Rufus (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
badass_tiger) wrote2017-12-23 06:56 pm
badass_tiger) wrote2017-12-23 06:56 pm
Entry tags:
Dear Chocolate Box 2018 Creator
Thank you very much for looking into creating something for me! This letter is likely to be lengthy, but only if you need inspiration. If you need none, then you'll only need to look at my DNWs. I eagerly anticipate seeing what you create!
General likes:
DNWs:
Discworld - Terry Pratchett
Rufus Drumknott/Havelock Vetinari
Ah yes, my loves, now and forever. I love Vetinari, always so cool, so detached and clever, with that hidden sentimentality inside of him. He probably doesn't need to have someone to take care of him, but I think he would find Drumknott caring for him useful all the same. And who else could care for him but his secretary, the man just as cool and calm, and knows him so well? Drumknott is so unquestionably loyal, what does it mean when that turns into love? Vetinari either cares for Drumknott or cares for keeping him by his side, what is it like when that turns into love?
Prompts: For fanfiction, I would adore some introspection into Vetinari's feelings for Drumknott. He probably never meant to get so close to anyone, so smack him over the head with the realisation, or let it creep up on him, I just love to see any interpretations of that realisation! Alternatively, show his plan of action after he realises his own feelings. I like the idea of him being honest with Drumknott instead of manipulating the situation to seduce Drumknott, but as long as you don't make it weird or creepy (mind the power/age gap!), then I'll be happy to see it. I also love AUs, as silly or as serious as you like them - coffee shop, boarding school, office, whatever - just no crossovers, please.
For fanart, visual representations of any AUs would be great! Other than that, I'm not a very visual person, so I'd be okay with seeing any interesting scenarios you might come up with. I headcanon Drumknott as having loose curls of reddish-brown hair, the red part because of his name, and the curly part because it symbolises purity of character to me. I've never seen fanart of Drumknott that conformed to my headcanon so it'd be cool to see that for once!
DNWs: Vetinari/Vimes, and power play - a little angst about what their relationship means to each other or mention/discussion of this aspect of their relationship is fine, but nothing where Vetinari takes advantage of Drumknott, please.
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Ace Attorney
Apollo Justice/Nahyuta Sahdmadhi
These two are my NaruMitsu! Apollo Justice has been my favourite character from the moment I met him (despite my initial misgivings about AJ), and honestly I'm so happy he finally has a friend who is not from the agency ... who is still alive. SoJ was horrible to these two. Please fix them up for me.
Prompts: I would prefer post-SoJ fic than anything during their childhood. I would love a fic where they become extra close after SoJ, confiding their troubles and comforting each other, especially after the events of SoJ, and falling in love through that. I know there are Klapollo fics where Klavier is jealous of Nahyuta, so how about a Nahyupollo fic where Nahyuta becomes jealous of Klavier as a catalyst to their relationship?
As mentioned above, I'm not a visual person so I really have no idea about art prompts, I'm afraid. Apollo is just so handsome and Nahyuta is so beautiful, so I would love to see any art of them at all.
DNWs: I don't view this couple as incest [insert a child psychologist's rant about childhood development of sexuality, normal person's rant about how Apollo wasn't even adopted, fan's rant about how the artbook says they're childhood friends, etc.] so I would like to stay away from that angle as much as possible.
Bobby Fulbright/Simon Blackquill
Heh, you know these two would have had such a great following if DD hadn't been so horribly sadistic to them. Give them the happy ending they deserve! Be it the Phantom didn't exist, or he impersonated someone else, or he kept Bobby alive until after he was caught, let's just pretend the ending of DD never happened, right?
Prompts: Post-DD, Bobby helps Simon to get used to life outside of prison, let's him stay with him, or if he was kidnapped by the Phantom, they both help each other. If Simon never knew Bobby before the Phantom was caught, then he decides to meet him after DD and falls in love. During DD, Simon confiding in Bobby about Athena, Bobby sneaking him out to eat or giving him treats in prison, or something a little angsty with Bobby promising to save Simon.
Art prompts: Bobby taking Simon on a holiday, or bringing him clothes shopping after he's left prison, or on a date together!
DNWs: Please no Phantomquill! Other than that, as long as they're happy (nothing bittersweet or in the bad ending timeline), I will be happy.
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Original Work
Male Boss/Male Secretary
This is such a huge fetish of mine, it's mad. Call a man something vaguely resembling secretary/assistant, I will immediately sit up and pay attention. I just love how traditional it would be to have a male secretary who is highly intelligent and acts more as confidante and advisor than mere letter-writer or calendar-keeper. Loyalty turning into affection for the secretary, and needing someone professionally turning into needing someone personally for the boss, the potential for angst about not wanting to ruin a professional relationship ... There are a lot of ways you could take this, just make sure to choose one with a happy ending and I'll be hooked! I am also very fond of meek and gentle secretaries - not doormats, but a quiet and shy personality that hides a great deal of intelligence and skill. I'd love it if it turned out that the boss was the less experienced in relationships, he adheres to the secretary more when in an intimate setting, or basically, the secretary is the 'dominant' one in the relationship.
Prompts: I have previously created a list of potential boss/assistant AUs here, which you could use as inspiration! Alternatively, the secretary defends or saves the boss in a really unexpected way, or maybe it's just the boss who's been underestimating his gentle, unassuming secretary all along and this leads to one or both realising their feelings for each other. Maybe the boss is an emotionally detached character who, after some incident occurs, realises he's come to care for/depend on his secretary a lot more than he's ever cared for anyone. Relationship angst because neither wants to risk ruining the perfect working relationship? Maybe they both know their feelings for each other, they share a room when they travel, they subtly flirt all the time, but they don't think they can be together until some incident convinces them to just go for it?
DNWs: Just as with my inspiration for this kink, please no power play, the boss taking advantage of the secretary or anything like that. No need to baby either party and make sure they're okay with every single kiss, but just keep the relationship healthy and I'll be happy. I'm also not a huge fan of too much witty banter, although I'm all for friendly banter.
Older Woman/Older Man; Older Lady of a Manor/Younger Male Secretary
I've always had a big thing for age difference, but I love older people of the same age falling in love too! In Bachelors Anonymous, the #1 member of BA falls in love with a widow and Wodehouse remarks that because Trout never fell in love before, all the passion he should have spent in parts during his youth came overflowing out of him when he met his lady, and I adore that concept.
Prompts: I really love it if it's the first time the older person has fallen in love (or even if it's the first time in a really long time), making them feel really passionately, even if they don't show it. Maybe spontaneous asking out/marriage proposal like in BA if they are the same age, or if there is an age gap, quietly dealing with their own feelings because they think they’re too old until the younger asks them out, or just surprising the younger person with their romanticism because the older person is usually stoic or detached.
Actually, one thing I kind of ship is Lady Constance and Baxter from Blandings. Yes, shame me. But I love their close friendship and Lady Constance's admiration for Baxter despite their age difference. So a friends-to-lovers type of thing would be cool too, and if you are familiar with their friendship, a m/f pairing where the female is the older like with them would be acceptable to me!
DNWs: Just keep it the standard healthy relationship-type thing and I'm all good!
Male Prince/Male Prince
I enjoy fairy tales, I love the romanticism attached to royalty, and there are a lot of fun things you can do with a couple of princes! I won't say much here, there's a very wide scope for you to play with, so have fun! For this ship in particular, the prompts are very optional, so feel free to do something else if a good idea strikes you.
Prompts: Arranged marriage between the two princes! They could be betrothed at a young age and have lots of time to warm up to each other, or they could be betrothed as adults and only have a few months or weeks. This is one type of ship in particular where I love age difference. Perhaps one initially doesn't like his betrothed while the other is secretly smitten with his future husband? Maybe they try to completely ignore each other for most of their lives until something makes one or both realise how glad they actually are to marry each other?
DNWs: As stated in my general DNWs, I'm not interested in identity angst, so no 'We can't be together because we're both men' angst which seems to be so prevalent in this type of stuff, please.
Prince/King's Male Advisor
I picked this because I was struck by an interesting idea the moment I saw it, but then I started writing that idea and fell in love so now I have no idea what to prompt :'D This pairing seems to have a lot of potential for age difference and a little star-crossed angst and drama, or maybe even some old-fashioned courtly love that turns into a real relationship with some work, all stuff I'm happy with.
DNWs: Please don't end with them having to be in a secret relationship, that is way too angsty for my weak little heart. And ofc, no underage relationships, though starting off with an innocent crush is fine.
Prompts: Alright, I'll give you that I like this as the prince's father's advisor/the prince. Maybe the advisor has been around for a long time and ends up deep in angst about falling in love with the prince, especially since he's supposed to be loyal to the king first and foremost. Or perhaps the advisor only enters the royal family's life once the prince is an adult and the prince is immediately swept away by him, or they have some kind of meet cute that makes it adorably awkward when the advisor starts working for the family.
Alternatively, I'm very fond of the story I wrote for this ship, Advice for a Third Prince. This is pretty self-absorbed, but I would love fic of the main couple, if they inspire you! Even though they have a happy ending (okay, that's not a spoiler), there are still obstacles in their now joined paths. It's not entirely easy for someone of Altair's age to be in a relationship with someone of Castor's age, and the other way around too. What do you imagine they quarrel about? How do they make up? How do they flirt with each other in the months leading to their marriage? Or something that takes place after their marriage, such as their honeymoon, or perhaps Altair takes Castor to visit his hometown and tell him of his history. Anything goes, I'd be supremely happy if my ship inspired you to write anything at all \o/
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British Comedy RPF
Lee Mack/David Mitchell
These two play off of each other so well, they're basically a double act! Of course the personas they project on Would I Lie To You aren't their real personalities, but they are irresistible. I love how Lee's always joking about flirting with David, or being in love with David, and how David laughs them off almost as if bashful. Their sexual tension is enough to drive one mad!
Prompts: Often when David and Lee start arguing, the other panellists fall silent and just let them at it, with perhaps Rob occasionally stepping in to rile them up even more. Wouldn't it be so funny if they were actually a couple, so that when they start going at it, the other panellists start rolling their eyes and making sarcastic comments like kids watching their parents play-fighting? What if, because they were a couple, they know each other so well that they make sarcastic comments about each other's lies like, 'It's true, I watch him do it every night. Naked. Oh, I'm the one who's naked, not him,' or 'That's a lie, Fridays are date nights, couldn't have happened'? Would love hilarious stuff to do with Would I Lie To You or other stand ups or shows of theirs, but anything with their 'on-camera' personalities would be great!
DNWs: Please no infidelity or bashing on their irl spouses/children/etc., I do actually love them too.
Greg Davies/Alex Horne
These two have such a natural chemistry, both in Taskmaster and on interviews and things! I love how they've both got really strong on-stage personas (Alex, the obsequious and somewhat naïve assistant who worships Greg, and Greg, the horrible, almost cruel boss and Taskmaster) but they sometimes lose it laughing or with Greg accidentally showing his cute side (like this video where he apologises for swearing without meaning to) because let's be honest, we all know that Greg is actually a massive, adorable kitten. I'd love to read fic of those on-camera personas in this Taskmaster universe (where Greg and Alex apparently live together, as they have mentioned a couple of times), Greg who is big and scary but secretly a big softie, and Alex who is a lot smarter and aware of things than he seems, whose affection for Greg comes from perhaps seeing that cute side of his more often than anyone else.
Prompts: Greg and Alex were much more overt with the flirting in the earlier seasons, complimenting each other, touching each other, holding hands, etc., and it's only in later seasons that he became more of a cruel boss and mentioned stuff like carpet snake Alex. In-universe, what happened there? Did Greg perhaps get a bit scared of how fond he was getting of Alex and is trying to distance himself? Or did they get together after the earlier seasons and decided to act less lovey-dovey for the sake of the camera? If this clip fits into the Taskmaster universe, then perhaps Greg treats Alex much more equally off-camera (Alex doesn't use his 'assistant voice' when he protests that he just did the carpet snake thing) so what's their off-camera relationship like in the Taskmaster universe?
I'm also raising my ban on E-rated stuff for this ship because I'll be honest, those two make my heart beat fast and my face blush in a way few other ships do. Alex writes most of the tasks (irl he took the assistant role because he wanted to be more involved in the tasks but in-universe...) so I love the idea of him being a total power bottom who actually takes control when things start going.
Oh, and here's an adorable image of them looking like a couple who have taken a photo of themselves to send to the little boy they're going to adopt to inspire you.
DNWs: Please do stay on the humorous side as much as possible, and don't portray Greg as being truly abusive or anything!
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The Royal Tutor
Spoilers for the manga!
Eins von Granzreich/Ernst Rosenberg
Every time these two appear together, it's always so exciting! I used to be extremely wary of Ernst and inclined to suspect him as being a villain, but chapter 59 has turned me the other way, shall we say. There's still so much to be seen about their relationship, and I'd love to see the possibilities explored!
Prompts: Chapter 59 revealed that they're childhood friends ever since any of Eins' younger brothers can remember, so they've been together for a very long time. The Rosenberg family has apparently served the royal family for a long time, so one can imagine them meeting naturally enough, but how did their friendship begin and progress? What attracted them to each other?
I can actually see their relationship starting as Ernst perhaps only wanting to get on Eins' good side for his own benefit, or being instructed to do so by his family, as his character is so jesting it doesn't seem that being Eins' high steward is something all that important to him. But it is hard to doubt his genuine regard for Eins after the latest chapter, so if that were the case, he must have come to care for him. When Eins finds out, what happens?
Art prompts: Maybe the two as kids, hanging out with each other or their first meeting? Chilling together as adults in Schwarz Palace, their home? Or maybe Ernst comforting Eins when Eins is (inevitably) told that he won't become king?
DNWs: Angst away, that's what I love Akai Higasa for, just as long as it's not all completely horrible. Don't separate them, is basically what I'm saying.
Eins von Granzreich & Adele von Granzreich
I am dying for a chapter where Eins shows that he does actually genuinely care for his family, with him truly acting like a caring big brother to the others. He's Viktor's son after all, there has to be a part of him that loves his family as much as the rest of his family love each other! In Chapter 15, Leonhard says that the whole family was overjoyed when Adele was born, and even Eins joined in to celebrate her birth. Pleeeease just give me cute family fluff with these guys!
Prompts: I'd love to see that family celebration when Adele was born. Eins was 20 when she was born, maybe he gets a bit mushy and overprotective too? That would work well as an art prompt as well! Or I'd love to see something that shows Adele as adoring Eins as much as any of her other brothers. Maybe at one point Eins has become extremely distant from his family, and Adele still treating him as one of her dear big brothers makes him reconcile with them?
DNWs: I'd like nothing too heavy or angsty for Eins and family stories. Just let them be cute and full of feel-good fluff.
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Undertaker Riddle
If you haven't read this manga, I highly recommend that you do so. It is unfortunately not licensed in English, but there's translations floating around and it is very worth the read! Spoilers in my prompts, so don't read any further before you try out the manga!
Sakura Hayato/Riddle
How can you not love these two? They grow to be so close! The development of their relationship is so natural, Hayato begrudgingly helping out Riddle so he can live, going from being a really grumpy Undertaker and saying he hates to admit that Riddle has helped him a lot to becoming jealous of Riddle's past with Roen to finally swearing that they will always be together - oh my little heart! They're just such a great team and have such a fun relationship!
Prompts: I'd love to see them after Riddle is released from Hell! Does hekick Brad out of the Catacombs become Hayato's secretary and resumes annoying everyone with his superciliousness? I'm sure they have a lot to talk about after what happened in Hell. Riddle probably needs tons of hugs and kisses to heal his guilt over Sigurd, so I'd love to see some h/c about that.
DNWs: Please don't write Riddle as having been in love with Hayato before they met in canon - at least not until he was at least 16 or so, if you really must.
Sigurd/Riddle
These two hurt my heart so deeply. Every time I read that flashback where Riddle ardently declares that it's too much for him to kill Sigurd with his own hands, I can't help but smile and wibble at the same time. The look of pure joy on Riddle's face when Sigurd returns, Sigurd cupping Riddle's face as he thanks him, and his final speech to Riddle before Riddle sends him off ... Oh, they are seriously one of my favourite pairs of all time! I do believe that their relationship in canon was a pure and true friendship ... but there's so much potential for screwed-up-ness and angst with these two! I mean, Sigurd wanted to destroy the whole world, he can't have been as wholly pure and kind-hearted as Riddle believed, right? I would so so love to see any exploration and interpretation of their relationship at all!
Prompts: One of my favourite scenarios to consider is, what would have happened if Hayato lost the fight against Sigurd? Doubtlessly, Sigurd would want to forgive Riddle, but Riddle would probably be utterly traumatised by the entire incident. How would Sigurd help and comfort him? Things could probably never go back to normal between them. Would Sigurd perhaps even manipulate or guilt Riddle into forgetting about Hayato? I can imagine Riddle eventually accepting Sigurd's forgiveness enough to resume a friendship similar to what they had in the Catacombs, but it would be different, and likely pretty messed up. A bittersweet ending is totally fine by me!
Or perhaps something cuter about their relationship while they were in the Catacombs. Why did Sigurd single Riddle out from everyone else in the Catacombs or out of all the souls sent to him to be judged? How did their relationship develop? How did Sigurd come to give him the name 'The Fool's Riddle'? What is their relationship really like? It's hard to tell. I was shocked to see our super cool Riddle acting practically servile in their flashbacks and in the way he spoke to Sigurd in Hell, but what were they like normally? Was Riddle flirtatious with him like he is with Hayato, or was he much more respectful? Faust is the one who, in the current time, tells the other Undertakers that Sigurd and Riddle were very good friends. How did she, and perhaps other residents of the Catacombs at the time, see their relationship?
DNWs: While I'm obviously very happy with angst and bittersweet or perhaps even twisted endings, please don't leave Riddle entirely miserable at the end!
General likes:
- Fluff
- Hurt/comfort (nothing too dramatic though)
- Shenanigans
- AUs (not crossovers)
- Catalysts
- Formal/sophisticated speech patterns
- Fleshed out relationships/slow burn
- Age differences (15-20+ years difference)
- Older characters (late-20s youngest, senior characters highly recommended!)
- Older English settings, Wodehouse-an or something, but I'm good with mid-to-late Georgian-era too
DNWs:
- Angst and sad tropes
- Anything that requires a warning on ao3
- Psychological tropes (including identity angst)
- E rating on ao3
- Crack
- M-preg
- Genderbending
- Underage ships
- Other ships
- Graphics
Discworld - Terry Pratchett
Rufus Drumknott/Havelock Vetinari
Ah yes, my loves, now and forever. I love Vetinari, always so cool, so detached and clever, with that hidden sentimentality inside of him. He probably doesn't need to have someone to take care of him, but I think he would find Drumknott caring for him useful all the same. And who else could care for him but his secretary, the man just as cool and calm, and knows him so well? Drumknott is so unquestionably loyal, what does it mean when that turns into love? Vetinari either cares for Drumknott or cares for keeping him by his side, what is it like when that turns into love?
Prompts: For fanfiction, I would adore some introspection into Vetinari's feelings for Drumknott. He probably never meant to get so close to anyone, so smack him over the head with the realisation, or let it creep up on him, I just love to see any interpretations of that realisation! Alternatively, show his plan of action after he realises his own feelings. I like the idea of him being honest with Drumknott instead of manipulating the situation to seduce Drumknott, but as long as you don't make it weird or creepy (mind the power/age gap!), then I'll be happy to see it. I also love AUs, as silly or as serious as you like them - coffee shop, boarding school, office, whatever - just no crossovers, please.
For fanart, visual representations of any AUs would be great! Other than that, I'm not a very visual person, so I'd be okay with seeing any interesting scenarios you might come up with. I headcanon Drumknott as having loose curls of reddish-brown hair, the red part because of his name, and the curly part because it symbolises purity of character to me. I've never seen fanart of Drumknott that conformed to my headcanon so it'd be cool to see that for once!
DNWs: Vetinari/Vimes, and power play - a little angst about what their relationship means to each other or mention/discussion of this aspect of their relationship is fine, but nothing where Vetinari takes advantage of Drumknott, please.
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Ace Attorney
Apollo Justice/Nahyuta Sahdmadhi
These two are my NaruMitsu! Apollo Justice has been my favourite character from the moment I met him (despite my initial misgivings about AJ), and honestly I'm so happy he finally has a friend who is not from the agency ... who is still alive. SoJ was horrible to these two. Please fix them up for me.
Prompts: I would prefer post-SoJ fic than anything during their childhood. I would love a fic where they become extra close after SoJ, confiding their troubles and comforting each other, especially after the events of SoJ, and falling in love through that. I know there are Klapollo fics where Klavier is jealous of Nahyuta, so how about a Nahyupollo fic where Nahyuta becomes jealous of Klavier as a catalyst to their relationship?
As mentioned above, I'm not a visual person so I really have no idea about art prompts, I'm afraid. Apollo is just so handsome and Nahyuta is so beautiful, so I would love to see any art of them at all.
DNWs: I don't view this couple as incest [insert a child psychologist's rant about childhood development of sexuality, normal person's rant about how Apollo wasn't even adopted, fan's rant about how the artbook says they're childhood friends, etc.] so I would like to stay away from that angle as much as possible.
Bobby Fulbright/Simon Blackquill
Heh, you know these two would have had such a great following if DD hadn't been so horribly sadistic to them. Give them the happy ending they deserve! Be it the Phantom didn't exist, or he impersonated someone else, or he kept Bobby alive until after he was caught, let's just pretend the ending of DD never happened, right?
Prompts: Post-DD, Bobby helps Simon to get used to life outside of prison, let's him stay with him, or if he was kidnapped by the Phantom, they both help each other. If Simon never knew Bobby before the Phantom was caught, then he decides to meet him after DD and falls in love. During DD, Simon confiding in Bobby about Athena, Bobby sneaking him out to eat or giving him treats in prison, or something a little angsty with Bobby promising to save Simon.
Art prompts: Bobby taking Simon on a holiday, or bringing him clothes shopping after he's left prison, or on a date together!
DNWs: Please no Phantomquill! Other than that, as long as they're happy (nothing bittersweet or in the bad ending timeline), I will be happy.
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Original Work
Male Boss/Male Secretary
This is such a huge fetish of mine, it's mad. Call a man something vaguely resembling secretary/assistant, I will immediately sit up and pay attention. I just love how traditional it would be to have a male secretary who is highly intelligent and acts more as confidante and advisor than mere letter-writer or calendar-keeper. Loyalty turning into affection for the secretary, and needing someone professionally turning into needing someone personally for the boss, the potential for angst about not wanting to ruin a professional relationship ... There are a lot of ways you could take this, just make sure to choose one with a happy ending and I'll be hooked! I am also very fond of meek and gentle secretaries - not doormats, but a quiet and shy personality that hides a great deal of intelligence and skill. I'd love it if it turned out that the boss was the less experienced in relationships, he adheres to the secretary more when in an intimate setting, or basically, the secretary is the 'dominant' one in the relationship.
Prompts: I have previously created a list of potential boss/assistant AUs here, which you could use as inspiration! Alternatively, the secretary defends or saves the boss in a really unexpected way, or maybe it's just the boss who's been underestimating his gentle, unassuming secretary all along and this leads to one or both realising their feelings for each other. Maybe the boss is an emotionally detached character who, after some incident occurs, realises he's come to care for/depend on his secretary a lot more than he's ever cared for anyone. Relationship angst because neither wants to risk ruining the perfect working relationship? Maybe they both know their feelings for each other, they share a room when they travel, they subtly flirt all the time, but they don't think they can be together until some incident convinces them to just go for it?
DNWs: Just as with my inspiration for this kink, please no power play, the boss taking advantage of the secretary or anything like that. No need to baby either party and make sure they're okay with every single kiss, but just keep the relationship healthy and I'll be happy. I'm also not a huge fan of too much witty banter, although I'm all for friendly banter.
Older Woman/Older Man; Older Lady of a Manor/Younger Male Secretary
I've always had a big thing for age difference, but I love older people of the same age falling in love too! In Bachelors Anonymous, the #1 member of BA falls in love with a widow and Wodehouse remarks that because Trout never fell in love before, all the passion he should have spent in parts during his youth came overflowing out of him when he met his lady, and I adore that concept.
Prompts: I really love it if it's the first time the older person has fallen in love (or even if it's the first time in a really long time), making them feel really passionately, even if they don't show it. Maybe spontaneous asking out/marriage proposal like in BA if they are the same age, or if there is an age gap, quietly dealing with their own feelings because they think they’re too old until the younger asks them out, or just surprising the younger person with their romanticism because the older person is usually stoic or detached.
Actually, one thing I kind of ship is Lady Constance and Baxter from Blandings. Yes, shame me. But I love their close friendship and Lady Constance's admiration for Baxter despite their age difference. So a friends-to-lovers type of thing would be cool too, and if you are familiar with their friendship, a m/f pairing where the female is the older like with them would be acceptable to me!
DNWs: Just keep it the standard healthy relationship-type thing and I'm all good!
Male Prince/Male Prince
I enjoy fairy tales, I love the romanticism attached to royalty, and there are a lot of fun things you can do with a couple of princes! I won't say much here, there's a very wide scope for you to play with, so have fun! For this ship in particular, the prompts are very optional, so feel free to do something else if a good idea strikes you.
Prompts: Arranged marriage between the two princes! They could be betrothed at a young age and have lots of time to warm up to each other, or they could be betrothed as adults and only have a few months or weeks. This is one type of ship in particular where I love age difference. Perhaps one initially doesn't like his betrothed while the other is secretly smitten with his future husband? Maybe they try to completely ignore each other for most of their lives until something makes one or both realise how glad they actually are to marry each other?
DNWs: As stated in my general DNWs, I'm not interested in identity angst, so no 'We can't be together because we're both men' angst which seems to be so prevalent in this type of stuff, please.
Prince/King's Male Advisor
I picked this because I was struck by an interesting idea the moment I saw it, but then I started writing that idea and fell in love so now I have no idea what to prompt :'D This pairing seems to have a lot of potential for age difference and a little star-crossed angst and drama, or maybe even some old-fashioned courtly love that turns into a real relationship with some work, all stuff I'm happy with.
DNWs: Please don't end with them having to be in a secret relationship, that is way too angsty for my weak little heart. And ofc, no underage relationships, though starting off with an innocent crush is fine.
Prompts: Alright, I'll give you that I like this as the prince's father's advisor/the prince. Maybe the advisor has been around for a long time and ends up deep in angst about falling in love with the prince, especially since he's supposed to be loyal to the king first and foremost. Or perhaps the advisor only enters the royal family's life once the prince is an adult and the prince is immediately swept away by him, or they have some kind of meet cute that makes it adorably awkward when the advisor starts working for the family.
Alternatively, I'm very fond of the story I wrote for this ship, Advice for a Third Prince. This is pretty self-absorbed, but I would love fic of the main couple, if they inspire you! Even though they have a happy ending (okay, that's not a spoiler), there are still obstacles in their now joined paths. It's not entirely easy for someone of Altair's age to be in a relationship with someone of Castor's age, and the other way around too. What do you imagine they quarrel about? How do they make up? How do they flirt with each other in the months leading to their marriage? Or something that takes place after their marriage, such as their honeymoon, or perhaps Altair takes Castor to visit his hometown and tell him of his history. Anything goes, I'd be supremely happy if my ship inspired you to write anything at all \o/
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British Comedy RPF
Lee Mack/David Mitchell
These two play off of each other so well, they're basically a double act! Of course the personas they project on Would I Lie To You aren't their real personalities, but they are irresistible. I love how Lee's always joking about flirting with David, or being in love with David, and how David laughs them off almost as if bashful. Their sexual tension is enough to drive one mad!
Prompts: Often when David and Lee start arguing, the other panellists fall silent and just let them at it, with perhaps Rob occasionally stepping in to rile them up even more. Wouldn't it be so funny if they were actually a couple, so that when they start going at it, the other panellists start rolling their eyes and making sarcastic comments like kids watching their parents play-fighting? What if, because they were a couple, they know each other so well that they make sarcastic comments about each other's lies like, 'It's true, I watch him do it every night. Naked. Oh, I'm the one who's naked, not him,' or 'That's a lie, Fridays are date nights, couldn't have happened'? Would love hilarious stuff to do with Would I Lie To You or other stand ups or shows of theirs, but anything with their 'on-camera' personalities would be great!
DNWs: Please no infidelity or bashing on their irl spouses/children/etc., I do actually love them too.
Greg Davies/Alex Horne
These two have such a natural chemistry, both in Taskmaster and on interviews and things! I love how they've both got really strong on-stage personas (Alex, the obsequious and somewhat naïve assistant who worships Greg, and Greg, the horrible, almost cruel boss and Taskmaster) but they sometimes lose it laughing or with Greg accidentally showing his cute side (like this video where he apologises for swearing without meaning to) because let's be honest, we all know that Greg is actually a massive, adorable kitten. I'd love to read fic of those on-camera personas in this Taskmaster universe (where Greg and Alex apparently live together, as they have mentioned a couple of times), Greg who is big and scary but secretly a big softie, and Alex who is a lot smarter and aware of things than he seems, whose affection for Greg comes from perhaps seeing that cute side of his more often than anyone else.
Prompts: Greg and Alex were much more overt with the flirting in the earlier seasons, complimenting each other, touching each other, holding hands, etc., and it's only in later seasons that he became more of a cruel boss and mentioned stuff like carpet snake Alex. In-universe, what happened there? Did Greg perhaps get a bit scared of how fond he was getting of Alex and is trying to distance himself? Or did they get together after the earlier seasons and decided to act less lovey-dovey for the sake of the camera? If this clip fits into the Taskmaster universe, then perhaps Greg treats Alex much more equally off-camera (Alex doesn't use his 'assistant voice' when he protests that he just did the carpet snake thing) so what's their off-camera relationship like in the Taskmaster universe?
I'm also raising my ban on E-rated stuff for this ship because I'll be honest, those two make my heart beat fast and my face blush in a way few other ships do. Alex writes most of the tasks (irl he took the assistant role because he wanted to be more involved in the tasks but in-universe...) so I love the idea of him being a total power bottom who actually takes control when things start going.
Oh, and here's an adorable image of them looking like a couple who have taken a photo of themselves to send to the little boy they're going to adopt to inspire you.
DNWs: Please do stay on the humorous side as much as possible, and don't portray Greg as being truly abusive or anything!
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The Royal Tutor
Spoilers for the manga!
Eins von Granzreich/Ernst Rosenberg
Every time these two appear together, it's always so exciting! I used to be extremely wary of Ernst and inclined to suspect him as being a villain, but chapter 59 has turned me the other way, shall we say. There's still so much to be seen about their relationship, and I'd love to see the possibilities explored!
Prompts: Chapter 59 revealed that they're childhood friends ever since any of Eins' younger brothers can remember, so they've been together for a very long time. The Rosenberg family has apparently served the royal family for a long time, so one can imagine them meeting naturally enough, but how did their friendship begin and progress? What attracted them to each other?
I can actually see their relationship starting as Ernst perhaps only wanting to get on Eins' good side for his own benefit, or being instructed to do so by his family, as his character is so jesting it doesn't seem that being Eins' high steward is something all that important to him. But it is hard to doubt his genuine regard for Eins after the latest chapter, so if that were the case, he must have come to care for him. When Eins finds out, what happens?
Art prompts: Maybe the two as kids, hanging out with each other or their first meeting? Chilling together as adults in Schwarz Palace, their home? Or maybe Ernst comforting Eins when Eins is (inevitably) told that he won't become king?
DNWs: Angst away, that's what I love Akai Higasa for, just as long as it's not all completely horrible. Don't separate them, is basically what I'm saying.
Eins von Granzreich & Adele von Granzreich
I am dying for a chapter where Eins shows that he does actually genuinely care for his family, with him truly acting like a caring big brother to the others. He's Viktor's son after all, there has to be a part of him that loves his family as much as the rest of his family love each other! In Chapter 15, Leonhard says that the whole family was overjoyed when Adele was born, and even Eins joined in to celebrate her birth. Pleeeease just give me cute family fluff with these guys!
Prompts: I'd love to see that family celebration when Adele was born. Eins was 20 when she was born, maybe he gets a bit mushy and overprotective too? That would work well as an art prompt as well! Or I'd love to see something that shows Adele as adoring Eins as much as any of her other brothers. Maybe at one point Eins has become extremely distant from his family, and Adele still treating him as one of her dear big brothers makes him reconcile with them?
DNWs: I'd like nothing too heavy or angsty for Eins and family stories. Just let them be cute and full of feel-good fluff.
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Undertaker Riddle
If you haven't read this manga, I highly recommend that you do so. It is unfortunately not licensed in English, but there's translations floating around and it is very worth the read! Spoilers in my prompts, so don't read any further before you try out the manga!
Sakura Hayato/Riddle
How can you not love these two? They grow to be so close! The development of their relationship is so natural, Hayato begrudgingly helping out Riddle so he can live, going from being a really grumpy Undertaker and saying he hates to admit that Riddle has helped him a lot to becoming jealous of Riddle's past with Roen to finally swearing that they will always be together - oh my little heart! They're just such a great team and have such a fun relationship!
Prompts: I'd love to see them after Riddle is released from Hell! Does he
DNWs: Please don't write Riddle as having been in love with Hayato before they met in canon - at least not until he was at least 16 or so, if you really must.
Sigurd/Riddle
These two hurt my heart so deeply. Every time I read that flashback where Riddle ardently declares that it's too much for him to kill Sigurd with his own hands, I can't help but smile and wibble at the same time. The look of pure joy on Riddle's face when Sigurd returns, Sigurd cupping Riddle's face as he thanks him, and his final speech to Riddle before Riddle sends him off ... Oh, they are seriously one of my favourite pairs of all time! I do believe that their relationship in canon was a pure and true friendship ... but there's so much potential for screwed-up-ness and angst with these two! I mean, Sigurd wanted to destroy the whole world, he can't have been as wholly pure and kind-hearted as Riddle believed, right? I would so so love to see any exploration and interpretation of their relationship at all!
Prompts: One of my favourite scenarios to consider is, what would have happened if Hayato lost the fight against Sigurd? Doubtlessly, Sigurd would want to forgive Riddle, but Riddle would probably be utterly traumatised by the entire incident. How would Sigurd help and comfort him? Things could probably never go back to normal between them. Would Sigurd perhaps even manipulate or guilt Riddle into forgetting about Hayato? I can imagine Riddle eventually accepting Sigurd's forgiveness enough to resume a friendship similar to what they had in the Catacombs, but it would be different, and likely pretty messed up. A bittersweet ending is totally fine by me!
Or perhaps something cuter about their relationship while they were in the Catacombs. Why did Sigurd single Riddle out from everyone else in the Catacombs or out of all the souls sent to him to be judged? How did their relationship develop? How did Sigurd come to give him the name 'The Fool's Riddle'? What is their relationship really like? It's hard to tell. I was shocked to see our super cool Riddle acting practically servile in their flashbacks and in the way he spoke to Sigurd in Hell, but what were they like normally? Was Riddle flirtatious with him like he is with Hayato, or was he much more respectful? Faust is the one who, in the current time, tells the other Undertakers that Sigurd and Riddle were very good friends. How did she, and perhaps other residents of the Catacombs at the time, see their relationship?
DNWs: While I'm obviously very happy with angst and bittersweet or perhaps even twisted endings, please don't leave Riddle entirely miserable at the end!