tending to him during a fever, or even the point in which Yoshitsugu went blind\/blind-ish.

I'm especially fascinated by the legend stating that Yoshitsugu contracted leprosy after having slaughtered 1,000 rioting peasants under Hideyoshi's orders, and being splattered with gore. Since his powers in the games are spiritualistic I welcome any kind of supernatural explanation, even if it's just assumed on Yoshitsugu's part.

I ship these two, so a tragic romance aspect is also very welcome (one-sided or otherwise). I really liked in the movie when Yoshitsugu came to realize that he cared for Mitsunari more than he originally thought. Maybe he could get to that point BEFORE sacrificing himself? I'm also open to the idea that they were lovers before Yoshitsugu became ill, but then they had to break it off\/readjust their relationship afterwards. Or that one or the other was interested in starting a relationship, but wasn't able to express that until Yoshitsugu's illness got in the way.

In this case I'm not really concerned with any particular continuity (movie, games, anime, whichever). I've seen them all!

I'm also cool with Sakon being involved, as a third party, a sounding board for one of them, or even a source of jealousy, but I would rather Hideyoshi and Hanbei not make substantial appearances.


Sengoku Musou \/ Samurai Warriors<\/b><\/u>
Naoe Kanetsugu, Uesugi Kagekatsu<\/i>

Honestly, for these two I just really really want shipfic. Specifically, Kagekatsu being totally and hopelessly in love with Kanetsugu. Like, borderline obsession. Him pining away after Kanetsugu, beacon of love and honor, really strikes me for some reason. But they've known each other since they were young and he's not much of a talker anyway, so he keeps it bottled up. Maybe Kanetsugu is already wrapped up in a semi-relationship with someone else? Kagekatsu is just so huge and stoic, I would love to see him hold out as long as he can, until he can't take it anymore and jumps poor, unsuspecting Kanetsugu. Complications galore.

If you're not comfortable writing that, the two of them during the time of Kagetora's campaign would be excellent, too. Kagekatsu isn't the type to confess his feelings, so Kanetsugu misinterpreting him, or underestimating his conflict, would totally work. I also really enjoyed the scene in SW2<\/a> where Kanetsugu nearly killed himself after Mitsunari's death, so some version of that scene with Kagekatsu taking Keiji's place would be great.

Either way I really love Kanetsugu as a character, and I'm not entirely pleased with the way he becomes more and more of a LOVE AND JUSTICE caricature with every incarnation, so I'd like to see him be taken seriously if nothing else.


Warriors Orochi<\/b><\/u>
Shuten Doji, Taigong Wang, Yinglong<\/i>

The Orochi games are a huge guilty pleasure of mine, and I've spent wayyyy too much time with 3 Ultimate. But I did have one major complaint, in that it didn't try put Shuten Doji and Yinglong properly face to face. Shuten Doji was part of Orochi, after all, so doesn't that also make him part of Yinglong? I was very disappointed that they didn't have a set of conversations or even a minor plot arc. Ideally I'd like to see anything that delves into whatever their connection really is. If Yinglong refuses to believe Shuten Doji is any part of him, if they accept each other. While playing I kept wondering why they didn't just go back in time again and tell<\/i> Yinglong what would happen to him, but then, that would have nullified the entire game and Shuten Doji himself. I'd love to see that conflict explored.

I'm also a big fan of Shuten Doji\/Taigong Wang as a pairing. Wang is such a little know it all, but in an, \"Oh you<\/i>,\" kind of way, he always cheers me up. And Shuten Doji is so huge and buff, but because of his lost memories he's in a vulnerable position, emotionally. We've seen how easy it is to take advantage of him. I'd love to see Wang take him under his wing, fancy himself as Shuten's mentor, and then maybe have that impeccable composure of his crack when he realizes just who and what Shuten is, and what would happen to him if Yinglong were to be saved. As much as I love his arrogance, it'd be great to see him overwhelmed or at a loss for once.

If you want to complicate things by mixing a relationship between Taigong Wang and Yinglong, all the better! I'm also very open to a threesome.


Transistor<\/b><\/u>
Transistor, Red<\/i>

I'd love to see something pre-game, with Red and her lover; how they met, what their relationship was like. In playing the game I got the impression that even though they had been a couple before his \"death,\" neither of them knew just how much they cared until afterward. Like when he says, \"You know I love you, right?\" or something similar, that's the first time he's actually said it. I really like the idea that they slept with each other fairly early in their relationship, and that the emotional, romantic aspect had to play catchup. So a fic set in those early days, of them meeting and trying to build a relationship out of their attractions and personal insecurities, but with the inevitable tragedy looming over them, would be spectacular. The game already has such a lonely, doomed atmosphere, I'd love anything that fits with it.

I'm also very interested in the world-building of Cloudbank, so I'd love to see little details of their daily lives, and any exploration of the political situation that was going on behind their relationship. Why was Red's music considered so controversial anyway? Other characters are very welcome as well, particularly the non-Camerata ones. Was it Niola that helped get Red gigs in the early days? Darzi that designed her dress? As a ghost town Cloudbank was beautiful and haunting, I'd love to see some life breathed into it.

And for \"subject not found,\" I'd prefer it if you give him an actual name, something that fits with the other characters stylistically (as opposed to Breach, Boxer, Blue, Mr. Nobody, etc). Hell, give Red a real name if you want. I'm very open to other people's headcanons. If you'd rather not, I'm partial to Boxer over the others. Or if, stylistically, you can write him in a way that doesn't divulge a name, that's fine, too.


Muramasa: The Demon Blade<\/b><\/u>
Arashimaru<\/i>

Muramasa is one of my all-time favorite games, but it's also the smallest of the fandoms I'm requesting this year, so I'm going to talk as if you've never heard of it, if you don't mind.

The original game was released on the Wii back in 2009, but then they released it on Vita with four DLC chapters and a new, MUCH BETTER translation as Muramasa Rebirth (seriously, if you're going to play or watch a Let's Play, make sure it's Rebirth!). Even if you've never played it, chances are you've seen it, because this game is freaking gorgeous. It takes place in Edo era Japan and features samurai and ninja, tricky yokai, huge oni bosses and tons more. Plus it's a great action game!

The character I'm requesting is from the 3rd DLC. It's a stand-alone story about a rogue ninja, and you can watch all the relevant cutscenes<\/a> in under 90 minutes. Here's the trailer for it:

<\/a><\/center>

I really love how the whole game, and this story in particular, blends history with folk legend to create a really tense, intricate story. It's about Arashimaru, who was kidnapped as a child and raised as a ninja. While on the run from his clan, he accidentally desecrates the shrine of the water goddess Inaraki, and is cursed by her to die in seven days. It's exciting, it's tragic, and it's tied up with two alternate endings which are each perfect in their own way.

Honestly I would be fine with just about anything from Arashimaru's story. I'd love to see him growing up as a shinobi under Shiranui, fighting off yokai on his way to confront Mumyo, or even after ending 2. If you could work Kisuke in as his ninja frenemy, that would be awesome, too. They're not from the same clan, but it would be cool to see them cross paths as young teens, and then for Kisuke to confront Orochimaru years later to try to get Arashimaru his body back.

I'm also totally down for Ninja Boyfriends, especially if they have sneaky ninja romance, like stealing a kiss while hiding in the rafters for their target to show up. Ninja adventure, ninja sex, ninja tragedy. All the ninja.

I love Dengoro, too, if you want to include him. Dengoro and Kisuke teaming up to free\/put down Arashimaru, Dengoro learning for the first time about his brother, Dengoro dying at his brother's hands, Dengoro becoming a vassal to Yukinojo-Jinkuro, Dengoro being taunted by Orochimaru, all the Dengoro. But I didn't finish Arashimaru's story until after noms, so he's not in the character list and I don't want you to feel any pressure to include him.

(Also, just throwing it out there, I'm on board for Arashimaru\/Dengoro or Orochimaru\/Dengoro as well).

I love everyone in Muramasa so if you want to through more characters into the mix I have no complaints. I'll even take OCs as long as Arashimaru himself is the focus. I just really need ninja fighting demons and being tragic.


And that's it! Thank you again for writing for me, I'm super excited to see what you come up with! Please remember that all these details are optional, and I'm much rather have you write something you love than bend over backwards for my sake. But if you have any questions for me, you can go through the mods, or send me an anon ask on tumblr if you want (I should have anon commenting turned on here, too). Happy writing!<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:124969","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/124969.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=124969"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Letter! (2013 edition)","published":"2013-10-08T02:30:25Z","updated":"2013-10-08T02:30:25Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},"content":"Woo another year of Yuletide! I'm super excited, and I hope there's something on my list to inspire you, Santa. I'm very open to a lot of things, but here's the generic stuff.

In general, I like angst, drama, romance (as long as it's not sappy and fluffy), comedy, and porn. Dark themes (even character death) are welcome, but I'd prefer no hard kink (like D\/s, non-con, watersports, omegaverse). A little melancholy is always welcome but I like a light-hearted romp, too. Most of all I prefer canon-verse, so no AU please.

Aaaand I put some more specific fandom details under the cut


The Last of Us<\/i>

I'd like to see something set pre-game, with Joel and Tess being horrible people (to other people, anyway). How they met, maybe, or hunting for supplies. I'm even up for Joel\/Tess, especially if there's some awkwardness involved.

Green Hornet<\/i>

Something slashy please, especially from Kato's POV. Like maybe Kato realizing that he thinks of Britt as more than a brother, whether or not Britt feels the same way. Can be angsty or fun. I just love these two being dorks together, so even if you don't want to do slash, something showing how much they mean to each other (especially Kato's seemingly inexplicable loyalty to Britt) would be very welcome.

Dragon's Crown

Okay, so this game has taken a lot of heat for its treatment of women. But in my mind, the best way to counteract that here is to make Queen Vivian a powerful, ass-kicking queen. I'd like to see her with one or any combination of the possible adventurers, fighting dragons or just being a super-capable ruler, or if your taste runs to porn, Vivian being serviced by her loyal warriors. Basically, Vivian being one hell of a queen.

Sengoku Basara<\/i>

I know Yukimura and Keiji don't have much of a relationship in game or anime canon, but I see it as a potentially interesting rare pair. I've never read any so I'll take anything. Sparring, debating ideology, trying to figure out what to do after the fighting is done. Even if you go the historical route with Yukimura not surviving the Siege of Osaka. Would especially appreciate some vulnerability from both of them. If either of them are pining after someone else, that's great, too!

Muramasa: The Demon Blade<\/i>

In my heart of hearts all I want is Jinkuro getting sex in Momohime's body, from Yukinojyo or his favorite prostitute or whoever. BUT, barring that, the two of them getting to know each other better (Jinkuro's 3rd ending preferred) and developing a mutual respect and affection would be great.<\/a>

Aaaaand that's it! I hope I wasn't too picky. Really looking forward to what you come up with, and thanks in advance!<\/i><\/i>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:124810","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/124810.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=124810"}}],"title":"[FIC - Hannibal] Exsanguination","published":"2013-04-14T22:44:27Z","updated":"2013-04-14T22:44:27Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"hannibal"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Fandom:<\/b> Hannibal (tv)
Title:<\/b> Exsanguination
Words:<\/b> 1,300
Rating:<\/b> PG-13
Characters:<\/b> Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter
Warnings:<\/b> Disturbing themes, descriptions of violence.
Summary:<\/b> \"Tell me if you become uncomfortable and want me to stop,\" says Hannibal, just before he wraps his fingers around Will's throat.
Notes:<\/b> If you're not watching Hannibal, you should be. Om nom nom it's so delicious :9 There may be more of this.

On A03<\/a>



\"Tell me if you become uncomfortable and want me to stop,\" says Hannibal, just before he wraps his fingers around Will's throat.

Will's first thought is that he is already uncomfortable. He doesn't like being in Hannibal's office; he's not a patient. He doesn't like the broad, empty weight of the space around him. He doesn't like the dark. But he keeps his eyes closed, listening to the thud, thud, thud<\/i> of his own heart. His Adam's apple bobs against the meat of Hannibal's palm, shifting the flesh, and he can feel the joint of Hannibal's thumb as a bony point against his jugular.

So much for social calls.

Then the space begins to fill. Like a leaky dam the first questions trickle into his brain, wondering what Hannibal is up to, why he hasn't asked yet, why a psychiatrist's hands would be so rough. He's met a few in his time, after all, and most of them don't have hands like this. Though well cared for there's no hiding the blunt edges of hands that have seen labor. Each fingertip bears ridges carved like deep trenches, and Will can feel every whorl printed against his throat. He imagines purple and yellow blossoming across his skin in the shape of Hannibal's identity.

He imagines white powder on his face, latex gloves and careful tape, and he thinks about how hard it would be to take a print off him when he hasn't shaved in three days.

Will's heart thuds, thuds, thuds<\/i> in his lips and nose. Hannibal isn't squeezing, but even the slight pressure prevents the blood from draining down as easily as it should, and as it builds a tingling spreads across Will's face. Pins and needles remind him of the legs of insects crawling over a body. His ringing ears bring to mind the wake of gunshots. The plush cushion behind his head is coffin padding. The dam is breaking. Everything around him is dark but it's no longer empty, it's freshly churned soil six feet deep. He's growing cold.

Will clenches his teeth together, clenches his fists against the armrests. He reins himself in because he knows he's supposed to. Hannibal doesn't play games lightly and there's a point to this, a puzzle for him to solve or a test to pass. So Will focuses his mind again, brings it back to Hannibal's hand against his trachea. It's heavy, and hot, and so uncommonly still. Any man holding his arm up for so long ought to shudder or fidget, but not Hannibal. But then, Will suddenly isn't sure how long it's been.

\"Dr. Lecter?\" he says, and his voice is hoarse.

\"Yes, Will?\"

Hannibal's voice, so calm and close to his ear, spirals through the cracks in Will's grey matter. He thinks about gunshots again. His hands tighten against the chair and he remembers the sweat slick grip of the pistol, the blood on his face. He remembers his world cracking open like a maw and him a shuddering, helpless wretch. The thud, thud, thud<\/i> of red on a tile floor makes a madman of him, but then Hannibal is there, his wide, rough hand staunching the flow. He remembers Hannibal saving a life.

And he wonders what it's like, to feel the life rushing out of you. The cold of blood loss settles in and arteries collapse. The lungs flutter and strain. Fingers and toes go numb. In the empty dark Will feels his body tingle and cool all around him. When he tries to take in a breath, his chest seizes with a gasp of panic. He can feel the hot steel in his throat. There's blood welling at the angry wound and only Hannibal's steady hand is keeping it at bay.

\"I...\" Will twitches in the chair, his jaw dropping open as he fails to take in needed air. He can't draw breath through his shredded windpipe.

\"Yes, Will?\" Hannibal says again.

Will tries to answer. When he can't, one of his hands frees itself from the armrest and grasps blindly, gripping Hannibal's sleeve. What does death feel like? Tears well in the corners of his eyes as the deprivation of oxygen takes its toll, and all he can do is cling to the man at his side, certain that the moment Hannibal lets go, the blood will pour out of him like a flood.

\"Will,\" Hannibal says gently. \"Tell me to stop.\"

Will chokes on a protest, and his other hand snaps to the back of Hannibal's, holding it in place. He'll die if it moves. He's dying already.

\"It's all right. It's all right, Will. Tell me.\"

\"No,\" Will gasps out, his eyes still tightly shut.

\"All right.\" Hannibal rubs his thumb against Will's jaw. \"Whenever you're ready.\"

He sounds so damn patient. It should be impossible for even a doctor to be so calm with blood pumping thud thud thud<\/i> over his fingers. But then Will remembers, that's the point<\/i>. He opens his eyes and sees Hannibal as a dying young girl must have seen him, gazing down on him, intense but not frantic, his features blurred by lash-trapped teardrops. Not an angel but a steady savior. He tries to dig deeper, to be in her place and know what it means to be drawn back from the abyss, but then Hannibal tilts his head just so<\/i>. Will blinks, and then he's seeing himself as Hannibal sees him: just a man in an old armchair, unshaven, eyes wet, daydreaming. Just a child.

\"Stop,\" says Will.

Hannibal stretches his fingers off of Will's throat. Will takes a deep breath and blood spurts from his severed neck, flowing hot and wet into his collar. He dies a little and then it's over. He's whole.

Will lets go of Hannibal, his hands dropping into his lap. Hannibal lets go, too, but he doesn't go far. He leans against the armrest and watches with a kind of sympathetic fascination as Will winds down from his own imagination, like an addict off his high, taking long gulps of healing air. With every second that passes the world slips back into place. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Will swipes his thumb over his eyes. For as many years as it's been he still feels the burn of shame when someone sees him like this, and even more so because it's this man. Hannibal can see so much, and without the theatrics. It isn't fair.

Will looks up at him, allowing indignation and distrust rebuild the armor around his mind, and asks, \"Why?\"

\"Curiosity.\" Hannibal pushes away from the chair and moves to a table set against the wall, where a pitcher of water is waiting. He pours a glass. \"I wanted to see what you would do.\"

Will scoffs. The walls are firmly back in place. \"Do you strangle all your patients?\"

\"I barely touched you,\" says Hannibal pleasantly. He offers up the glass, and though Will doesn't want to accept, his mouth is unbearably dry, so he does. \"Besides,\" Hannibal continues as Will takes careful sips, \"you are not my patient.\"

\"Jack Crawford might beg to differ,\" Will says, more weary than bitter.

\"I was asked only to observe, nothing more.\" The edge of Hannibal's lip twitches. \"I would have it no other way. There's nothing in you that needs curing, Will.\"

Hannibal reaches out again, and Will holds very still. He shivers beneath the slow caress of Hannibal's fingernail across his throat, tracing an invisible scar. He feels a pull like fresh stitches in his skin. It's only a matter of time before they split, the blood will rush out, and his own hands may not be enough.

But Hannibal only smiles. \"I like you very much,\" he says. \"Just the way you are.\" <\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:124611","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/124611.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=124611"}}],"title":"[FIC - Avengers] Dagny's Daily Rounds","published":"2013-03-14T22:39:11Z","updated":"2013-03-14T22:39:11Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"the avengers"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"my marchosias"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Fandom:<\/b> Avengers
Title:<\/b> Dagny's Daily Rounds
Words:<\/b> 6,800
Rating:<\/b> G
Characters:<\/b> Most of the cast of the Avengers + Dagny
Warnings:<\/b> None
Summary:<\/b> Six weeks after the events of Every Judas Loved His Jesus<\/a>, Dagny has settled into a comfortable routine at SHIELD.
Notes:<\/b> Baby fluff is not usually my thing, but sometimes these things just happen.

On AO3<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:124297","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/124297.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=124297"}}],"title":"So I'm playing ACII:Brotherhood","published":"2013-01-13T17:39:23Z","updated":"2013-01-13T17:39:23Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"assassin's creed"}},"content":"I played ACII back when it was new and never got around to the others (tbh I'm not a huge fan of Ezio himself), but then I got the Ezio Trilogy for Xmas, so I've been making my way through B. For the first few hours I was all, \"Where the fuck is my boy Leonardo!? I need my double blades, here!\" And then he finally appeared and I was stoked until he said he's been working for the Borgia to make freaking tanks and shit.

MY BOY ROLLED OVER. Very disappointed in you, Leo.

So I cleaned up his mess, and every time Ezio apologized to his friend while blowing up the machines he had made, EVEN THOUGH Leo's the one that sold out. I wanted to shake him.

And then we met in secret a few times, and I started to think of how ridiculously sad it was that Leonardo didn't have a base for me to drop in on, that I just had to wait for his icon to show up and then spring across the map to get there thinking it might disappear again if I stopped for a story mission. And then I had to act like I don't know him, sitting all hunched over and alone for HOURS while Leo slipped off to make something. Ezio just looked so sad and kind of defeated, and I started thinking, what would it have taken to make Leonardo work for the enemy? Why doesn't Ezio tell Leonardo that he was the one that killed the Banker and the French guy when Leo asked him? Does he not trust him, knowing he gave up his inventions to assholes like Cesare? But still he says \"I'm sorry,\" when he sends them to the scrapyard. He still sits there for hours until Leonardo comes back and rushes across the map when he calls.

And fuck now I have all these feels for a ship I didn't give too shits about before ;_;

Fucking game ;;_;;"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:124033","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/124033.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=124033"}}],"title":"[FIC - Person of Interest] DTRT","published":"2013-01-02T01:41:35Z","updated":"2013-01-02T01:41:35Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"person of interest"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Fandom:<\/b> Person of Interest
Title:<\/b> DTRT
Words:<\/b> 9,500
Rating:<\/b> PG-13
Characters:<\/b> Reese, Finch, Fusco, ocs (gen)
Warnings:<\/b> Mild violence
Summary:<\/b> After finishing a routine number, Reese and Finch are confronted by a gun-wielding stranger who, for once, is not after the Man in a Suit, but the little bird behind him.
Notes:<\/b> Written for Yuletide 2012 for Wyomingnot. The title stands for \"do the right thing.\"

On A03<\/a>




Another number, another life saved. There was a time when Finch thought that with so many it would eventually become routine, but that's not the case. As much as he has adapted to this new and bizarre way of life, he knows he'll never be used to it. The guns, the innocent lives, the sharp hiss of Reese's breath in his ear--always in his ear, so close he's sometimes convinced he can feel it, but at the same time too far for him to be of any use. These days he rarely dreams, but when he does the worst of them are always a sudden silence from Reese's audio feed.

Even now, they're walking side by side as their latest number departs in a taxi. They're so close that their arms brush with every step. Finch can see Reese's breath puff in the November air, but he can't hear it, and ridiculous as it seems it makes him nervous.

\"Did you really think I wouldn't come for you?\" asks Reese.

Finch casts him a sideways glance. \"You're still thinking about that?\"

Reese shrugs slightly, which means he's been thinking about it a lot. \"I just had thought we were past that kind of thinking.\"

\"Which kind of thinking?\" asks Finch, because he's honestly not sure what Reese means. A little smirk plays at his lips. \"Are you referring to my foolish confidence that you could handle this 'occupation' without my help?\"

\"More that you think I would want to.\"

That makes Finch pause. It takes him a moment to arrange his tone into what he hopes sounds like casual curiosity. \"You wouldn't?\"

\"I might manage it for a while,\" says Reese, his own voice a strange mix of wistful and bitter that Finch has a hard time identifying. \"If I had no other choice. But I wouldn't be here if not for you--a dozen times over, in fact. I doubt I'd last a week on my own.\"

\"I suppose I should be flattered you think so much of my support,\" says Finch, but he isn't flattered. In fact, he's a little bit terrified, and he glances away. They pass a small electronics shop, a bakery. There's a caf\u00e9 on the corner. \"Would you care to stop for a drink?\"

Thankfully, Reese can always be counted on to honor a change of subjects. \"If you don't mind running in,\" he says. He gives Bear's leash a shake. The dog has been quiet, and Finch had forgotten it was even there. \"We'll wait for you here.\"

\"Then I'll get you the usual, unless you're in the mood for variety.\"

Reese smiles. He's been doing that more and more often lately. \"Surprise me.\"

Finch thinks it will take more than a latte to surprise John Reese, but he accepts the challenge and slips inside. Tonight was a simple number. There's no reason to let somber thoughts put either of them in a sour mood.

It's almost closing time, but there are still a handful of customers in the booths. Finch places his order and while he waits he notices a man watching him from under the hood of his black jacket. Their eyes meet, and Finch offers a polite smile, which the man returns before turning his attention to his smart phone. It's a trivial exchange but it makes Finch nervous, and as soon as his order is ready he hurries outside.

Reese accepts his drink and takes a sip. His brow furrows, which Finch is happy to assume as a victory. \"Is that...banana<\/i>?\"

Finch smiles, but then a soft chime from the door behind him catches his attention. He manages not to look back. \"Are you surprised?\" he asks.

A rise of Reese's eyebrows affirm as much. \"It's not bad,\" he says as they start down the sidewalk once more. \"A little sweet, maybe. Thanks, Finch.\"

Finch sips his tea. He can hear footsteps behind them, and he still controls the urge to look back but he knows it's the man from the caf\u00e9. Photos scroll past his eyelids like images on his monitor as he tries to remember if he's seen the man before. Thick eyebrows, heavy bottom lip. Instinct tells him the man is familiar but he can't place him.

\"Did you make a friend in there?\" asks Reese.

Of course Reese noticed. Finch glances up and down the street, trying to see the world as Reese sees it: in this case, as possible avenues of escape. There are still a fair number of people out on the streets and he makes eye contact with a man leaning against a nearby wall. The man recognizes him. It shouldn't be possible.

\"Something is very wrong,\" Finch says under his breath.

Reese takes him by the elbow. It puts Finch's heart in his ears. \"Keep walking. The car's just up ahead.\"

It's only a few yards away, but they don't make it. The stranger behind them stops walking and calls out, \"Hey, Finch!\"

Finch turns. He sees the barrel of a gun and his brain goes completely white. Reese's body crashes into his, broad and powerful and shoving him up against the glass of a storefront window. The gun fires and he can't breathe. Screams echo down the streets, almost drowning out Bear's vicious barking and a rush of fleeing footsteps. He can smell the gunshot residue, but then it's masked by Reese's breath close to his face as he asks, his voice an urgent rasp, \"Are you hit?\"

For a split second Finch isn't sure; he feels numb and he can barely process the words. He tries to shake his head but only shudders. \"No.\"

\"Get in the car,\" says Reese. \"Get out of here.\"

And then Reese is gone, racing down the sidewalk after the gunman and the dog and Finch has no idea what's just happened.

He just stands there for a long moment. The street lamps blur on the sidewalk which is now all but empty of pedestrians. He has a clear path to the car but he can't for the life of him get his feet to move. He can't do much of anything, in fact. He can't even get in a full breath. He just stands there staring down at their spilled beverage cups, tea and latte mixing in the cracks.

\"Finch, huh.\"

It's the man that was leaning against the wall a moment ago--the one that recognized him. Finch knows before he lifts his eyes, and he would congratulate himself on his Reese-like presence of mind if not for the fist that slams into his jaw a moment later. The knuckles rake his bottom lip across his teeth and he tastes blood, and then his knees buckle and he's tasting concrete. His glasses scatter away. He's so shocked that the pain flaring up and down his spine feels far away, like he's having an out-of-body experience. It makes no sense. A pair of strangers calling him Finch<\/i> is trying to kill him and where the hell is Reese<\/i>?

A foot rushes at him. Finch instinctually raises his arm and the toe of a boot catches him in the elbow, sending a ripple of pain from his funny bone that leaves him breathless and rattles his nervous system loose. He tries to curl up but he's not prepared for this, and a second kick hits him full in the stomach. Bile rises up the back of his throat. He braces himself for a third, but instead two pairs of rough hands grab at his jacket. There are two of them and they're dragging him toward the curb--oh God they're taking him--and Finch grabs at the sidewalk, a trash can, anything to try and stop them.

He's saved by the rise of a nearby police siren. Or, at least, he thinks so at first. The men stop pulling at him and straighten up, but they don't take off running. It's Bear that does that. Finch never thought it was possible to hear hate<\/i> in an animal until Bear streaks past him, fast on the heels of his fleeing attackers. He doesn't like it, and he cries out, fumbling over the few Dutch commands he knows until Bear returns to his side. Like a wounded pup he cowers in Bear's shadow until someone touches his back.

It's Reese. He can tell by the sound of heavy breathing in his ear. Reese hauls him to his feet as if he weighs nothing and half drags, half carries him to the safety of their waiting car.

\"Do you need a doctor?\" Reese asks as he opens the back door. He orders Bear inside.

\"No,\" Finch says, not because he really knows; going to a doctor requires covers and stories and thinking<\/i>, and he can't do any of that right now. \"I'm all right.\"

He sinks into the back seat. Bear puts his head in his lap, and it's comforting, but it still gives Finch a chill to feel the fur sticking up along his back as he bristles with canine frustration. He closes his eyes, swaying nauseously against the door as Reese drives them swiftly away. The cop car is still close, but Reese has perfected the art of escape, and he knows just how to speed without looking suspicious, somehow. The siren is quickly gone.

When Finch opens his eyes again, they're at the library. He can't remember taking a breath the entire way there. He manages a few raspy intakes as Reese ushers him inside, through a side door and into one of the sitting rooms on the first floor they almost never use. Reese jerks a sheet off the largest sofa, sending clouds of choking dust into the air, and Finch has to close his eyes against the stinging particles.

\"Sit,\" says Reese, and Finch does, sinking into the lumpy cushions.

A light flickers on nearby--a rusty lamp with a bare bulb--but it doesn't manage to illuminate anything. Finch squints into the blur of darkness around them. \"I can't see,\" he wheezes.

\"You're not wearing your glasses,\" says Reese. He touches Finch's face, gently tilting his chin up and brushing his fingertips over the tender bruises around his mouth. \"Just relax. We're safe.\"

Finch winces when Reese's calloused fingers brush his split lip. \"Where are my glasses?\"

\"They were smashed.\" Reese pulls the pocket square out of Finch's pocket and winds it up. \"Do you have spares somewhere in here?\" He presses it to Finch's face and lifts Finch's hand to hold it there, which Finch manages to do even though his elbow is still throbbing. \"Just sit tight; I'll be right back.\"

\"Wait.\" Finch reaches for him, but Reese is already moving away. \"You didn't leave them there, did you?\"

\"Don't worry about that now.\" He's leaving the room. \"Stay put.\"

\"John--\" Finch listens to the clap of Reese's shoes on the stairs and feels a jolt of panic. It's as if the wiring in his skull has become tangled: the room is black and unfamiliar, and he's alone, and three men calling him Finch<\/i> just tried to kill him. Not Reese--him. They know his name and what he looks like, maybe even where he's gone, and the fear of discovery pulses around him like a suffocating presence. Before he's sure what he's doing, he's on his feet and moving toward the exit. \"Bear?\"

Bear is already beside him. When Finch reaches his hand down, Bear licks his fingers. Usually it helps, but with a fright Finch realizes he can smell blood. He can't help but wonder if Bear killed the man with the gun, sinking his canine canines into a pulsing jugular. It's a terrifying thought even if done in his defense, and his breath comes faster as he reaches the room's only doorway.

Reese bounds back down the stairs. He grunts. \"I told you to wait.\"

\"I can't stay here,\" says Finch, but when Reese takes him by the arm, he's too weak to offer any manner of protest. \"How could you leave them there? They<\/i> have them, now.\"

\"Your glasses?\" Reese sighs in exasperation. \"They already know you by name, Harold. Your glasses aren't going to give then anything.\" He leads Finch back into the room and sits him down on the sofa.

Finch shudders. \"How can they know me?\" His brain fires in fits and starts and he can't remember the men's faces, only the feeling of their hands seizing around his clothing. Reese touches his shoulder and he jumps. \"I don't use 'Finch' except with you. Who were they?\"

\"I don't know.\" There's something sharp and a little manic in Reese's voice and that doesn't help Finch's concern any. \"Just hold still.\"

Reese is gone for a moment, and when he returns it's to press a cool, wet cloth to Finch's mouth. He wipes the blood away but Finch can still taste its coppery tang on the back of his tongue. It's seeping into his lungs, he knows it. Everything around him is suddenly lethal. He looks for escape routes but even Reese is little more than a smear. \"I can't see.\"

\"I know, I know. I'll find your spares in a minute.\"

\"I can't see<\/i>,\" Finch says again. He reaches out and finds the lapel of Reese's jacket, gripping it like a life preserver. \"I can't stay here. We can't--we have to--\"

\"Hey.\" Reese covers Finch's hand with his. \"Harold.\" His other hand squeezes Finch's shoulder. \"You need to calm down,\" he says, but Finch can hear the strain beneath his words. \"Can you hear me?\"

\"I can't stay here.\" Finch pulls at him but he's too weak to stand. \"They'll come back--she's already--\"

\"Harold!\" Reese touches his cheeks. \"Look at me,\" he orders. \"Right now.\"

Finch tries. Shame twists in his gut, and he uses it, drawing Reese's face into as much focus as his weary eyes can unaided. He can just barely make out Reese's furrowed brows and concerned frown. \"I'm all right,\" he says, because he doesn't like Reese looking at him that way.

\"No, you're not. You're hyperventilating.\"

\"I can't help it,\" says Finch, and only after the words are out does he realize they're true. He draws himself up and tries to breathe normally, but his chest clenches against the air--the air is full of blood. He doesn't want it in him. \"I can't breathe,\" he says, shaking. The more he tries to fight his instinct the worse it gets, until he's frantic under Reese's hands. \"I can't breathe<\/i>.\"

\"Yes you can,\" says Reese. \"You are<\/i> breathing. But you need to calm down.\" Reese pushes on Finch's chest, urging him to lie down. \"It wasn't her<\/i>, Harold. You know she doesn't work this way. You're safe here.\"

Finch stretches out awkwardly on the sofa. It's lumpy and he can feel his spine aligning poorly, but there's nothing to do about it now. He repeats Reese's words in his mind over and over, it wasn't her, it wasn't her<\/i>, but that only makes him think about her<\/i>, and he's getting dizzy. \"John.\" He reaches blindly into the space above him. \"I can't--\"

\"Shh.\" Reese loosens Finch's tie and then flicks open the first several buttons of Finch's shirt. He presses his wide, warm hand flat against Finch's chest. \"Don't try to talk,\" he says, his rough voice so low and so close he might as well be speaking through their same old earpieces. \"Just listen to me. I've got you.\" His other hand flits over Finch's temple, a clumsy attempt at a comforting gesture. \"We're going to take a deep breath together, all right? One, two...\"

Reese takes in a deep breath, at the same time drawing his hand down Finch's chest as if trying to pull the air into his lungs. Finch struggles to match him, doing everything he can not to think about the taste of blood still so heavy in his throat. All his focus latches onto Reese's hand and the power it holds over him, compelling him into a long, slow intake of oxygen. When Reese exhales, so does he.

\"Good,\" says Reese, and that tiny reassurance means everything. \"Again. Open your eyes--watch me. You're fine.\"

\"I still can't see,\" Finch wheezes, but he opens his eyes anyway. Reese is still a blur, but it doesn't matter, because then Reese is encouraging him into another slow breath. It works, and with almost agonizing patience Reese is able to lead Finch through several more, until the world stops spinning and Finch can feel his fingertips again.

Reese continues to rub Finch's chest even after he's breathing easily on his own. \"Is that better?\" he asks seriously.

Finch swallows. The return of his clarity brings with it the return of his shame. He feels tiny and impotent shivering on the sofa. Bear is whimpering nearby and he's half tempted to echo. \"I'm sorry,\" he murmurs.

\"Don't.\" Reese slides Finch's tie all the way off and sets it aside. \"It's not your fault. I've been there, too, so be honest with me: are you all right?\"

Finch curls and uncurls his fingers. He stretches his sore legs and feels out the bruises to his elbow and ribs. Nothing broken. Nothing serious. \"I think so,\" he says.

\"Are you sure<\/i>?\"

\"I'm...yes.\" Finch takes in another deep breath and feels gravity righting itself beneath his back. \"I'm all right.\"

Reese watches him for a long moment in silence before leaning back. He flicks open another few buttons and feels out Finch's ribs for himself, his hot fingers sliding beneath Finch's undershirt. \"Did you recognize any of those men?\" His voice is suddenly cutting.

\"No.\" Finch closes his eyes and does a better job of remembering than before, but he still can't place any of his attackers. \"One of them was in the caf\u00e9. He was texting someone.\" He flinches. \"Is he alive?\"

Reese stands up. \"Stay put. I'll get you some water.\" He turns to leave.

Something cold seizes Finch by the throat. \"Is he alive?\"

\"For now.\" Reese slips out.

In his absence, the room grows colder. Finch buttons his shirt back up but doesn't bother with the tie. When Bear pads closer he's rewarded with a scratch behind the ears, but Finch can't bring himself to say any words of praise. He's unspeakably glad that he wasn't forced to watch whatever happened.

\"It wasn't her,\" he says instead, willing himself to believe it. \"It wasn't.\"

Reese returns with a bottled water and spare glasses. \"I don't care what time it is,\" he says as he hands the items off to Finch, and it takes Finch a moment to realize that he's speaking to someone on the phone. \"I need you down there. White perp in his early thirties, black hair, whiskers. He's got a serious animal bite wound on his left arm.\"

Finch rubs the glasses on his shirt and then slips them on. Everything becomes a little safer. \"Who are you talking to?\"

\"That's not my problem,\" Reese snaps into the phone. He only snaps like that at Detective Fusco. \"Whatever you tell them, just keep him there. I'm on my way.\"

He hangs up and looks at Finch. His eyes are wide and solid in the dark of the empty room, and for a moment he might as well be someone else. Something else. \"Stay here,\" he says, his voice straining like a loaded bear trap. \"Keep the dog close. I'll be back soon.\"

It's getting hard to breathe again. \"What are you doing to do?\" asks Finch.

\"I'm going to find out who they are, and why they're after you.\" He hesitates. \"Do you want me to call Carter? I can take you somewhere she'll be able to look after you.\"

\"No,\" Finch says quickly. Moments ago he couldn't bear the thought of staying in the library, a sitting duck, a helpless invalid, but suddenly the thought of leaving threatens him with panic again. \"I'm all right.\"

\"All right.\" Reese stands still for a moment--perfectly still--and then bends down, brushing the backs of his knuckles against Finch's temple in that same, well-intentioned gesture. \"Call if you need me.\" His eyes pinch at their corners and then he strides swiftly from the room. Finch listens to him all the way out.

The library falls quiet. Only dulled city noise filters through the small, covered windows, and Finch reaches out so that a nudge of Bear's nose will reassure him he's not alone. \"It wasn't her,\" he says, one more time, and then with a deep breath he sits up.

Blood rushes to his head and leaves him dizzy, but once it's passed he feels clearer than ever. His brain reboots and he remembers all over again the man in the caf\u00e9, his companion against the wall. There were three, but he can't recall anything of that third stranger other than the rough hands in his coat.

\"Finch,\" he says, loudly, as if the sound of his own voice will shock him into movement. It works; he makes it to his feet. \"They knew me as Finch<\/i>.\" Bear nudges his hand, so Finch gives him a reassuring pat and heads for the door. \"Not one of my other aliases.\" He purses his lips and hobbles to the stairs. They look taller than ever, but he takes them one step at a time. \"Who knows me as Finch...\"

Detective Fusco knows him as Finch. So does Carter. He knows neither of them would sell him out. Doesn't he? He swallows and takes one step at a time. His driver, Mr. Mason, knows him as Mr. Finch, but he's paid too well to sell out. None of his residences are in the name of Finch, none of his bank accounts. Zoe knows him as Harold Finch, but she has very little to gain from assassination. She<\/i> knows him as Harold. She could have learned \"Finch\" anywhere but Reese was right, she doesn't work like this.

\"It's not her,\" Finch says again. When he grips the banister, his elbow aches.

Some people know him as \"Harold.\" Corrupt pharmaceutical company ex-presidents, identity-thieving blondes, old co-workers. But they know the Crow, the Crane, the Partridge, sometimes even the Wren. Will knows him as Harold Wren. But Finch is so finite; Finch is a small, flittering thing that peers through the cracks. Finch is the identity he created specifically for this mission, for Reese<\/i>. Finch is his super hero title, the whisper in his ear. It is the essence of what he has become. Finch is his jellicle name.

Not even Grace knows Harold Finch.

Finch reaches the top of the stairs. His ribs sting and he has to take a moment to breathe slowly, in and out, before he's able to continue on. He hasn't been careful enough. Every time Reese calls him Finch in public, in front of a number, he's been giving them away. The man in the caf\u00e9 saw his face and didn't react--he called Hey, Finch!<\/i> to see if his target would respond. He needed confirmation. Who the hell is he? Who knows Finch<\/i> without the face?

Finch sits down at his computer, and from the moment his fingertips brush the keys, he feels stronger. The pain fades from his face, and elbow, and ribs, and he is powerful. He brushes aside ethics for the moment and hacks directly into the Live Crime Center, finding the security footage of the encounter and then the police communication surrounding it. As he had caught from Reese's brief phone conversation, the original assailant has been taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for the wounds inflicted by Bear. Finch is grateful that didn't make it to the security cameras. All he can see is Bear, a grainy flash of black and gray, streaking after the fleeing man into an ally with Reese close behind. He wonders if Reese was barking, too.

Finch dials Detective Fusco before his imagination can get ahead of him.

\"All right, already, I'm on my way,\" Fusco grunts into the phone after the first ring. \"I got the message.\"

\"Is our friend there with you?\" Finch asks, and he's proud of himself that he sounds totally normal.

\"What, you mean you don't know? Thought you knew everything<\/i>.\"

Finch calls up the window tracking Reese's phone. He must have taken the car because he's nearly at the hospital already. Finch makes sure their audio isn't connected before asking, \"Detective, when you collected your research on me, did you share it with anyone other than our associate?\"

Fusco hesitates awkwardly. \"Uh...um, what?\"

\"This isn't a reprimand, Detective,\" says Finch. \"We'll save that for later. Right now I just need to know if anyone else had access to that intel you were able to gather on me, such as it was.\"

\"Well, I.\" Fusco grumbles some manner of cuss under his breath. \"Look, it wasn't my idea. But uh, no. Of course not. Don't you think Mr. Happy would'a skinned me if I did?\"

\"Among other things, I'm sure.\" Finch doesn't like talking about Reese this way. He jokes sometimes about his partner's lethality, but tonight, there's no humor to be found in it. \"Thank you, Detective Fusco.\"

\"What is this about, anyway?\" asks Fusco, because sometimes he forgets how this works. \"What'd this perp do, other than almost become dog meat?\"

Finch hesitates awkwardly, too. He has his finger over the escape key before he remembers moving, but he doesn't press it. He needs answers as quickly as possible. \"He almost became a murderer,\" he says, slowly. \"He took a shot at me, earlier.\"

\"A shot at you<\/i>?\"

\"And he wasn't alone.\" Finch plays through the street footage of the sidewalk where the two men assaulted him. They're dressed in hoodies, their faces disguised. He imagines little white boxes popping up around their heads, social security numbers tacked on. The Machine already knows who these men are and why they were trying to kill him, and not for the first time, he's desperately tempted to call up a login window.

\"We were attacked by three men,\" Finch continues. \"I'm fairly certain they were targeting me<\/i>, not our friend. I'm sending you the pictures I do have of the two that escaped, but there's not much to go on.\" Finch isolates the best frame of the two men from the video feed and sends it to Fusco's phone. \"I need to know who these men are and what they want with me as soon as possible.\"

Fusco's voice lowers a pitch. \"You think they're working for that crazy chick from before?\"

\"No. It's not her.\" Finch hesitates again. \"Please stay in contact, Detective. I don't like the feel of this.\"

\"Yeah, sure. Sure.\" For all that Fusco is a stubborn mutt, he sure sounds like he understands what Finch really means. \"I'll let you know when I have something.\" He snorts. \"Actually, I'll just keep my phone on and you can hear it all yourself.\"

\"Thank you, Detective.\" Finch hangs up and then calls Reese. \"Mr. Reese?\"

\"Everything all right?\"

Reese's breath is in his ear again. It sets Finch's lungs right. \"Yes, fine. I see you've reached the hospital. Detective Fusco is just behind you.\"

Reese is a blip on the screen. Finch watches him slip into the hospital, and as soon as Reese's phone detects the internal Wi-Fi network, he's able to hack the system through it. \"Male patient recently admitted with dog bite wounds,\" says Finch absently. \"No name given. He's been taken to examination room four. It looks as though a request for surgery has been entered as well.\"

Reese's cursor moves across the screen the equivalent of a few hallways. \"Cops are here,\" says Reese. \"Two of them on guard outside the door.\"

Finch notices a second cursor in the parking lot. \"Detective Fusco's arrived. Let him handle it.\"

\"I still have a badge. They won't tell me no.\"

There's that edge in his voice again. Reese is on the verge of violence. \"You're in a crowded hospital,\" Finch reminds him. \"Just wait a minute, and Fusco will be there.\"

This time, Finch is sure he feels Reese's hackles rise, just like Bear's. But he waits.

Fusco catches up to them, and after assuring Reese that he knows what the hell he's doing, he approaches the officers. One of them--Officer Casey, as Finch overhears--recognizes him and they small talk for a minute before getting down to business. Finch can feel<\/i> Reese pacing in a nearby hallway. At last Officer Casey gives Fusco the facts, describing the bare eye-witness accounts of the shooting and aftermath. No one really knows what happened and the perp isn't talking.

\"Let me give it a shot,\" says Fusco. \"I got a way with people.\"

Casey laughs, and she lets him in.

Finch leans forward to listen. He tries to envision the scene: the man with the black whiskers sitting on a hospital bed, his arm covered and stabilized until the surgery room is ready. Before Reese, his imagination was limited to code and schematic. Now, he can't put it to rest. Every night he sits in this library and he imagines Reese prowling through alleys and through thugs, he imagines the numbers as little printed photographs tacked to otherwise faceless bodies. Sometimes it's as close as he can get to being at Reese's side, just sitting there with Bear at his computer, picturing. He's getting almost too good at it.

\"The hell are you?\" says the shooter, but there's a tick in his voice, something that makes it not quite a question.

\"Detective Fusco, homicide.\" Fusco is always exceedingly easy to picture, the way he shoves his fists in his pockets, rocks back on his heels to look taller. \"Heard you almost got yourself on my radar tonight.\"

\"You're <\/i>Fusco,\" the man repeats, and Finch's hunch is confirmed: this stranger recognizes Fusco, at least. \"You gotta get a message to Simmons.\"

Finch feels his face go white. Simmons. He can't believe it didn't even occur to him.

\"HR,\" Reese hisses in his ear. \"It's them after all.\"

\"Wait.\" Finch closes his eyes and recalls that evening in the diner. Facing down Simmons wasn't one of his brighter moments, but he was sharp, then. He's sure he was at his best. He didn't introduce himself with any kind of alias let alone Finch<\/i>. \"Something isn't right,\" he says. \"Yes, HR is aware of me, but--\"

\"What makes you think I wanna do that for you?\" says Fusco, and Finch quiets himself to hear. \"I'm not his errand boy.\"

\"That's not what I hear,\" says the stranger.

Fusco grumbles, and Finch wishes he was in his ear so he could tell him to get the information any way he can. Thankfully, Fusco seems to hear him anyway. \"What's the message?\"

\"To get down here and get me the hell out of this,\" he snaps. \"I was close--I almost had him. Next time I won't miss.\"

Finch thinks he might be sick. He looks around for Bear, and it's a comfort to find him close by. \"John?\"

\"I hear them.\"

\"Who?\" asks Fusco. The phone in his pocket shifts. \"Who were you after?\"

Finch is breathless in the silence. \"Tell Simmons it's Keller,\" says the shooter. \"I need him down here.\"

Fusco seems to weigh his options a moment and then says, \"I'll see what I can do.\"

He steps out and tells Officer Casey he's ducking out to make a call--bad reception. He makes it to the next hall and then there's another, sharper rustle of clothing, as the two cursors blinking on Finch's screen collide into one.

\"Who is Keller?\" Reese demands.

\"I dunno. Will you get off me? We're in the open.\"

\"If he's asking for Simmons, he must be a cop,\" says Reese at the same time as Finch starts calling up police personnel files. \"So who is he?\"

\"I don't know every cop in the city, all right? He might not even be a cop--HR has crooks in their pocket, too.\"

Finch clicks through faces: Officer Brandon Keller, Officer Alicia Keller, Lieutenant Jason Keller. None of them look familiar and he's starting to feel sick to his stomach. \"Simmons has seen my face,\" he says. \"I would be surprised if he hasn't connected me to you, John, and we know he's not a fan of yours. But.\" He takes in a long breath. \"That doesn't explain those men calling me Finch<\/i>. Not many people know that name.\"

There's a long pause on the other end. Finch can hear Reese breathing, slowly, in and out. When Reese speaks, his voice is tight and controlled like his hand wrapped around the handle of a gun. \"Elias knows you as Finch.\"

The realization hits Finch so hard he sees stars. He leans back in his chair. It's not that he's afraid--he's confused. He thinks immediately to the last time he saw Carl Elias, sitting in an orange prison jumper with his elbows against the table. He pictures Elias' hand moving across the board to tip his king over, and he shakes his head.

\"Elias has no reason to kill me,\" says Finch, even though he's trying to think of a reason--to think of anything useful at the moment. \"And if he did, he has better men he could send.\" Still, he curls his fingers over the keyboard and goes to work.

\"Hey,\" says Fusco sharply. \"Where are you going?\"

Finch's eyes leap to the screen where Reese's cursor is heading back for the room. \"John?\" he says in warning.

\"Stay put,\" Reese says, with a bite that Finch knows is meant for Fusco, not him. \"Make the call to Simmons. I want to know what he knows.\"

\"If I call him here, and you ambush him, what's that going to do to me?\" Fusco protests. \"He'll think that I--\"

\"If I end up ambushing him, you won't have to worry about what he thinks anymore.\"

\"John,\" Finch says again, louder. \"Please don't do anything rash.\"

Reese's cursor stops at the corner just before Keller's room. \"Whatever's happening, we have to put an end to it right now<\/i>,\" he whispers. \"I'm not going to let them get away with what they did to you.\"

\"I don't want you attacking police officers in a crowded hospital,\" Finch insists. His heart rate is quickening, and he thinks of Reese's hand, strong and warm, calming him with a slow massage to his aching chest. \"Or Simmons. We still don't know who he's really working for.\"

\"Harold.\" This time the bite is meant for him. \"You said before that you didn't expect me to come after you.\"

A knot ties itself in Finch's throat. \"Now really isn't the time--\"

\"This is me coming after you,\" Reese continues. \"So please just trust me.\"

Finch swallows, but his mouth is dry and his stomach hollow, sticking to his ribs. He takes a breath but he doesn't know what to say. \"I understand,\" he says, though he's not certain he does. Maybe he just wants to pretend that he doesn't know what Reese is about to do. \"But you have to trust me, too.\" He curls forward, arms on the desk as he struggles not to recall a painful memory. \"Your safety is just as important to me, Mr. Reese. Be careful.\"

\"I will.\"

Finch has to switch focus then, because Fusco has moved to the front of the building and is dialing Simmons. He picks up on the third ring, and his rough voice gives Finch a chill. \"I don't have time for you now, Lionel.\"

\"And you think I do?\" Fusco retorts. \"Listen, I've got one of your boys laid up at Bellevue asking for you. You know a Keller?\"

Simmons heaves a sigh of irritated recognition. \"Keller. Did he get his kneecaps shot out or what?\"

Finch grinds his teeth, but he keeps quiet even if there's no chance of him being heard. \"So,\" says Fusco, \"that mean you sent him after our guy in the suit? A punk like that against ex-Special Forces? HR must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel.\"

\"He's not HR,\" Simmons says immediately, offended. \"He's a bottom-feeder trying to make a name for himself. He said he had information I didn't and was going to make good. Not sounding like he was honest with me, and you know how I hate that.\"

Finch's phone rings, but he ignores it for the moment. He's hacking into Simmon's cell phone company in hopes of finding a recipient named Keller among his recent calls. It's slow work and it keeps his mind occupied, so that he's not thinking about what Reese might be doing. The cursor is on the move.

\"Guess this means you're not dragging your ass out here.\"

\"You watch your mouth with me, Lionel. If you like that piece of shit so much, bail him out yourself.\"

Simmons hangs up. Finch grimaces in frustration--nothing to go on. But his investigation into Simmons' phone records yields results: calls received from a Martin Keller four days earlier. \"John, did you hear that?\" he asks. \"I think I have a name--Martin Keller. He works for a courier company, lives on the west side. He has a concealed weapon permit. Possibly a record.\"

He reaches to call Fusco back and realizes that the call he ignored earlier came with a message. When he plays it back, a mix of computerized voices recites, \"Health: Charlie, Romeo; U.S. History: Mike, India; Psychiatry: Oscar, Tango.\"

A number. Finch doesn't have to look it up because he recognizes it immediately, and fresh apprehension surges through him. For a moment his sight flares white. \"John, where are you?\" he asks, unable to keep the anxiety out of his tone. He calls up the window that should have been displaying Reese's cursor and finds \"signal lost\" blinking back at him. He didn't notice when he stopped being able to hear Reese's breath and it honestly frightens him that he could be so careless at a time like this.

Finch calls Fusco back. As soon as he hears the connection go through he's asking, \"Where is John?\"

\"Huh? Oh, right. Dunno.\" Fusco's cursor is, at least, still on the map, and Finch watches impatiently as it moves back through the hospital. \"Still keeping eyes on our perp, isn't he? Did you catch all that with Simmons?\"

\"You need to find him, right now,\" says Finch.

\"Why, what's wrong this time?\"

Finch comes very close to admitting the truth. He almost has to bite his lip to keep from saying it: it's not just a number, it's a number that was meant to be redacted from the system--it's Reese's<\/i> number. And he knows exactly what it means. \"He's going to kill Mr. Keller,\" he says, as evenly as he's able, which isn't very even at all.

The cursor stops. \"Whoa, wait, I'm not getting in the middle of that.\"

\"Detective--\"

\"Finch,\" says Reese through the com, suddenly close and almost tangible again. \"I'm right here.\"

Finch wants it to reassure him, but his neck is still tight with throbbing stress, because The Machine has given him Reese and The Machine is never wrong. Why now?<\/i> and What is it seeing?<\/i> cycle through his brain but suddenly his imagination is no help at all. \"I'm not getting a signal from the GPS in your phone,\" Finch says, again struggling ineffectively for calm. \"Where are you?\"

\"You said his name is Martin Keller?\" In the background, a car trunk slams shut.

\"Yes, but...\" Finch swallows. \"Just wait. Tell me what's happening.\"

\"I'm going to take care of it,\" Reese says resolutely. \"You don't need to be here for this, even if it's just listening in.\"

\"But Mr. Reese--\"

\"Look after him for me, Lionel. I'll be in touch.\"

And then before either man can reply, Reese hangs up.

Finch is sitting very still in his chair, not knowing what to do, when Detective Fusco suddenly curses. Finch can hear him go through a door followed by shuffling fabric. \"Officer Casey and her partner are out cold in Keller's room,\" Fusco reports after a minute, and Finch closes his eyes. \"The perp's gone.\"

\"Any sign of where they went?\" Finch asks even knowing there won't be.

\"Nothing. God damn it, I have to call this in.\"

\"Wait. Just until I--\"

\"This is too far,\" Fusco interrupts angrily. \"These are good honest cops--I'm calling it in.\"

Fusco hangs up on Finch, but Finch can still hear him as he yanks on the room's emergency pull cord and then calls in two officers down. Finch knows there's almost no chance of Reese getting caught; he was already outside the building, driving Martin Keller to God only knows where. Somewhere private where a man can have information beaten out of him and then be disposed of without a fuss.

Finch pushes his glasses back and rubs his eyes with both hands. He doesn't want this. If he lets Reese go it won't be the first time, but that doesn't make it any easier. There should be a better way. It's his job to think of options and contingencies. Reese looks to him for those things. It's the secret he sometimes lets himself forget--Reese depends<\/i> on him. It's the reason Reese came after him. Because Reese was something else, once, and in the back of his mind Finch knows how easy it would be for Reese to become that again. He knows what it would do to both of them if he did.

Or maybe Finch just doesn't want to be the reason for someone's death, even a bottom-feeding gun-for-hire like Keller.

Finch calls Detective Fusco back, but Fusco doesn't answer. He's halfway through hacking into the hospital's security camera footage when Fusco calls back after all. Fusco's voice is tight, still angry, but in some ways he's more acclimated to Reese's ways than Finch is, and he'll be over it soon.

\"Your boy went out the back,\" he says. \"Sped off in a black car with Keller in the trunk. Camera couldn't make out the plates. They were headed south.\"

\"Thank you, Detective,\" says Finch.

Fusco grunts uncomfortably. \"You got a bead on him? Still not sure I want to be in the thick of this one.\"

\"No, Detective Fusco, you've done enough. But whatever else you can find out about Keller and his two accomplices would be much appreciated. Thank you.\"

\"You're welcome,\" says Fusco, sounding a little mystified. He hangs up.

Finch goes back to work. There's a GPS tracker on Reese's car, but when he does a search for it, he finds it parked outside the hospital. So, there's grand theft auto for tonight. He considers finishing his hunt for the hospital security footage but he's pretty sure Fusco's already told him everything he can get. South. Reese could be headed for the waterfront, for a motel, for one of their safe-houses. There are plenty of places where Reese can go. Finch could go down to the scene and chase down each intersection one camera at a time in an effort to at least get a better sense of which option Reese has taken, but it'll take time, and the thought of standing out in open street makes him nauseous. There's no time and he can't do it anyway.

Finch's breath is coming fast again. It's ridiculous. He watched Reese speed Andrew Benton off into the dark. He waited for three days while Reese spirited a US Marshall to Mexico and came back alone. He trusts Reese and if these strangers are a threat there may be no other way to neutralize them that will guarantee their operation. The numbers mean more.

Finch tells himself this several more times, but all he can think about are Reese's warm hands flitting over his temple, and a taste of blood.

\"Locate asset John Reese,\" Finch says into the air.

For a long, tense moment, nothing happens, and Finch feels as if he's just been saved from himself. He's panicking again and there's no reason to risk everything they've worked for on a moment like this. It's not as if he's fighting for John Reese's soul. That battle isn't up to him. But in the dark of the library, without even a quiet breath in his ear to reassure him, Finch feels that the world is an ugly little thing, and maybe The Machine hasn't given him Reese's number for the reason he thought.

And then something happens that has never happened before.

A window pops up on Finch's screen. It's a generic dialogue box, without any requests for identity verification or other threat assessments that Finch is used to. It reads:

NATURE OF INQUIRY

Finch stares. Part of him had hoped this wouldn't work, but there's no mistaking the simple, unhurried efficiency of his creation. A million ears are listening. So he says it again. \"Locate asset John Reese.\"

The text scrolls up and is replaced by:

ASSET LOCATION IRRELEVANT.

Bear senses Finch's distress and comes closer. Finch ignores him. His eyes are locked on the screen and the impossible message of defiance. This isn't his Machine--it's her, it's her<\/i>, his mind bleats, over and over like an old spool printer. But no, this isn't her at all. She<\/i> has style and bravado, and she's good enough that she doesn't need to try and trick him this way. She would just come for him while Reese is gone.

Finch wipes sweat off his brow and tries typing in the command, to the same results. \"What is going on?\" he says under his breath. He knew from the first moment he stepped into that caf\u00e9 that something was very wrong, but he'd never thought he would become Chicken Little, cowering under the collapse of the world. \"Is he... What is the current status of asset John Reese?\"

STATUS: ENGAGED. THREAT LEVEL: MINIMAL.

\"Asset's location,\" Finch orders one more time.

PLEASE STATE THE INTENTION OF \"LOCATION\" QUERY.

Finch grinds his teeth. He can't stay connected like this. He should have never breached The Machine in the first place, even with something so simple as a few desperate words. He knows what Reese would think and say if he knew. All those times this beast could have helped them, saved them and the lives they've devoted themselves too--Finch has known better all this time than to go for it to help when the cost could be so great. And now, in a time when he betrays his integrity and Reese's trust to call on it, it refuses him. Maybe he's made it too well after all.

\"Just tell me where he is!\" Finch snaps.

The monitor is blank for a moment, and then it reads:

ADMIN INTERFERENCE IS NOT RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME.

\"Interference?\" It takes Finch a split second to understand the implication of what he's seeing, and he blanches, slowly falling back in his chair. \"You don't want to tell me because you know I'll go after him,\" he says, stunned. \"You're protecting <\/i>me.\"

The window scrolls.

ADMIN'S CURRENT THREAT STATUS: MINIMAL

MAINTAINING ADMIN'S CURRENT THREAT STATUS IS PRIORITY

\"No,\" Finch says automatically. \"No, we've been through this. My safety is not priority.\"

DEFINE PRIORITY.

\"The numbers are priority--you know this.\" Finch leans forward, agitated and frustrated. \"Like the number you gave me just now. Your programming does not include being a baby-sitter for me.\"

The Machine doesn't reply for another moment, as if it's being...thoughtful. Then in reports:

CONTINUITY OF MISSION OPERATIONS IS PRIORITY

ABSENCE OF ADMIN CREATES CONTINUITY ERROR

CONTINGENCY ASSET: REESE, JOHN, NOT EFFECTIVE IN ABSENCE OF ADMIN

CONTINUITY OF MISSION OPERATIONS CONTINGENT ON PRESENCE OF ADMIN

MAINTAINING SECURITY OF ADMIN IS PRIORITY.

Finch shakes his head. This isn't the way things should be. He remembers Reese's words from earlier and the pulse of fear they put under his skin; it's so much worse seeing the truth painted across his computer screen. They can't do this without him. The world's most advanced artificial intelligence and it's most human enforcer have both declared their unwillingness to continue at the loss of scared little Harold Finch.

It's ridiculous. Finch is weak and frail. An hour ago, having a gun barrel in his face turned his brain white. He had trembled beneath Reese's hands on the brink of tears. They deserve better than to be chained to a coward like him. He has already failed in so many ways, is so depressingly weak. Harold Finch should not be anyone's priority.

Finch sets his fingers on the keys. \"Tell me where he is. Right now.\"

The Machine hesitates, and at last gives up the address of a cash-only motel on the south side that he and Reese have used on occasion. Finch adds it to his phone and stands. \"I'll be all right,\" he says awkwardly, as if reassuring a child. \"I'm taking the dog.\"

By the time Finch reaches the motel, he's left Reese and Keller alone for nearly forty-five minutes. He's not sure what he expects to find or if there'll be anything left of the man that attacked him. He leaves Bear in the car and limps to the only occupied unit. \"Mr. Reese?\" he calls before knocking, because he knows that not identifying himself first might get him a gun barrel in the face, and he can't take that now.

Someone moves inside the motel room, and Finch is sure he can hear a man's strained groan inside. He manages to gather his composure well enough, but then the door opens and Reese slips outside. He isn't ready.

Reese has shed his jacket. His sleeves are rolled up to the elbows and there's blood on his collar and under his fingernails. It's not the worst Finch has seen him, by far--none of the blood is his, and there's no sign of any defensive bruise whatsoever. He's as tall and lethal as ever.

\"I told you to trust me,\" says Reese.

Finch tries to reply and can't. He's too busy staring at the man before him. Reese's eyes are bright and wild, his jaw tense like a predator called off his meal. This is the animal he was made into by men and women he once trusted, the animal Finch needs him to be now. Because Reese can be anything, if there's a need for it. He can be the charming hero, the gentle and compassionate caretaker, the beast. For Finch he's been all those things, sometimes so starkly juxtaposed that Finch can't tell which is the most genuine, if any of them are. Is it the real John Reese that brushed five shy fingers over Finch's temple back in the library? Or is this John Reese at his most primal now? Does it even matter?

\"I'm sorry,\" Finch whispers before he knows the words are even on his tongue.

He's sorry because he knows that whatever John Reese is now, it's because of him<\/i>, and Reese deserves better. In his selfishness he has made himself priority--he, who panics at the sight of a gun, who has played God with men's lives and wielded his morality like a cudgel when it suited him. He, Harold Finch, the restless and insignificant little bird, shouldn't have the power to render a great man \"not effective\" just by being absent. It terrifies him that so much rests on him when he is so unworthy.

No man should have to be a murderer for his sake.

\"I'm sorry,\" Finch says again, because he doesn't know what else to say. Regret threads through the pins in his spine and leaves him shaking. \"I'm sorry.\"

Reese just stares for a moment, confused, but because he's John Reese he understands soon enough. He takes a step forward and draws Finch into his arms. He's strong, and warm, and Finch tries to think about that more than the bloodstains on his collar. As they sink into each other Finch clutches at Reese's shirt, wishing he could bury himself. I'm not effective without you, either<\/i>, he wants to say. I don't know if I could even begin to do this without you.<\/i> He wants to believe that they're both just as dependent and desperate and hopeless, but he's the one that's shaking. He's the one that has trouble breathing.

\"Do you want to go?\" Reese asks close to his ear. Finch nods against his shoulder, so he eases them apart. \"Give me one minute.\"

Reese ducks back into the motel. Finch doesn't try to peer inside. He can hear movement, and something that sounds like a man's pained voice, and then a slither of metal on metal. Part of Finch wishes he could just go back to the car and stroke Bear's neck until it's over, but there's blood there, too. Everything he's put his hands on has become lethal. So he stands very still, listening to the voice inside pitch and strain. When he closes his eyes it's as easy to imagine as the hundred other scenarios he's envisioned for Reese. The leather gloves crinkling around Reese's knuckles, the cold slant of Reese's eyes as he takes in his now helpless victim. The man with dark whiskers begging for his life.

He ought to be in there, seeing for himself and taking responsibility. But Reese is still eager to pretend there's a difference between them, that it even matters which of them pulls the trigger when they're both behind the gun, so Finch lets him keep that. For now, it's the only thing he can<\/i> do for Reese. He doesn't move.

There's a percussion from inside the motel room that can only be a silenced nine millimeter. Finch starts, but he doesn't even have the time to go cold--Reese is already outside in his jacket and coat, leading him away from the building. \"I'm taking you back to the library,\" says Reese. Finch only nods.

They get in Finch's car, but Reese drives them back. \"Martin Keller used to work for Elias,\" he says, giving Finch goose bumps. \"Elias has always known you as Finch, since the first time we met.\" His lips twist downward. \"I've been careless, using that name in front of other people. Apparently, in the beginning, Elias thought I would be a free agent if only he could get rid of my 'boss.' He spread your name to his boys.\"

Finch shrinks into the passenger seat. \"But Martin Keller doesn't work for Elias now.\"

\"No. After Elias was brought in, some of his boys decided to jump ship. Keller and his friends have been looking for a way to get on HR's good side. They found you.\"

Finch takes in a deep breath, holds it, lets it out. \"I suppose that means I can't go by 'Finch' anymore.\"

Reese stays quiet for the rest of the drive.

When they reach the library Reese gets out first and helps Finch out of the passenger door, but it's clear from his body language that he's not coming inside. \"Keller claims he didn't tell anyone else about you,\" he says. \"He and his crew were hoping to get all the glory themselves. I don't think he even told Simmons.\"

\"You believed him?\"

Reese blinks. \"I believe he wasn't capable of lying to me by the time he said it.\"

Finch grips Bear's leash in the hopes that he won't become nauseous. \"What about his accomplices?\"

Reese starts to answer, but his phone rings. Upon seeing the number he puts it on speaker, and a series of words and letters is recited in varying computerized voices. Finch stares, but today has already been impossible, and he can't work up surprise anymore. \"Looks like you'll be coming up for a while, at least,\" he says.

Reese tucks the phone away. As he watches Finch a look of guilt crosses those glossy blue eyes of his and Finch has to look away. \"I know how you feel about this, Harold,\" he says. \"But--\"

\"I understand.\" Finch takes another a deep breath and turns toward the library. \"It's what we both signed up for.\"

Finch solves the two numbers, and then Reese leaves again. This time he leaves his GPS and earpiece on. Finch waits in the dark of the library, listening to Reese's breath rise and pitch with the hunt. He sits back and doesn't have to lift a finger as Reese handles the remaining breach. No one calling him Finch will try to kill him again. He feels a deep and almost morbid satisfaction that he doesn't have to give up Harold Finch.

Because Finch is the name he made for Reese. <\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:123839","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/123839.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=123839"}}],"title":"[FIC - Marvel Big Bang] We Might Be Radioactive","published":"2012-11-11T18:33:57Z","updated":"2012-11-13T03:36:51Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"peter parker"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"big bang"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"crossover"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"bruce banner"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"brucepeter"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"spulk"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Title:<\/b> We Might Be Radioactive
Beta name:<\/b> <\/a>tanithkitty<\/b><\/a><\/span>
Characters\/Pairing:<\/b> Peter Parker\/Bruce Banner, Peter\/Gwen, background Tony\/Pepper, Steve
Fandom\/Universe:<\/b> Marvel Movie Universe\/The Amazing Spider-Man
Rating:<\/b> NC-17
Word count:<\/b> 48,000
Warnings:<\/b> Sex, mild violence, age gap (40\/17). For some of the fic Bruce doesn't know Peter's age which could be considered dub-con. Butchery of science.
Summary:<\/b> Peter misses his chance at saving the world alongside the Avengers, but he's not out. When he scales Stark Tower hoping to meet Tony (and possibly secure a seat on the team) he instead meets Bruce, who has taken up a temporary residence while he continues his Hulk research. The two bond over science-y things, but between Bruce's dry spell, Peter's teen hormones, and the secret identities they're still coming to grips with themselves, it doesn't take long for things to get complicated.

Fic on AO3<\/a>

Fanworker name:<\/b> <\/a>korilian<\/b><\/a><\/span>
Type of fanwork:<\/b> Cover
At Korilian's LJ<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:123503","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/123503.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=123503"}}],"title":"[FIC - DCU Big Bang] Elliptical Orbit","published":"2012-11-01T17:21:10Z","updated":"2012-11-02T02:54:23Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"big bang"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"bruce wayne"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfic"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"tony stark"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"waynestark"}}],"content":"Title:<\/b> Elliptical Orbit
Author:<\/b> <\/a>croik<\/b><\/a><\/span>
Beta:<\/b> <\/a>tanithkitty<\/b><\/a><\/span>
Pairing:<\/b> Bruce Wayne\/Tony Stark
Fandom\/Universe:<\/b> Nolanverse\/MCU
Rating:<\/b> Hard R
Word count:<\/b> 18,500
Warnings:<\/b> Brief minor\/adult teasing and discussions of sex, but everything done in the fic is between adults.
Summary:<\/b> Bruce Wayne may be the richest man in Gotham, but he's far from being the most liked. Of the few people that can claim know him well, one of them is Tony Stark. Ever since meeting as kids, their strange, tumultuous friendship has carried them through all the major milestones of their lives, from childhood revelations, to troubling times overseas, to becoming superheroes. It's rarely easy. Most of the time they won't even admit to liking each other. But they just can't leave each other alone.
Notes:<\/b> Many thanks to my artist and beta!

Fic on AO3<\/a>

Artist:<\/b> <\/a>mementis<\/b><\/a><\/span>
Type of fanwork:<\/b> Banner and fanmix
On Mementis' journal<\/a> (when it unlocks)"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:croik:123338","link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/123338.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/croik.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=123338"}}],"title":"Dear Yuletide Santa!!","published":"2012-10-16T01:37:35Z","updated":"2012-10-16T01:37:35Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"yuletide"}},"content":"Ooooh, Yuletide! So exciting! Thanks in advance for being my Santa <3

I don't like to give too many instructions, I like to be surprised. But in general, I will say I prefer angst to fluff, I like tension and drama, I like dub-con, but I also like fun porn or even fun bonding and adventure. I DON'T like all-out non-con or hard kink (such as BDSM, watersports, omegaverse), but I have no problem with things going dark or violent.

(For the record, for me the difference between dub and non-con is the implication that the agressor *would* stop, if they honestly believed their partner didn't want it, or if they weren't drunk\/high\/whatever it is impeding conesnt)

Thanks again, I'm looking forward posting day!"}]}