disgruntled_owl | Entries tagged with exchange

You might be visiting my blog if you've been assigned me as a recipient in an exchange. Here are some details on my general likes and dislikes.

Relationship Interests: I enjoy gen, het, slash, and femslash. Poly is less of a thing for me, but I am open to reading about it if you find it makes for a compelling story. I’m particularly intrigued by mentor and student relationships, romantic possibilities for older characters, sexual extortion, and power dynamics and imbalances.

Other Likes: Gothic tales, noir, intrigue, atmosphere, vampires, ghosts, period settings, spooky monsters, ruins, fairy tale motifs, nature (forests, deserts, oceans, shores, and swamps), villains and their motives and psychological characteristics.

Do-Not-Wants: cannibalism (vampires drinking blood is okay), bestiality, zombies, mpreg, gratuitous graphic violence, scat/watersports, tentacle porn, underage, body horror, animal or child abuse.

Gray Areas: I’d prefer not to read stories about infidelity or very explicit rape/non-con. Given my relationship interests, dub-con is okay. I understand this territory is murky, so don’t worry too much about crossing a line. I’m primarily trying to avoid really extreme or violent situations.

Story Characteristics: I’m good with missing scenes and canon divergence, but I like to stay in the world of the story, so I’d prefer the story not be set in a dramatically different AU (coffee shop, high school, etc.). I'm also not into reader inserts or stories written in the second person. Also, I read a lot of fiction with dark themes, in large part because it's what I like to write. However, I enjoy receiving light and fluffy stories, too, not least because that style is a bit outside my repertoire. So, if you feel inspired to write something happy or silly, go for it!

I've been lucky to be able to write Horror of Dracula fic for several exchanges these past few years. I'm delighted to know that Hammer Horror fans are out there, and it's been a lot of fun to share a love of the studio's unique take on Dracula with them. My story this year:

Fascination (10,671 words)
by disgruntled_owl
for rosecake
Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence (vampire staking and references to decapitation)
Fandoms: Horror of Dracula (1958), Dracula & Related Fandoms
Relationship: Jonathan Harker & Van Helsing (Hammer)
Characters: Jonathan Harker, Van Helsing (Hammer), Arthur Holmwood, Lucy Holmwood, Mina Holmwood
Additional Tags: Minor Original Character(s), Bavaria, Vampires, Obsession, Vampire Hunters, hammer horror, Hammer films, 19th Century, Backstory, Vampire Staking, Minor Character Death, Vampire Decapitation, Pre-Canon, Friendship, Libraries

Summary: An elegant stranger arrives at the Karlstadt Municipal Archive, seeking the histories of Bavarian nobles for a mysterious purpose. Librarian Jonathan Harker aids the visitor in his research and becomes captivated by him and his secret mission. As sinister events begin happening in Karlstadt, Harker sinks deeper into his obsession until he learns the dark truths that will change his life forever.

( Notes and Thoughts )

If you like Star Wars, and cyborgs, and creepy things happening to Clone Wars-era Obi-Wan Kenobi, then maybe this is for you!

Warrior's Body
by disgruntled_owl
for shanlyrical

Collection: Trick or Treat Exchange 2018
Rating: Teen and Up
Word Count: 1,388
Fandoms: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media TypesStar Wars - All Media Types
Tags: Grievous | Qymaen jai Sheelal, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Psychosexual Encounter, envy - Freeform, Nudity, Trick or Treat: Trick, Fight Scene, cyborg, Jedi

Summary: Obi-Wan is compromised during a stealth mission and wakes to find himself wounded, exposed, and in Grievous's clutches. As he tries to make his escape, the Jedi is forced to reckon with the creature within the machine.

Notes and thoughts:

One of the blessings I've experienced writing for exchanges is that I have gotten better at empathizing with, or at least appreciating, characters that don't naturally attract my interest. Here's hoping these experiences are making me a better writer overall. At the outset, I struggled with what I was going to do with Grievous, but by the time I finished the story, I found him to be a lot more intriguing (and I found Obi-Wan a lot sexier, too). It helped to watch both Clone Wars TV shows, which put the horror villain Grievous in horror-type settings (as opposed to sunny jungle planets surrounded by giant lizards). He's actually at his most terrifying in Tartakovsky's cel-animated Clone Wars series, where he's this nigh-unstoppable murder machine.
I've seen countless Force pushes and throws in Star Wars movies and TV shows, but writing about how the Force works and how Jedi use it turned out to be pretty hard.
I debated whether I could define this as a slash relationship when I was tagging it. I wanted to include a sexual undercurrent, but it's probably one the characters only subconsciously realize. There's no actual sex, but a lot of weird touching. I'm still feeling my way towards where the slash boundary actually lies, and what tags might be false advertising.

What a great haul I had for this year's Trick or Treat Exchange! I really appreciate how generous these three authors were with their time and creativity as they wrote these stories.

First, a deliciously gloomy scene set prior to the events of Horror of Dracula, which reveals a dark moment in Van Helsing's past.

Dusk
Fandom: Horror of Dracula (1958)
by WilliamLazenbyotch
Tags: Abraham Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, Count Dracula, Trick or Treat: Trick

Summary: Harker and Van Helsing meet one last time before the young man's ill-fated journey to Klausenburg, and the good doctor remembers an earlier brush with their adversary.

Next, a scene that explores the vulnerabilities, loyalties, and fortitude of Walter Dornez, my favorite character in one of my favorite Dracula-related fandoms.

Dereliction and Duty
Fandom: Hellsing
by AceQueenKing
Tags: Alucard & Walter Dornez, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Background Relationship: Alucard/Integra, Alucard (Hellsing), Walter Dornez, Offers to Turn, Temptation, Old Age, Discussion of death and aging

Summary: Walter's hand shakes. It’s a quick quiver, nothing major; the china teacup rattles on its saucer in an ominous warning, but not a drop is spilled.

But it does not go unnoticed.

“Oh ho,” Alucard says, leering as he sips from his own cup, though it is filled with a more profane liquid. “Losing your grip, old man.”

And finally, a heartbreaking alternate ending for a a battle between friends set during the Clone Wars.

A Trick of the Light
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types
by LittleRaven
Tags: Anakin Skywalker & Ahsoka Tano, Ashoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker | Darth Vader, Character Death Implied/Referenced Character Death, Dark, Lights, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe, Angst, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Ambiguous endings, Gen Work Ratings: G, Bad Ending, Eldritch, Mortis (Star Wars), Episode Related, Episode Tag, Episode Remix, Friendship, Holding Hands, Horror, Trick or Treat: Trick, Trick or Treat: Chocolate Box, vices, Episode: s03e16 Altar of Mortis

Summary: His reactions are so often reckless.

Dear Trick or Treat Creator,

Thanks for participating in the exchange! I hope you're as excited about it as I am. Here’s a bit about me and my requests.

In General

Relationship Interests: I enjoy gen, het, slash, and femslash. Poly is less of a thing for me, but I am open to reading about it if you find it makes for a compelling story. I’m particularly intrigued by romantic possibilities for older characters, sexual extortion, and power dynamics and imbalances (particularly between villains and protagonists).

Other Likes: Gothic tales, noir, intrigue, atmosphere, vampires, ghosts, period settings, spooky monsters, ruins, fairy tale motifs, nature (forests, deserts, oceans, shores, and swamps), villains and their motives and psychological characteristics.

Do-Not-Wants: cannibalism (vampires drinking blood is okay), bestiality, zombies, mpreg, gratuitous graphic violence, scat/watersports, tentacle porn, underage, body horror, animal or child abuse.

Gray Areas: I’d prefer not to read stories about infidelity or very explicit rape/non-con. Given my relationship interests, dub-con is okay. I understand this territory is murky, so don’t worry too much about crossing a line. I’m primarily trying to avoid really extreme or violent situations.

Story Characteristics: I’m good with missing scenes and canon divergence, but I like to stay in the world of the story, so I’d prefer the story not be set in a dramatically different AU (coffee shop, high school, etc.). I'm also not into reader inserts or stories written in the second person.

Fandom Specifics

Dracula- Bram Stoker

Characters: Dracula, Bride of Dracula, Van Helsing, Renfield

Requests: Trick or treat, art or fic

Some suggestions for this fandom:

Exploring Dracula’s dark deeds as a vampire before the events of Dracula
Exploring Van Helsing’s past pursuit of Dracula, or the dark/unsavory things he might have done in his quest to rid the world of Dracula
Stories about Dracula acquiring his Brides; about the Brides encountering Renfield or Harker; or about them taking over the castle once Dracula leaves for London
Renfield’s experiences in Castle Dracula before the story begins

Hellboy - All Media Types

Characters: Trevor Bruttenholm, Abe Sapien, Hellboy

Requests: Trick or treat, art or fic

I find Trevor Bruttenholm to be such a compelling character, and would love a story that focuses on him. Though slight and bookish, he is clever and brave, and capable of mercy in the face of great horror. His vampire-hunting exploits in BPRD: 1946 and 1947 are fascinating--especially his encounters with Soviet occult expert Varvara--and I loved his gravel-voiced portrayal by John Hurt in the 2004 Del Toro movie. You could write about some of his experiences raising Hellboy in New Mexico, or hunting monsters of all kinds. I'm also fans of Hellboy and Abe, and would enjoy stories about their relationships with Professor Broom or on adventures of their own. I'm most familiar with the Hellboy comics and animated films (Blood and Iron, Sword of Storms), but would enjoy fic or art based on the Del Toro movies or the BPRD series.

Hellsing

Characters: Integra Hellsing, Alucard, Walter Dornez

Requests: Trick or treat, art or fic

I’d love stories centered on Alucard, Integra, and/or Walter, particularly character or family histories, spooky tales, or romances. My preferred pairing is Alucard/Integra. Walter is one of my favorite characters, and I’d be glad to read him in a pairing with any of the protagonists or with an original character. I’m most familiar with the first Hellsing anime, as opposed to the Hellsing manga, the Hellsing: The Dawn manga, or the Hellsing Ultimate anime. That said, if you would prefer to write or create art for these latter sources, that’s fine by me (though I’d prefer no evil/vampire Walter stories or artwork).

Horror of Dracula

Characters: Dracula, Van Helsing

Requests: Trick or treat, art or fic

This is my favorite cinematic version of Dracula. Christopher Lee's portrayal of the Count is at once terrifying and sensual, grand and feral. Peter Cushing is his match as the clever, noble, indefatigable Van Helsing. Also, the screenplay puts some interesting twists on the classic Dracula story, such as Harker going on a stealth mission to infiltrate Dracula's lair instead of just selling him real estate. I'm sure I'll love anything you'd write for this, but here are some suggestions anyhow:

Van Helsing hunting Dracula once before and failing, almost meeting his doom
Van Helsing bringing Harker into his cabal of vampire hunters

I don't necessarily ship Dracula and Van Helsing, but if you want to go that route, feel free.

Logan Lucky

Characters: Jimmy, Clyde, Mellie, Joe Bang

Requests: Trick or treat, fic

I'd really like a glimpse of Jimmy and Clyde's (and, if you're so inclined, Mellie's) sibling relationship, especially during or after their first robbery attempt. Or, do they have specific childhood encounters with the Logan family curse? Silly moments featuring Joe Bang also welcome. Please no sibling incest.

Star Wars - The Clone Wars - All Media Types

Characters: Ashoka, Anakin, Barriss, Rex, Luminara, Padme, Obi Wan

Requests: Trick, art or fic

I enjoy requesting Star Wars fandoms for this exchange because they offer a whole new universe to explore the meanings of horror, terror, gloom, and dread. The Clone Wars offers great settings to delve into these themes: the shadows of Umbara, the murky depths of Mon Cala, or even the vast emptiness of space. The battles of the Clone Wars leave behind trauma and destruction capable of haunting their survivors. Opposing armies conjure monsters or cyborgs like General Grievous to protect them or fight on their behalf. Please dig into whatever you find scary about The Clone Wars. Any or several of these protagonists can be a guide into these chilling situations.

Happy writing or drawing! I am looking forward to checking out your Halloween treat!

It’s been great fun participating in the Multifandom Drabble Exchange (see also Multifandom Drabble on Dreamwidth) for a second year. I had been really looking forward to it this time around. Maybe it's because the short word count makes the drafting part go quickly, so I can get to the more satisfying tinkering and polishing stage of writing. This was a relief after trying to do some original fiction writing for the first time in a while.

The gifts I received, each of which were delightful, made for a cephalopod bonanza.

1. Kraken's Foundling
Fandom: The Little Mermaid (1989)
By: sweetcarolanne
Tags: Ursula (Disney), The Kraken, Sea Monsters, Witches, Little Mermaid Elements, Lovecraftian, Creepy,
Adoption, Magic, Creepy, Fluff, Drabble, Extra Treat
Summary: A glimpse into Ursula's early life with her adoptive mother...

2. What The...?
Fandom: Octopuses and other Cephalopods (Anthropomorphic), Original Work
By: sweetcarolanne
Tags: Original Characters, Original Non-Human Character(s), Octopi & Squid, Mystery, Attempt at Humor, Based
on a True Story, Drabble, Extra Treat

Summary: Something weird's happening at the local aquarium!

3. Going Viral
Fandom: Octopuses and other Cephalopods (Anthropomorphic), Original Work
By: Isis
Tags: Humor, Internet, Drabble
Summary: The octopus mastermind sees her plans come to fruition.

My own offerings include some pre-Rogue One Baze/Chirrut romance and a childhood scene featuring Thomas and Lucille Sharpe of Crimson Peak.

1. Most Devoted
Fandom: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Wars - All Media Types
Tags: Chirrut Îmwe/Baze Malbus, Chirrut Îmwe, Baze Malbus, Pre-Canon, Kyber Crystals, Kyber Temple, Drabble,
Budding Love
Summary: Baze reveals a tender soul in the heart of the Kyber Temple.

2. Learn to Face the Storm
Fandom: Crimson Peak (2015)
Tags: Lucille Sharpe & Thomas Sharpe, Thomas Sharpe, Lucille Sharpe, Pre-Canon, Childhood, Drabble
Summary: Lightning strikes, but Lucille won't let young Thomas escape his fears.

Dear Drabble Writer,

Thanks for participating in the exchange! I hope you're as excited about it as I am. Here’s a bit about me and my requests.

In General

Other Likes: Gothic tales, noir, intrigue, atmosphere, vampires, ghosts, period settings, spooky monsters, fairy tale motifs, nature (forests, deserts, oceans, shores, and swamps), villains and their motives and psychological characteristics.

( Fandom specifics under the cut )

Happy writing! I am looking forward to reading your drabble(s)!

Dear Chocolatier,

I’m so glad you’re part of the exchange! Here’s a bit about me and my requests.

In General

Other Likes: Gothic tales, noir, intrigue, atmosphere, vampires, ghosts, period settings, spooky monsters, fairy tale motifs, nature (forests, deserts, shores, and swamps), villains and their motives and psychological characteristics.

Do-Not-Wants: cannibalism (vampires drinking blood is okay), bestiality, zombies, mpreg, gratuitous graphic violence, scat/watersports, underage, body horror, animal or child abuse.

Gray Areas: I’d prefer not to read stories about infidelity or very explicit rape/non-con. Given my relationship interests, dub-con is okay. I understand this territory is murky, so don’t worry too much about crossing a line. I’m primarily trying to avoid really extreme or violent situations.

Story/Art Characteristics: I’m good with missing scenes and canon divergence, but I like to stay in the world of the story, so I’d prefer the story or artwork not be set in a dramatically different AU (coffee shop, high school, etc.)

Fandom Specifics

Aladdin: The Animated Series

I loved this show growing up, and I still have episodes on DVD and enjoy that warm, nostalgic feeling every time I re-watch them. Mozenrath is a charismatic, capable villain and a fantastic foil to both Aladdin and Jasmine, which gives their interactions great dramatic tension. I’d love to see a situation where he and Aladdin and/or Jasmine are forced to team up to overcome a more formidable foe. I’m open to flirting and some sexual tension between these three, though I’m less interested in drawn-out love triangles or angsty infidelity.

I enjoy Iago for many of these same reasons I do Mozenrath. He’s clever, he has a lot of life experience and an encyclopedic knowledge of magic (particularly for a parrot), and his motives tend to be darker and more complex than those of the other protagonists. I like the fact that he’s got a past, one that often gets the gang in trouble. For these reasons, I think he and Jasmine make a particularly interesting combination, because her strong will, idealism, and relative naiveté often clash with his world weariness, cynicism, and lack of scruples. Wendy Lee’s Aladdin fics from the 90s provide great examples of this.

Overall, these are people for whom I’d like to have happy endings, but I’d enjoy seeing them get into dark territory on the way there. That said, if you plan on going the Abu & Iago route, feel free to go light and fluffy all the way.

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

For me, this movie is more about style than substance. However, I wish the scene where Maleficent visits Prince Philip in her dungeon on the Forbidden Mountain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r62OHf-0iok) had more substance to it, because it has such sexy potential. I’d love a story that expands upon that scene. What depths of desperation does Philip experience when Maleficent shows him how life will pass him by before he can rescue Aurora? What is he willing to do to avoid that fate? Does Maleficent sense his desperation, and if she does, what demands does she make? Do they strike a bargain, and what pleasures—for either or both characters—might it entail?

Anastasia (1997)

The older I get, the deeper an appreciation I have for this movie. The slow build romance between Anya and Dmitri is wonderful. I’d enjoy some missing scenes, some hurt/comfort, or some complex ever-after moments with this pair. Before they journey from St. Petersburg to Paris, does he show her other ruins left behind after the fall of the monarchy to convince her of her royal lineage? Does Anya get glimpses of his seedy profession during the plot of the film, and are there moments when his history shady of dealings (and not just Rasputin’s machinations) put them in danger? How does their shared life get more complex as Europe plunges back into turmoil? How does their love survive these different challenges?

James Bond Movies:

Bond and Scaramanga: I’ll start by being frank: I dig Scaramanga because he’s played by sexy Christopher Lee. In any case, they have a lot in common, particularly their weird childhoods and using their capacity for violence to make their living. I could picture Scaramanga arranging a situation where he’d have the chance to meet and sate his curiosity about Bond, his equal in this world of international intrigue, whether part of or outside of a mission. (Or, you could turn the tables and have Bond pursue Scaramanga for the same reasons.) They’re connecting to explore one another, in all the meanings of the word. Roger Moore’s Bond is the obvious opposite to Lee’s Scaramanga, although I could also see Dalton or Craig’s Bonds filling the role.

Bond and Le Chiffre: I envision the interactions between these two containing more jealousy and animus. I like the scene in the 2006 Casino Royale when Le Chiffre admits his appreciation of Bond’s physical fitness even as he’s torturing him. Le Chiffre has (nefariously) earned his living through his superior intelligence; by comparison, Bond is a thug, but his wits and capacity for violence give him the upper hand in many situations. A meeting between these two could initially have a sinister purpose, but give these two men an opportunity to probe and push each other’s buttons.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story:

Galen Erso and Orson Krennic: What a heart-rending mess these two are. I am really intrigued by the fraught aspects of their relationship: their power imbalance, Krennic’s potentially unrequited attraction, their betrayals of one another, and the conflict between their relationship and what they each think is best for the galaxy. I believe there are embers of friendship or love between them even through the plot of Rogue One, though everything is out to extinguish them. I’d prefer a story set before or after Lyra, so that the story stays focused on the two of them. You could explore their shared experiences in the Brentaal Futures program, or how they interact once Galen has been forced back into Imperial Service.

Orson Krennic and Wilhuff Tarkin: I like this pair dark and deliciously cruel. Their every interaction is fueled by intense animosity, jealousy, and possessiveness. Why wouldn’t that spill over into sexual tension, even if it’s the hate-sex kind?

Happy writing, and I’m looking forward to your treat on Valentine’s Day!